Visiting Machu Picchu is easier than ever before thanks to streamlined transportation that leads from Cusco to Aguas Calientes, the small town located nearly 7,000 feet above sea level that acts as a gateway to the World Wonder.
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Still, the Machu Picchu site and Aguas Calientes are prone to overtourism, which has impacted travel to Machu Picchu in a few ways. Last year, authorities rolled out a new system that requires visitors to have an official guide with them, book a ticket that gives them a time slot to visit, and more.
The goal of the new program is to preserve Machu Picchu from an archaeological perspective. It’s also designed to improve the tourist experience and streamline the process through which legitimate local guides organize their tours.
But even if you follow all the rules and work closely with a qualified local guide, you might still commit one major error.
Machu Picchu: best practices from a local guide company
According to Hedder Quispe Puente de la Vega, a travel expert and founder of Machu Travel Peru, even the most well-meaning tourists sometimes make this common mistake: Stepping off the designated route and touching the site’s intricate Incan stonework.
Most are snapping a quick selfie or photograph of the landscape—what’s the worst that could happen? According to Puente de la Vega, “These actions are strictly prohibited and can put this fragile archaeological site at risk.” In short, you could damage the stonework, leaving a lasting impact on the fragile archaeological site.
It’s strictly prohibited to step outside the authorized circuits, which are carefully maintained and defined based on Machu Picchu’s structural integrity. Puente de la Vega also recommends avoiding loud and disruptive behavior and avoiding littering at all costs.
While these might seem like minor requests, Puente de la Vega points out that the small, thoughtful choices travelers make have a huge impact—especially when considering how many people visit Machu Picchu every day.
You can learn more about Puente de la Vega’s guide company, Machu Travel Peru, including tips on how to visit Machu Picchu and the surrounding Andean community.