Machu Picchu is bigger than photos suggest. The citadel covers about 326 square kilometres of protected area, with the main complex alone running roughly 400 metres long. Knowing the layout before you arrive makes the three-hour visit much more productive.
Peruways’ interactive map covers the three current ticketed circuits, the add-on climbs (Huayna Picchu, Machu Picchu Mountain, Huchuy Picchu), the Intipunku and Inca Bridge side trails, and the main viewpoints.
Use it to plan which circuit matches your interest and fitness. Circuit 1 is the lower route with the classic guardian’s hut view and requires a guide. Circuit 2 covers the main terraces and the Temple of the Sun. Circuit 3 is the upper route with the mountain climbs attached.
The map also shows what gets missed: the Temple of the Moon on the back of Huayna Picchu, the Royal Tomb carved into bedrock, the water channel system still running after 500 years.
Plan your route at Peruways and book the matching ticket.
