Machu Picchu’s headline attractions — the Temple of the Sun, the Intihuatana, the terraces — are the ones everyone photographs. The site also has a handful of less-trafficked spots that reward travellers willing to walk a bit further.
The Inca Bridge is the first. A narrow stone path cut into a cliff face south-west of the main complex, with a wooden drawbridge the Incas could pull up to seal the route. The walk out is flat and takes 20 minutes each way; the drop below the path is roughly 600 m, which is why they haven’t rebuilt the bridge for public crossing.
The Intipunku, or Sun Gate, is the finishing point of the Inca Trail. From the main site, it’s a 90-minute uphill walk one-way — more than most day visitors budget for, which means it’s blissfully quiet. The view back down over Machu Picchu is the one on the trekking brochures.
For botany, the short Orchid Trail on the citadel’s eastern side runs through cloud forest with hummingbirds, bromeliads and dozens of orchid species. Occasional sightings of spectacled bear if you’re lucky.
Inside the main complex, the Temple of the Condor is easy to miss — a rock formation shaped into a condor’s outstretched wings, with a flat stone slab below that likely served as a sacrificial altar.
Book your Machu Picchu trip with Peruways and ask about Circuit 2 — it covers most of these without needing extra permits.
