Inca Bridge Machu Picchu | If you don´t like walking climbs like the hike to Huayna Picchu, do the Inca bridge hike starting at Machu Picchu citadel, no matter how old you are or how fit you keep, it is 100% flat walk; what’s more if you have children they can also do this route, you don´t require a Tourist Guide for this short walk, and you don´t have to pay extra money.
Check out all the details about the Inca bridge of Machu Picchu below!
Contents
- 1. Bridge Location
- 2. What is Machu Picchu Inca Bridge?
- 3. How to get to the access door of the Inca Bridge?
- 4. Can I go to the Inca Bridge before I do the Machu Picchu guided tour?
- 5. Useful information before going to the Inca Bridge
- 6. Difficulty and Safety Note:
- 7. Entry schedules for Machu Picchu Inca citadel
- 8. What is the price to enter the Inca Bridge?
- 9. Do I need to book in advance to visit this Inca Bridge?
- 10. What to bring to the walk?
1. Bridge Location
It is located in the western part of Machu Picchu Inca citadel, 30 minutes away on foot from Machu Picchu ruins, just follow the signs in the archaeological park and you will reach the bridge without any problem.
2. What is Machu Picchu Inca Bridge?
The Inca cities mostly had city walls that protected their inhabitants against enemies, in the case of Machu Picchu there was no city wall that enclosed the entire citadel, the perimeter of the city that had no city wall was protected by ravines or chasms.
There is an Inca Trail that connects Machu Picchu citadel with the inhabitants from the western part of this city, if you start walking on the Inca trek to the western side of Machu Picchu, you will see that the trek is carved on the rocks, the carving of the trek makes even more dangerous the narrow path.
The Inca Bridge of Machu Picchu is located in one of these very narrow trek sectioning carved on granite stone, the bridge itself is made of logs and stones so that it can be easily dismantled and thus prevent the access to the enemies, in this way what is dangerous becomes safe and efficient for the inhabitants of Machu Picchu Inca citadel.
The Incas bridges are normally made of braided straw like the Queswachaka Bridge, but in this case, the Andean people decided to use logs and stones for safety purposes.
3. How to get to the access door of the Inca Bridge?
- It is very easy, once you have done with your guided tour of Machu Picchu citadel, ask for the quarry which is located at the highest part of Machu Picchu citadel, tour guides call this place also “El Mirador”, right at this place lots of tourists take the classic picture of Machu Picchu.
- From the “Mirador” make your way to the west, you will find a control booth, the park ranger only registers tourists for security reasons, so bring your Machu Picchu Ticket, your Passport or Original Identity Document, present it and you will be ready to start walking.
4. Can I go to the Inca Bridge before I do the Machu Picchu guided tour?
- Keep in mind that the access door to the Inca bridge is inside the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu, according to the regulations of the Ministry of Tourism – DIRCETUR, it is mandatory to have a tour guide so that you can enter Machu Picchu Inca citadel.
- Once you enter Machu Picchu citadel with your guide and other attendees you will have your guided tour of Machu Picchu, which will last about 2 hours, then you can go to the Inca Bridge on your own.
- In conclusion, it is NOT possible, first visit the ruins of Machu Picchu and then get to Inca bridge on your own, if you really want to do the trek first, you will have to hire a private guide.
5. Useful information before going to the Inca Bridge
- You don´t need extra money to enter the Inca bridge, just pay the fee to enter Machu Picchu Inca citadel and you are ready for the short trek.
- On the route, there are small lookout places so that you can take the best photos of the Andean and Amazon landscape.
- The Inca Trail to the bridge has an original Inca stone paved route and it is fully signposted, you won´t get lost.
- The path is safe, but narrow and during the route there are several precipices, please be very careful, especially if you are going with your children.
- The walk lasts about half an hour, it is not allowed to cross the bridge, because we want to preserve the bridge for the next generations, the other reason is the safety of our visitors.
6. Difficulty and Safety Note:
- The route is safe and easy, it is a 100% flat walk, almost everyone can do it.
- We have no accidents registered on this route, so be positive.
- If you suffer from Acrophobia, please do not do this route.
7. Entry schedules for Machu Picchu Inca citadel
The following hours Applies Only if you are going to buy the Machu Picchu Inca Citadel “Solo” Ticket, this type of ticket will allow you to enter the Inca citadel and also the Inca bridge, but you won´t be able to access Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain, for more information visit types of Tickets to Machu Picchu.
Choose below from what time you want to enter the Inca citadel:
- 1st group:
- Enter Machu Picchu Inca citadel starting 6 am
- Enter to Machu Picchu Inca citadel starting 7 am
- Enter to Machu Picchu Inca citadel starting 8 am
- 2nd Group:
- Ingreso a Machu Picchu a partir de las 9 am
- Ingreso a Machu Picchu a partir de las 10 am
- Ingreso a Machu Picchu a partir de las 11 am
- 3rd Group:
- Ingreso a Machu Picchu a partir de las 12 pm
- Ingreso a Machu Picchu a partir de la 1 pm
- Ingreso a Machu Picchu a partir de las 2 pm
7.1 To consider:
Keep in mind that the times mentioned above are the only ones available, you can access the citadel of Machu Picchu after the time indicated on your Ticket, but NOT before, for example if your ticket indicates that you are in the 2nd Group and you can enter Machu Picchu starting 9am, this means that if you were late for any reason you can still enter the citadel of Machu Picchu at any time after 9am.
7.2 Our advice:
- Always be at the indicated time, don´t be late.
- Find out more about this topic on: Ultimate Guide to Machu Picchu Ticket.
8. What is the price to enter the Inca Bridge?
- You only need to buy the Machu Picchu Inca citadel “Solo” ticket and that is enough.
- The entrance prices to Machu Picchu vary according to your nationality and other factors, ranging from 30 to 60 US Dollars.
- It will also depend whether you only want to visit the ruins of Machu Picchu or you also want to explore Huayna Picchu.
9. Do I need to book in advance to visit this Inca Bridge?
- There are two seasons for tourism in Cusco, the low season, which is from January to March, and we also have the high season, which is from April to December.
- If you are coming to Cusco during the high season, we recommend buying in advance the Machu Picchu Inca citadel “Solo” ticket.
- Keep in mind that there is no specific ticket for the Inca Bridge only
- Any type of Ticket to Machu Picchu inca citadel will allow you to explore the Inca bridge of this archaeological park.
- If by any chance during the high season, you couldn´t reserve in advance your ticket to enter Machu Picchu Inca citadel, don´t worry, you can always find a spot, it is just a matter of waiting a day or two days at most, sometimes there are no spots in the morning schedules, but they do have spots for afternoon times so that you can visit the Inca citadel also the Inca bridge.
10. What to bring to the walk?
- Small backpack
- Always carry water
- Caps or hats
- Sun glasses
- Mosquito repellent
- Sunscreen
- Snacks
- Poncho for rain
- Trekking shoes
- Photographic camera
- Original identity card or passport
- Machu Picchu Entrance Ticket
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