PhotoSecrets Machu Picchu

A Photographer’s Guide

Best classic places spots hotspots sites sights views photo locations to photograph for photography with maps tips ideas composition postcard photos cool beautiful pictures

MACHU
PICCHU

Photos

Classic from rightYI-AN/Shutterstock

Machu Picchu

62 views to photograph
Classic right with mistPetrusbarbygere/Wikipedia
Aguas Calientes Train StationJorge Láscar/Wikipedia
Classic left panoramicChensiyuan/Wikipedia
Pachacútec statue and cathedral in Aguas CalientesIan Gampon/Flickr
Wall of the Six MonolithsWolfgangbeyer/Wikipedia
Woman in hatCvpts/Flickr
Classic right panoramicAlberana/Wikipedia
Inca Trail to Machu PicchuEmax/Wikipedia
Inti Watana [Urubamba]Jordan Klein/Wikipedia
Temple of the SunBrattarb/Wikipedia
Temple of the Three WindowsPululante/Wikipedia
Top of mountainPululante/Wikipedia
View of some buildingDiego Delso/Wikipedia
View with mistNimmi Solomon/Flickr
Classic and terracesPadowski2000/Wikipedia
Dead Woman’s PassColegota/Wikipedia
Funerary rockMaasaak/Wikipedia
Lascar water fountainJorge Láscar/Wikipedia
Machu Picchu from Huayna PicchuSteve Bennett/Wikipedia
Mountain and buildingPierre Andre Leclercq/Wikipedia
Phutuq K’usiLiamuller/Wikipedia
Terraces looking upMckay Savage/Wikipedia
Terraces sidewaysDavid Stanley/Wikipedia
Winding pathColin W/Wikipedia
Belmond Sanctuary LodgeUnukorno/Wikipedia
View of Machu Picchu from Phutuq K’usiLmuellerleile/Wikipedia

Contents

Map

About PhotoSecrets

 
 
 
 

Foreword

A great travel photo­graph, like a great news photo­graph, requires you to be in the right place at the right time to capture that special moment. Professional photo­graphers have a short-hand phrase for this: “F8 and be there.”

There are countless books that can help you with photo­graphic technique, the “F8” portion of that equation. But until now, there’s been little help for the other, more critical portion of that equation, the “be there” part. To find the right spot, you had to expend lots of time and shoe leather to wander around, track down every potential viewpoint, and essentially re-invent the wheel.

In my career as a professional travel photo­grapher, well over half my time on location is spent seeking out the good angles. Andrew Hudson’s PhotoSecrets does all that legwork for you, so you can spend your time photo­graphing instead of wandering about. It’s like having a professional location scout in your camera bag. I wish I had one of these books for every city I photo­graph on assignment.

PhotoSecrets can help you capture the most beautiful sights with a minimum of hassle and a maximum of enjoyment. So grab your camera, find your favorite PhotoSecrets spots, and “be there!”

About Bob Krist

Bob Krist has photo­graphed assignments for National Geographic, National Geographic Traveler, Travel/­Holiday, Smithsonian, and Islands. He won “Travel photo­grapher of the Year” from the Society of American Travel Writers in 1994, 2007, and 2008.

For National Geographic, Bob has led round-the-world tours and a traveling lecture series. His book In Tuscany with Frances Mayes spent a month on The New York Times’ bestseller list and his how-to book Spirit of Place was hailed by American Photo­grapher magazine as “the best book about travel photo­graphy we’ve ever read.”

The parents of three sons, Bob and his wife live in New Hope, Pennsylvania.

Welcome

Thank you for reading PhotoSecrets. As a fellow fan of travel and photo­graphy, I hope this guide will help you quickly find the most visually stunning places, and come home with equally stunning photo­graphs.

PhotoSecrets is designed to show you all the best sights. Flick through, see the classic shots, and use them as a departure point for your own creations. Get ideas for comp­osition and interesting viewpoints. See what piques your interest. Know what to shoot, where to stand, when to go, and why it’s interesting. Now you can spend less time researching and more time photographing.

The idea for PhotoSecrets came during a trip to Thailand, when I tried to find the exotic beach used in the James Bond movie The Man with the Golden Gun. None of the guidebooks I had showed a picture, so I thought a guidebook of postcard photos would be useful for us photographers. Twenty-plus years later, you have this guide. Thanks!

Now, start exploring — and take lots of photos!

About Andrew Hudson

Originally an engineer, Andrew Hudson started PhotoSecrets in 1995. His first book won the Benjamin Franklin Award for Best First Book and his second won the Grand Prize in the National Self-Published Book Awards.

Andrew has published 38 nationally-distributed photo­graphy books. He has photo­graphed assignments for Macy’s, Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Men’s Health and Seventeen, and been a location scout for Nikon. His photos and articles have appeared in Alaska Airlines, National Geographic Traveler, Shutterbug Outdoor and Nature photo­graphy, Where, and Woman’s World.

Andrew has a degree in Computer Engineering from Manchester University and a certificate in copyright law from Harvard Law School. Born in Redditch, England, he lives with his wife, two kids, and two chocolate Labs, in San Diego, California.

Introduction

At a Glance

Name:Machu Picchu
Address:Machu Picchu, Cuzco Region, Peru
What:A15th-century Inca citadel situated on a mountain ridge 2,430 metres (7,970 ft) above sea level.
Where:Cusco Region, Urubamba Province, Machupicchu District, Peru
Founded:c. 1450
Abandoned:1572
Cultures:Inca civilization
Awards:UNESCO World Heritage Site
New Seven Wonders of the World
GPS:-13.16306,-72.54556
Far:500 km (312 miles) from Lima (capital of Peru)

Machupicchu District

Machu Picchu

Top of mountain

Machu Picchu > Machupicchu District > Machu Picchu
Addr:Machu Picchu,
Peru
Where:-13.16306
-72.54556
When:Anytime

Classic

Classic left views

Classic view

Machu Picchu > Machupicchu District > Machu Picchu > Classic > left views
Addr:Machu Picchu,
Peru
Where:-13.1653181
-72.5446814
When:Anytime

Ideas for view

Classic left panoramic

Machu Picchu > Machupicchu District > Machu Picchu > Classic > left views
Addr:Machu Picchu,
Peru
Where:-13.16306
-72.54556
When:Anytime

Ideas for left panoramic

Classic and terraces

Machu Picchu > Machupicchu District > Machu Picchu > Classic > left views
Addr:Machu Picchu,
Peru
Where:-13.16306
-72.54556
When:Anytime

Classic right views

Classic from right

Machu Picchu > Machupicchu District > Machu Picchu > Classic > right views
Addr:Where:-13.1653181
-72.5446815
When:Anytime

Ideas for from right

Classic right with mist

Machu Picchu > Machupicchu District > Machu Picchu > Classic > right views
Addr:Machu Picchu,
Peru
Where:-13.16306
-72.54556
When:Anytime

Ideas for right with mist

Classic right panoramic

Machu Picchu > Machupicchu District > Machu Picchu > Classic > right views
Addr:Where:-13.163493
-72.545845
When:Anytime

Ideas for right panoramic

Inca Bridge

Machu Picchu > Machupicchu District > Machu Picchu

Built by the Incas as a secret entrance to Machu Picchu for the Inca army, this stone path cut into a cliff face has a twenty-foot gap that could be bridged with two tree trunks, otherwise leaving the trail impassable to outsiders due to the 1,900-feet drop.

Addr:Inca Bridge,
Machu Picchu,
Peru
Where:-13.171583333333
-72.546083333333
What:BridgeWhen:Anytime
Wik:Inca_Bridge#The_Inca_Bridge_.28trunk_bridge.29

Ideas for Inca Bridge

Fountain

Machu Picchu > Machupicchu District > Machu Picchu
Addr:Machu Picchu,
Peru
Where:-13.16306
-72.54556
What:FountainWhen:Anytime

Ideas for fountain

Inca Trail

Machu Picchu > Machupicchu District > Machu Picchu
Addr:Machu Picchu,
Peru
Where:-13.16306
-72.54556
What:TrailWhen:Anytime

Ideas for Inca Trail

Some building

Machu Picchu > Machupicchu District > Machu Picchu
Addr:Machu Picchu,
Peru
Where:-13.16306
-72.54556
What:BuildingWhen:Anytime

Ideas for Some building

View

Machu Picchu > Machupicchu District > Machu Picchu
Addr:Where:-13.16306
-72.54556
When:Anytime

Doorways

Machu Picchu > Machupicchu District > Machu Picchu
Addr:Machu Picchu,
Peru
Where:-13.16306
-72.54556
What:ViewsWhen:Anytime

Ideas for Doorways

Inti Watana [Urubamba]

Machu Picchu > Machupicchu District > Machu Picchu

Inti Watana or Intiwatana at the archaeological site of Machu Picchu is a notable ritual stone associated with the astronomic clock or calendar of the Inca in South America.

Addr:Where:-13.16306
-72.54556
What:Astronomical observatoryWhen:Anytime
AKA:IntiwatanaWik:Inti_Watana,_Urubamba

Ideas for Inti Watana

Llama

Machu Picchu > Machupicchu District > Machu Picchu
Addr:Machu Picchu,
Peru
Where:-13.16306
-72.54556
What:AnimalWhen:Anytime

Ideas for Llama

Misty view

Machu Picchu > Machupicchu District > Machu Picchu
Addr:Machu Picchu,
Peru
Where:-13.16306
-72.54556
When:Anytime

Moon Temple

Machu Picchu > Machupicchu District > Machu Picchu
Addr:Machu Picchu,
Peru
Where:-13.16306
-72.54556
What:TempleWhen:Anytime

Ideas for Moon Temple

Sacred Rock

Machu Picchu > Machupicchu District > Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu, Peru.

Addr:Cusco,
Peru
Where:-13.161738
-72.545801
What:Ritual stoneWhen:Anytime
AKA:Roca Sagrada

Temple of the Sun

Machu Picchu > Machupicchu District > Machu Picchu
Addr:Machu Picchu,
Peru
Where:-13.16306
-72.54556
What:TempleWhen:Anytime

Ideas for Temple of the Sun

Temple of the Three Windows

Machu Picchu > Machupicchu District > Machu Picchu
Addr:Machu Picchu,
Peru
Where:-13.163530
-72.545264
What:TempleWhen:Anytime
AKA:Templo de la Tres Ventanas

Ideas for Temple of the Three Windows

Valley

View of some building

Machu Picchu > Machupicchu District > Machu Picchu
Addr:Machu Picchu,
Peru
Where:-13.16306
-72.54556
When:Anytime

Ideas for some building

View with mist

Machu Picchu > Machupicchu District > Machu Picchu
Addr:Machu Picchu,
Peru
Where:-13.16306
-72.54556
When:Anytime

Window

Machu Picchu > Machupicchu District > Machu Picchu
Addr:Machu Picchu,
Peru
Where:-13.16306
-72.54556
When:Anytime

Ball game rock

Machu Picchu > Machupicchu District > Machu Picchu
Addr:Machu Picchu,
Peru
Where:-13.16306
-72.54556
What:RockWhen:Anytime

Funerary rock

Machu Picchu > Machupicchu District > Machu Picchu
Addr:Machu Picchu,
Peru
Where:-13.16306
-72.54556
What:RockWhen:Anytime

Ideas for Funerary rock

Lascar water fountain

Machu Picchu > Machupicchu District > Machu Picchu
Addr:Machu Picchu,
Peru
Where:-13.16306
-72.54556
What:FountainWhen:Anytime

Main square

Main Temple

Machu Picchu > Machupicchu District > Machu Picchu
Addr:Machu Picchu,
Peru
Where:-13.163676
-72.545234
What:TempleWhen:Anytime
AKA:Templo Principal

Ideas for Main Temple

Mountain and building

Machu Picchu > Machupicchu District > Machu Picchu
Addr:Machu Picchu,
Peru
Where:-13.16306
-72.54556
When:Anytime

Nice view

Machu Picchu > Machupicchu District > Machu Picchu
Addr:Machu Picchu,
Peru
Where:-13.16306
-72.54556
When:Anytime

Some view

Machu Picchu > Machupicchu District > Machu Picchu
Addr:Machu Picchu,
Peru
Where:-13.16306
-72.54556
When:Anytime

Steps

Machu Picchu > Machupicchu District > Machu Picchu
Addr:Machu Picchu,
Peru
Where:-13.16306
-72.54556
What:StepsWhen:Anytime

Ideas for steps

Terrace and mist

Machu Picchu > Machupicchu District > Machu Picchu
Addr:Where:-13.16306
-72.54556
When:Anytime

Terraces

Terraces looking up

Machu Picchu > Machupicchu District > Machu Picchu > terraces
Addr:Machu Picchu,
Peru
Where:-13.16306
-72.54556
When:Anytime

Terraces sideways

Machu Picchu > Machupicchu District > Machu Picchu > terraces
Addr:Machu Picchu,
Peru
Where:-13.16306
-72.54556
What:ViewsWhen:Anytime

Ideas for Terraces sideways

Winding path

Machu Picchu > Machupicchu District > Machu Picchu
Addr:Machu Picchu,
Peru
Where:-13.16306
-72.54556
When:Anytime

Belmond Sanctuary Lodge

Machu Picchu > Machupicchu District > Machu Picchu
Addr:Where:-13.166068
-72.542905
What:TempleWhen:Morning
Look:Northwest ↖Far:440 m (1450 feet)
AKA:Templo del Condor

Aguas Calientes

Aguas Calientes Train Station

Machu Picchu > Machupicchu District > Aguas Calientes
Addr:Cusco,
Aguas Calientes,
Peru
Where:-13.155776
-72.524050
What:Railway stationWhen:Anytime
AKA:Aguas Calientes Train Station

Ideas for Aguas Calientes Train Station

Pachacútec statue and cathedral in Aguas Calientes

Machu Picchu > Machupicchu District > Aguas Calientes
Addr:Av. Imperio de los Incas 524,
Aguas Calientes,
Peru
Where:-13.154373
-72.525600
What:StatueWhen:Anytime

Ideas for Pachacútec statue and cathedral

Woman in hat

Machu Picchu > Machupicchu District > Aguas Calientes
Addr:Aguas Calientes,
Machu Picchu,
Peru
Where:-13.154833
-72.525333
What:PersonWhen:Anytime

Phutuq K’usi

Machu Picchu > Machupicchu District

Phutuq K’usi is a round-shaped mountain located on the opposite side of the Urubamba River to Machu Picchu in the Cusco Region of Peru.

Addr:Machupicchu District,
Urubamba Province,
Cusco Region
Where:-13.15556
-72.53611
What:MountainWhen:Anytime
AKA:PutucusiWik:Phutuq_K%27usi

Ladder

Machu Picchu > Machupicchu District > Phutuq K’usi

The largest of the steep wooden ladders on the trek to the summit of Phutuq K’usi.

Addr:Phutuq K’usi,
Peru
Where:-13.155575
-72.536170
What:LadderWhen:Anytime

View of Machu Picchu from Phutuq K’usi

Machu Picchu > Machupicchu District > Phutuq K’usi
Addr:Phutuq K’usi,
Peru
Where:-13.157345
-72.535878
When:Anytime

Huayna Picchu

Machu Picchu > Machupicchu District

Huayna Picchu, Wayna Picchu or Wayna Pikchu is a mountain in Peru around which the Urubamba River bends.

Addr:Machupicchu District,
Urubamba Province,
Cusco Region
Where:-13.15750
-72.54722
What:MountainWhen:Anytime
Wik:Huayna_Picchu

Ideas for Huayna Picchu

From Huayna Picchu

Machu Picchu > Machupicchu District > Huayna Picchu
Addr:Machu Picchu,
Peru
Where:-13.156716
-72.546363
When:Anytime

Ideas for Machu Picchu

Ollantaytambo District

Ollantaytambo

Ollantaytambo

Machu Picchu > Ollantaytambo District > Ollantaytambo

Ollantaytambo is a town and an Inca archaeological site in southern Peru some 60 kilometers northwest of the city of Cusco.

Addr:Ollantaytambo District,
Machu Picchu
Where:-13.257287
-72.266594
What:Archaeological siteWhen:Anytime
AKA:PumatallisWik:Ollantaytambo

Ideas for Ollantaytambo

Granaries

Machu Picchu > Ollantaytambo District > Ollantaytambo > Ollantaytambo
Addr:Ollantaytambo,
Peru
Where:-13.255106
-72.265088
What:GranariesWhen:Anytime
AKA:Pinkuylluna

Wall of the Six Monoliths

Machu Picchu > Ollantaytambo District > Ollantaytambo > Ollantaytambo
Addr:Ollantaytambo,
Peru
Where:-13.2574472
-72.2670898
What:MonolithWhen:Anytime

Inca Trail to Machu Picchu

The Inca Trail to Machu Picchu consists of three overlapping trails: Mollepata, Classic, and One Day.

Addr:Where:-13.25806
-72.26333
What:TrailWhen:Anytime
AKA:Camino Inca, Camino Inka, Mollepata, Classic, One DayWik:Inca_Trail_to_Machu_Picchu

Ideas for Inca Trail to

Patallaqta

Machu Picchu > Inca Trail to

Patallaqta Llaqtapata or Q’inti Marka is an archaeological site in Peru located in the Cusco Region, Urubamba Province, Machupicchu District.

Addr:Where:-13.23139
-72.43139
What:Archaeological siteWhen:Anytime
AKA:Llactapata, Q’inti MarkaWik:Patallaqta

Ideas for Patallaqta

Dead Woman’s Pass

Machu Picchu > Inca Trail to

Warmi Wañusqa or Warmiwañusqa is a mountain pass in the Cusco Region in Peru.

Addr:Inca Trail to Machu Picchu,
Machu Picchu
Where:-13.24278
-72.48417
What:Mountain passWhen:Anytime
AKA:Warmi WañusqaWik:Warmi_Wañusqa

Ideas for Dead Woman’s Pass

Runkuraqay

Machu Picchu > Inca Trail to

Runkuraqay or Runku Raqay is an archaeological site on a mountain of the same name in Peru located in the Cusco Region, Urubamba Province, Machupicchu District.

Addr:Inca Trail to Machu Picchu,
Machu Picchu
Where:-13.22833
-72.50139
What:Archaeological siteWhen:Anytime
Wik:Runkuraqay

Ideas for Runkuraqay

Qunchamarka

Machu Picchu > Inca Trail to

Qunchamarka is an archaeological site in Peru located in the Cusco Region, Urubamba Province, Machupicchu District, southwest of the mountain Runkuraqay.

Addr:Inca Trail,
Peru
Where:-13.214151
-72.523254
What:Archaeological siteWhen:Anytime
AKA:ConchamarkaWik:Qunchamarka

Puyupatamarca

Machu Picchu > Inca Trail to

Puyupatamarca or Phuyupatamarca is an archaeological site along the Inca Trail in the Urubamba Valley of Peru.

Addr:Inca Trail,
Peru
Where:-13.206488
-72.532095
What:Archaeological siteWhen:Anytime
AKA:PhuypatamarcaWik:Puyupatamarca

Ideas for Puyupatamarca

Intipata

Machu Picchu > Inca Trail to
Addr:Inca Trail,
Peru
Where:-13.186386
-72.541200
What:Archaeological siteWhen:Anytime

Wiñay Wayna

Machu Picchu > Inca Trail to

Wiñay Wayna is an Inca ruin along the Inca Trail to Machu Pikchu.

Addr:Inca Trail to Machu Picchu,
Machu Picchu
Where:-13.19278
-72.53639
What:Archaeological siteWhen:Anytime
AKA:WinayawaynaWik:Wiñay_Wayna

Ideas for Wiñay Wayna

Urubamba [Peru]

Vitcos

Vitcos is an archaeological site in the Cusco Region in Peru, believed to have been used by ruler in exile Manco Inca during the Spanish conquest of the Inca Empire.

Addr:Cusco,
Cusco District,
Cusco Province,
Cusco Region
Where:-13.0982049
-72.9319239
What:Archaeological siteWhen:Anytime
Wik:Vitcos

Credits

Thank you to the many wonderful people and companies that made their work available to use in this guide.

Photo key: Tap the camera icon to see the photo. The two letters reference the distributor and license. Key for distributors: f:Flickr; s:Shutterstock; w:Wikipedia. Key for license: a:CC-BY-SA; b:CC-BY; h:Shutterstock standard; m:public domain.

Cover image by .Againerick ( wm); Marion & Christoph Aistleitner ( wa); Alberana ( sh); Anton_Ivanov ( wa); Rodrigo Argenton ( wm); Matt Austin ( wm); Bcasterline ( wb); Tyler Bell ( wa); Steve Bennett ( wa); Brattarb ( wa); Burnhamarlidge ( wa); Alonso Cárdenas ( wa); Charlesjsharp ( wa); Chensiyuan ( wa); Colegota ( fb); Lee Coursey ( fb); Cvpts ( fb); Bill Damon ( wb); Davidbroad ( wa); Diego Delso ( fb); Emmanuel DYAN ( wa); Axel Ebert ( fb); Roderick Eime ( wm); Emax ( wm); Entropy1963 ( wm); Fler ( wa); Bernard Gagnon ( wb); Geoff Gallice ( fb); Ian Gampon ( fb); Jimmy Harris ( wa); Yusuke Ho ( wb); Icelight ( fa); Dennis Jarvis ( wb); Jennifrog ( wa); C T Johansson ( wa); CT Johansson ( wa); Keokan ( wb); Jordan Klein ( wb); Jorge Láscar ( sh); Leagam ( wa); Pierre Andre Leclercq ( wa); Liamuller ( wm); Lmuellerleile ( wa); Maasaak ( wa); Christophe Meneboeuf ( wa); Nklink ( wa); Padowski2000 ( wb); Steve Pastor ( wb); Pastor3571 ( wb); Petrusbarbygere ( wb); Pululante ( fa); Jon Roberts ( wa); D Gordon E Robertson ( wb); Mckay Savage ( wa); Lucia Barreiros Da Silva ( wa); E Skog ( wb); Brian Snelson ( fa); Nimmi Solomon ( wa); Martin St-Amant ( wb); David Stanley ( wa); Stevage ( wm); Untifler ( wb); Unukorno ( wa); Viault ( wa); Colin W ( wa); Sascha Wenninger ( wa); Wolfgangbeyer ( wa); Xauxa ( sh); YI-AN ( sh). Some text adapted from Wikipedia and its contributors where noted by the URL path in the “Wik” table field, used and modified under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike (CC-BY-SA) license. Map data from OpenStreetMap and its contributors, used under the Open Data Commons Open Database License (ODbL).

Index

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I

K

L

M

O

P

Q

R

S

T

U

V

W