7 places not allowed on a trip to Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu was an Inca city that housed approximately one thousand people during the 15th century and early 16th century in present-day Cusco, Peru. It was designed with roads, squares, royal enclosures, population enclosures, religious temples and more. Today, the archaeological site has around 150 stone constructions that remain despite being more than five hundred years old. However, not all Inca constructions are available to visitors. Some are even prohibited to be protected for posterity. Learn about 7 places that are prohibited on the trip to Machu Picchu.

The Intihuatana

The Intihuatana is one of the most representative buildings of Machu Picchu. Its name, translated from the Quechua language, means ‘where the sun is tied or moored’. The sun’s rays fall on its pyramid-shaped stone structure, predicting the correct time for planting and harvesting in the Inca city. It is located at the top of the religious sector, climbing a staircase from the Main Plaza. It is believed that when tourists bring their hands close to it, they are filled with the sun’s energy.

For many years, the Intihuatana was visited by thousands of people. However, because its paths are narrow and there are so many visitors who want to see it, access to the Intihuatana was closed to the public from 2024. The decision was made to preserve this building, one of the most important in Machu Picchu. Today it can only be seen from a viewpoint such as the top of the Huchuy Picchu mountain or from the Casa del Guardián, also called Casa del Vigilante.

• Where is it located? – At the top of the religious sector of Machu Picchu. It can be seen from the Guardian’s House or from the Sacred Plaza of Machu Picchu.
• More information – The Intihuatana is a pyramid-shaped structure with a polygonal structure at the top. There is another Intihuatana that served the same function in the Inca city of Pisac.

The Royal Tomb

The Royal Tomb is one of the most mysterious constructions in Machu Picchu. It is located beneath the Temple of the Sun, inside a natural cavern carved by the Incas. Chronicles indicate that liturgical objects made of precious stones such as gold and silver were found inside. It is believed that the embalmed mummy of an important person, such as a priest or the mummy of Emperor Pachacútec, was kept there. Since the beginning of the 21st century, access to this cavern has been prohibited.

Today, the Royal Tomb can be visited through Circuit 3 in Machu Picchu. The visit is only made from the outside. No tourists can access the interior of this cavern. Only archaeologists who carry out research work at the archaeological site can access this area. The Royal Tomb continues to be one of the most attractive places in Machu Picchu but can only be seen from the outside.

• Where is it located? – In the religious sector of Machu Picchu, below the Temple of the Sun. It can be visited from the outside through circuit 3 of Machu Picchu.
• More information – The Temple of the Sun is located on top of the Royal Tomb. It is the most important religious building in Machu Picchu. This makes the Royal Tomb even more important.

The Temple of the Sun

The Temple of the Sun is the most important religious construction in Machu Picchu. It is a structure carved in stone over a cavern, with a semicircular shape at the top. The rays of the sun, the supreme god of the Inca worldview, fall through its windows. In addition, its interior has niches where gold and silver objects were placed during religious ceremonies.

The Temple of the Sun can be seen from a viewing point at the top of the archaeological site (circuit 2) or from the bottom (circuit 3). However, no tourists can access its interior because it is one of the most important sacred sites in Machu Picchu. There is evidence of fire there, which is believed to have been set on fire during the Spanish invasion in the 16th century. Only archaeologists who were carrying out research work in the Inca city can access this place.

• Where is it located? – In the religious sector of Machu Picchu, above the Royal Tomb of Machu Picchu. Access is via circuit 2 (upper part) or circuit 3 (lower part).
• More information – The sun was the supreme god of the Incas, called ‘Inti’ in the Quechua language. In his honour the Incas built the Temple of the Sun, one of the few in the entire Inca Empire in a semicircular shape.

Putucusi Mountain

Putucusi is a Quechua word meaning ‘happy mountain’ and is located a short distance from Machu Picchu town. The reason for this name is a mystery. Perhaps because of the almost perfect circular shape of its summit. The truth is that it is one of the mountains that surround Machu Picchu along with Huayna Picchu, Huchuy Picchu and Machu Picchu Mountain. However, unlike the latter, the route to the top of Putucusi is not touristy. In fact, it is a prohibited route due to the difficulty of its paths, which are often vertical.

Despite the prohibition of the route to Putucusi, there are some adventurous visitors who undertake this hike. The hike takes 3 or 4 hours, along very demanding routes. One of the most difficult sections, which is prohibited, is the ascent via a rope and wooden stairs with a slope of almost 90 degrees. The summit of Putucusi is 2,560 meters above sea level. From there you have a different and panoramic view of Machu Picchu. The descent is as demanding as the ascent.

• Where is it located? – About 5 kilometers from the town of Aguas Calientes, Machu Picchu town. From there it is a 4 or 5 hour walk, depending on the physical condition of the visitor. The route is not a tourist route so in theory it is prohibited.
• More information – There have been many accidents that have occurred on the slopes of the Putucusi mountain, especially during the rainy season in Machu Picchu, such as January, February and March.

The Secret Door

The Secret Door of Machu Picchu is one of the most mysterious constructions of the Inca city. It is a cavern that was hastily walled up at some point during the five hundred years of history of Machu Picchu. In 2010, researchers David Crespy and Thierry Jamin suggested that metal objects, perhaps precious objects, could be found inside, along with an Inca mummy. Despite their studies, the authorities of the Ministry of Culture of Peru did not give the go-ahead for the archaeological work.

The Secret Gate of Machu Picchu is located in the sacred sector of the Inca city, below the royal enclosures in the upper part of the Inca city. Precisely because of its location in a sacred area, research work could damage a very important space in Machu Picchu. The Secret Gate can be visited by everyone, during circuit 2. However, no one can access its interior, not even the authorities of the citadel. What is hidden inside? It will remain a mystery.

• Where is it located? – In the religious sector of Machu Picchu. The visit can be made through circuit 2 or the classic route.
• More information – Some visitors leave offerings of coca leaves or coins at the Secret Door of Machu Picchu.

The Inca Bridge

The Inca Bridge, as its name suggests, was a bridge that connected Machu Picchu with the section of the royal roads (Qhapac ñan) in the eastern sector or jungle area. It is made of a wooden trunk placed on a solid stone base. According to research, the bridge could be removed in case of invasions and put back to allow people to enter or leave the Inca city. It is located at the eastern end of the archaeological site, after a 15-minute walk from the Casa del Guardián sector.

Not many tourists know about this bridge, as it can only be visited by purchasing the Machu Picchu with Inca Bridge ticket. Upon arrival, after a simple walk, the bridge can be seen from a viewing point at a safe distance. Access to the bridge is closed by a security gate. That is, no tourist can walk across the bridge. This is to safeguard the integrity of tourists and to properly preserve this Inca bridge. Access to the walk and the bridge is only permitted for tourists over 18 years of age.

• Where is it? – The Inca Bridge is located in the eastern sector of Machu Picchu, on the stretch that connects the Inca city with the Inca royal roads (qhapac ñan). It can be reached after a 15-minute walk from the Guardian’s House.
• More information – Bridges made of wooden logs are just one of the types of bridges that the Incas used to connect their vast territory. They also used hanging bridges made of icchu or high mountain grass. Perhaps the most famous bridge is the Queswachaka hanging bridge, located in Cusco and still in use today.

Wiñayhuayna

Wiñayhuayna is one of the least known archaeological sites for tourists who come to Cusco. However, it has a special charm, a scenic beauty and an architectural structure that resembles Machu Picchu. It is located just 3 kilometers by walk along the qhapac ñan or Inca trails from the Intipunku or Sun Gate of Machu Picchu. Many tourists reach this building but cannot continue because it is forbidden to visitors.

The only way to visit Wiñayhuayna is through the Inca Trail tour to Machu Picchu, either in its two- or four-day version. Wiñayhuayna is the same name as one of the many species of orchids that grow in the jungle of Machu Picchu. Wiñayhuayna means ‘forever young’. It is characterized by its high terraces and stone buildings. Only a few visitors can visit this archaeological site by camping there one night before visiting Machu Picchu, through the 4-day Inca Trail tour.

• Where is it located? – 3 kilometers from the Inca city of Machu Picchu, on the route of the qhapac ñan or royal Inca roads. Doing the Classic Inca Trail, Wiñayhuayna is visited on day 3.
• More information – Like Wiñayhuayna, the 4-day Inca Trail tour is the only way to see the Inca archaeological sites that were connected to Machu Picchu via the Inca Trail. Highlights include: Llactapata, Runkurakay, Sayacmarca, Phuyupatamarca and more.

By Machupicchu Terra – Last updated, December 12, 2024