Walking to Machu Picchu from Aguas Calientes - any input?
 

We are hiking the Lares Trek which puts us into Aguas Calientes the night before MP. We had thought of walking up to MP very early to beat the crowds, but have heard that the gates don't open until 6 or 7 am. Is there any way if we get there early to walk around and get to the Sun Gate? Any advice. We were hoping to have some tranquil moments there before the crowds... Thanks!

I don't think you can walk to the Sun Gate other than from inside the MP park. The first few hours aren't too crowded (the first day trip folks don't arrive until about 8 am, and the masses start around 10am) so just go up with the earliest busses (people start to line up for those too, BTW). I don't know if its even possible to find tranquil moments, just less busy ones.

That's a pretty tough walk. I'd just try for the earliest bus. They can tell you when people start lining up. So many people will be going early to hike Huayna Picchu that I wouldn't think the Sun Gate would be very crowded. Remember to get the MP stamp for your passport. That's right at the entrance and they actually have you stamp it yourself. Kind of a fun free souvenir.

Long uphill trek cannot get to sun gate

Take shuttle up $7 walk down easier fun

although you get dusty from all the big buses

going back and forth...

walk on the side of the road into traffic so

as not to becone road kill...

Also good to go up on an early bus like 5:30AM

to watch the sunrise...

Go right away to the back of MP to sign up

for HP climb only 400 allowed.

Amazing...

Machu Picchu closes at 5pm daily and the last bus leaves for AC at 5:30pm, right? Is is still daylight around 5:30pm in September? Are there people that still hang around outside the MP gate and then walk down later? I've read that it only take about an hour or less to walk down. I'm just wondering if maybe I can take photos of some last rays of sunlight hitting MP if I hang around until 6pm or so.

I was lucky enough to stay in the one hotel right at Machu Picchu, and it does indeed get quiet, I was the only in the ruins about 30 minutes before dark, really spectacular, but of course really expensive . I wouldn't want to walk the road from Aguas in either direction, it is very, very steep.