Machu Picchu, Peru

Machu Picchu ruins are similar to Angkor Wat in Cambodia in that the area is massive and the work involved to build such a place is incredibly impressive. In terms of photography at Machu Picchu, it is difficult to photograph the location due to the number of tourists and the sheer size of the area. Also, it’s thrilling to enjoy the place without a camera to your eye. However, photography at Machu Picchu is very rewarding!

This itinerary includes time at Ollantaytambo’s Incan ruins, a wonderful place located half-way between Cusco and Machu Picchu.

Itinerary for Photography at Machu Picchu
For photography at Machu Picchu, I suggest staying a minimum of 2 nights in the cute, small town of Aguas Calientes, which lies at the bottom of the mountain from Machu Picchu. This will allow you 1 full day at Machu Picchu, which is generally open from 6 am to 6 pm.
Three nights would be ideal if you’ve arrived in Aguas Calientes at the end of the Salkantay Trek, Inca Trail, or similar extended hiking. This would also give you time to explore the town and Click Here to visit the Machu Picchu Museum near the bridge. Additionally, two nights in Ollantaytambo is a great stopover between Cusco and Machu Picchu. Read on for details!

Packing Your Photography Gear for Machu Picchu
Pack your gear the night before. This gives you time in the morning to remember anything you might have forgotten. Click Here for my Machu Picchu Photography Gear List

• Don’t forget your passport and entrance ticket! These will be checked!!!

• Batteries – Triple check that all the batteries are charged by actually putting them in your camera and seeing that it powers up completely.
• Memory Cards – Offload all photos onto another device and format the cards for maximum space.
• Check that camera settings are correct for first photos of the morning, including timezone, date, photo format (RAW, JPEG, RAW+JPEG, etc.), and expected ISO, f-stop, and shutter speed.
• Attach the tripod mount to your camera body to avoid searching for it later.

Have you been to Macchu Picchu and do you have any photography tips you can add?


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Tags: tuesday tips, photography, machu picchu, peru