Inca Bridge in Machu Picchu is an unexpected bonus when visiting Peru’s most famous attraction. You have to see it to believe it.

The bridge clings to a sheer rock wall hundreds of feet high. There’s only one way to get there: the original Inca path along a steep mountain.

It’s an inspiring experience. Yet, the strange thing is most visitors to Machu Picchu don’t even know it’s there.

Introduction to Inca Bridge in Machu Picchu

A short distance away from the city of Machu Picchu, the mysterious Inca Bridge appears on an ancient path. Its simple but clever construction on a mountain edge signals a strategic placement. Here was a mechanism to enable access to and from their city, or block it.

What did the Incas use it for? Trade? A quick escape route? To dismantle and defend?

Is the Inca Bridge in Machu Picchu open to visitors?

Yes, the bridge is currently open to visitors. The trail was re-opened in 2022.

How to get tickets for Inca Bridge Machu Picchu

If purchasing Machu Picchu tickets online, choose the Circuit 1 and 2 + Puente Inka option in the dropdown on Peru’s Ministry of Culture website.

I bought my Machu Picchu tickets in-person in Aguas Calientes (November 2022). In order to visit Puente Inka, you must specifically ask for Llaqta de Machupicchu + Puente Inka, or Llaqta with Inca Bridge.

There is no difference in the ticket price if you buy Llaqta de Machupicchu to tour the main citadel only, or Llaqta with Inca Bridge. If requested, the Inca Bridge is a free add-on to your circuit 1 and 2 tour. The ticket will describe the exact option you choose. They are checked when you arrive at the Inca Bridge control point inside Machu Picchu.

When is the best time to go to Inca Bridge Machu Picchu?

My recommendation would be to go early in the morning and visit Inca Bridge first, before continuing on to the main citadel. There are a 30 tickets available to go to Inca Bridge in every hourly slot between 7am and 10am. I choose the 7 – 8am entry for my Circuit 1 and 2 + Puente Inka ticket.

Choose a ticket with either the 7 – 8am or 8 – 9am entry slots. Here’s why…

Where is the starting point for Inca Bridge walk in Machu Picchu?

Inca Bridge is located in the Western sector of Machu Picchu. From the main citadel, you will start off on a short ascent that lasts for 10 minutes or so. This eventually leads to a guard’s hut which is the starting point of the Inca Bridge trail.

All visitors are asked to log their names when going in and out. Good to know they’re keeping track!

How long is the walk to the Inca Bridge?

From the Puente Inka control point, the walk to Inca Bridge takes around 20 minutes. Or a 40 minute return in total.

Of course, there are exceptions… At 7:32am, I was the first visitor to the Inca Bridge trail that morning. Signing out at 8:34am, I saw that three other tourists who had arrived after me had signed out at 8:14am. What takes most people 30-40 mins there and back took me an hour. But, I did it. Achievement unlocked!

Inca Bridge Trail Experience

The walk to the bridge is a short, adrenaline-filled hike.

There was certainly enough adrenaline running through me throughout the length of this trail that I count it as one of my 5 Crazy Travel Stories from Peru!

You start off on a narrow path and quickly realise that it’s on the edge. For the entire way.

It is approximately a drop of 1900 feet – or just under 600 meters.

Not for the faint-hearted… (nor clumsy walker)

While I could prattle on and on about the crazy logistics of this ancient trail, let’s talk about the other highlights. For instance – what it’s like to walk through a cloud forest.

Going to Machu Picchu early in the morning during the 7am – 8am slot mean you will find it entirely shrouded in clouds.

While some might say it’s a waste to go when there’s little visibility I’d argue that this is a big part of Machu Picchu’s allure that shouldn’t be missed. The mysterious vibes…

Ascending to the starting point to Inca Bridge in the cloud forest was a one-of-a-kind experience. Over the first 10 minutes of walking on the trail, a thick curtain of mist clung to the air. As time crept closer to 8am, the curtain slowly peeled back to reveal the canyon of Urubamba River.

It’s tough to capture the mood with words…

Enchanting. Other-worldly even. With more than a hint of mystery in the air.

Besides the (thrill?) of the sheer drop-off, walking in a cloud forest and seeing the gradual stunning views of the Urubamba Valley are highlights of the Inca Bridge trek.

The trail eventually leads to a viewpoint of the log bridge. At this point your mouth will likely hang open.

When you stop to consider the engineering required to create this cliffside path and bridge, it’s mind-boggling.

It is the closest that you will get to Machu Picchu’s Inca Bridge. It is not possible to walk directly up to it, nor can you walk to the nearby guard hut as previously allowed.

What does the Inca Bridge in Machu Picchu look like?

When I first laid eyes on the bridge my reaction was: “What? That’s it?”

I don’t what I was expecting really, but it wasn’t this…

Inca Bridge is a simple construction of a few wooden planks placed across a gap in a cliffside path.

I stared and stared. And then it dawned on me: “Don’t underestimate this – looks can be deceiving!” As with most Incan construction, the design of the bridge would have been carefully planned. And it was sheer genius. Literally.

The logs could be removed at any time to prevent unwanted visitors from crossing and continuing eastward on the path to the citadel.

Can you walk to Inca Bridge if you have vertigo?

The trail to the Inca Bridge is narrow, especially on the final approach, and it is right on the edge of a steep cliff. Anyone with vertigo, acrophobia or fear of edges will be affected. It is impossible to shake hyper-awareness of the sheer drop-offs.

While my experience of walking to Inca Bridge was successful despite my fear of edges, it would be irresponsible of me to actively encourage anyone with a fear or heights or edges to go on this path. What the pictures don’t reveal are the bouts of temporary paralysis I experienced multiple times on the trail!

Can you go to Inca Bridge with a guided tour?

Most of the guided tour groups in Machu Picchu do not follow the diversion to Inca Bridge. This could be due to its location away from the main Inca citadel.

Machu Picchu guides likely do not include it as a stop on their tours given the walking distance and extra time it adds to the itinerary. Or, perhaps it is a group safety decision.

Is it worth going to see the Inca Bridge in Machu Picchu?

Visiting the Inca Bridge was a highlight of my Machu Picchu visit. The architectural ingenuity of the wooden bridge and stone trail built on an (almost) vertical cliff face is just…WOW. If you have the opportunity to check it out – and do not have a fear of height or edges – then add it to that trip itinerary!

The Inca Bridge Trail is the only uncrowded place in Machu Picchu for tourists. I was thrilled to have the place practically all to myself. It makes for an extra special and memorable time in Machu Picchu. With the absence of foot traffic, you can move unhurried along the path, take it all in, and let your imagination wander…