The Inca citadel is one of the most photographed places in the world, because of its very impressive beauty and visual might. Here are the things you need to know for taking the best pictures of Machu Picchu!
Machu Picchu currently is the top touristic destination in Latin America, and besides our professionally guided, 2-hour tour, and all the beauty that nature and architecture offer there, our customers have the additional perk of the chance to take pictures of one of the premier touristic destinations in the world, for recollection of a great vacation here in Cusco.
1. Good equipment.-
Of course the first step in order to have the best pictures of Machu Picchu is having a good camera; it’s not our goal to recommend any one in particular, just tell you what professional photographers advice; of course they have more than a camera, but if it’s not your case, don’t worry, a good camera will be enough and make sure it’s equipped with a wide angle zoom lens, so you can have the right panoramic pictures. A tripod would be also very convenient but it has to be portable on a backpack, otherwise there will be an additional cost; and of course a good backpack in case you’re actually taking a tripod. And don’t forget your extra batteries!
2. Timing.-
There is unanimity that the best time of the day for taking top pictures of Machu Picchu is very early in the morning (sunrise actually), for strongest light reasons and because there are less people so you won’t have to wait for the groups to walk away from the particular place you’re trying to photograph. Anyway, photographers recommend to be very patient with crowds since everybody wants to have the best Machu Picchu trip for their money.
3. Positioning.-
If you want to take the best pictures of Machu Picchu, taking them from the right place is very important! Let’s check the photography options Machu Picchu offers:
A. Panoramic views:
Panoramic views: for the classic, postcard photograph of Machu PIcchu, you have 2 wonderful options, first, taking the picture halfway to the Inti Punku (Sun Gate); this location offers a wider panoramic take of the citadel and the landscape, it does include more of the view, more of the landscape. Second, from the Inti Punku itself, which offers a smaller view of the landscape and the citadel in the middle, but it still ranks among the classic postcard, panoramic shoots of the site.
C. At the citadel itself
At the citadel itself, professional photographers recommend, if you want to take the best pictures of Machu Picchu, to be also very focused on details as on wide shoots as well; you can either use the camera in an on-hands fashion for the quicker pictures or the tripod for pictures that will take longer. Machu Picchu has a wonderful architecture and also, since they didn’t have writing, they used to tell many things by showing them on stone, so shooting the detail will also be like shooting the messages they wanted to convey.
B. Another favorite
Another favorite, great place for taking pictures is from the top of the Huayna Picchu, the smaller of the 2 mountains beside the citadel. Many people who visit Machu Picchu take the chance to climb this small mountain, from the top of it you can also shoot wonderful pictures of the landscape and of the tiny citadel down below.
D. When it comes to nature
When it comes to nature, besides the landscapes, there are many free llamas (Andean camelids) walking around and also big condors flying on a vivid blue sky; professional photographers recommend that the best pictures of llamas are those that have the citadel in the background and for condors avoid the sun glow as much as possible because it will of course affect the quality of your pictures. This is the way for you to take the best pictures of Machu Picchu and its animals.
So, here at TOUR IN PERU we hope that with these tips, you will make the most out of your photographies from your dream vacation at the citadel, contact us for taking the best pictures of Machu Picchu!
