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Circuit 3C — Gran Caverna Route

The lower city and the long trail behind Waynapicchu to the Great Cavern, with 7 hours inside.

8 official stopsUp to 7 h inside

Circuit 3C is the Gran Caverna route. On the official map it walks the lower sector of the Inka city, reaches the Sacred Rock and then takes the long trail around and down the far side of Waynapicchu to the Great Cavern, also known as the Temple of the Moon. Its 7-hour maximum stay is the longest of any ticket, and the map marks it as available in high season only.

The route, stop by stop

Follow the trail — tips by travelers who were just there

Stop 4 · The curved wall from above

Temple of the Sun Viewpoint

The official viewpoint over the only curved building in Machu Picchu, raised on top of a natural cave. The routes look down on it — nobody walks inside the temple.

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Down the east side

13
Pisonay SquareThe old tree

The small plaza named after its native pisonay tree, in the lower urban sector.

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Stonework of the lower urban sector of Machu Picchu near the Temple of the Condor
Stop 12 · A condor in flight

Temple of the Condor

A natural rock formation completed with Inka stonework into the shape of a condor in flight — head carved on the floor, wings rising behind.

Good to know: Fountains in this sector still run on the original Inka spring channels.

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Down the east side

11
Water Mirrors ComplexStar basins

Two carved stone basins believed to have reflected the night sky for observation — also known as the "mortar room".

10
Eastern QolqasThe storehouses

The granite storehouses — qolqas — that kept the food supply of the city, built along the eastern slope.

9
Twelve NichesThe niched hall

An enclosure of twelve trapezoidal niches — one of the clearest examples of Inka niche architecture in the city.

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The north end of the Machu Picchu citadel with Huayna Picchu rising behind
Stop 8 · The north end

Sacred Rock

A monolith carved to mirror the silhouette of the mountain behind it, at the northern end of the city — and the point where the mountain trails begin.

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Signposted trail · The long back trail

Gran Caverna (Temple of the Moon)

The trail that drops down the far side of Waynapicchu to the Great Cavern, a cave shrine with some of the finest stonework of the sanctuary. It is the longest walk of all the routes, which is why this ticket allows up to 7 hours.

Good to know: The official map marks this route as available in high season only.

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Ready to walk it yourself?

Official Ministry ticket · real-time availability

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