Machu Picchu, Peru
Machu Picchu should be on everyone's bucket list, there is something mystical and unique about this mountain top city. Machu Picchu was constructed by the Inca emperor Pachacuti (1438–1472). But abandoned it a century later at the time of the Spanish conquest. Although known locally, it was not known to the Spanish during the colonial period and remained unknown to the outside world until American historian Hiram Bingham brought it to international attention in 1911.
Machu Picchu is the site of an ancient Inca city, high in the Andes of Peru. Sitting on a plateau between the mountains of Machu Picchu and Huayna Picchu at 2430m, the site is often referred to as “The Lost City of the Incas”.
It’s one of the most famous and spectacular sets of ruins in the world. A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1983, Machu Picchu is one of the New 7 Wonders of the World.
If you are choosing to trek to Machu Picchu we recommend that you spend a couple of days acclimatizing to altitude in Cusco, before you start your trek.
You can hike up from Agua Calientes or take the bus. Make sure you allow yourself time for the hike up to the Sun Gate as the view is worth it.
Getting there
There are two ways of traveling to Machu Picchu, one is to hike in along the Inca Trail, the other is by train.
The Inca Trail, is South America’s number one trek and one of the most popular treks in the world. The 4 day trek along original paved Inca pathways, passes a variety of fascinating Inca sites and the beautiful scenery of the Machu Picchu national park.
The official Inca trail is closed every year for the month of February to give the trails some time to recover and carry out maintenance. It is strongly recommended to book your Inca Trail at least 5 months in advance as permits can quickly sell out.
If you are not up for the trek then we recommend the train. There are a number of train options from Ollyantambo in the Sacred Valley to Agua Calientes at the foot of the mountain. We recommend Inca-rail. A taxi to Ollyantambo is about $US35 and takes about 2 hours.