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astrid_travel
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Machu Picchu

  • May 9, 2005
  • Rated 5 of 5 by Pguthrie from Little Rock, Arkansas
Fabulous. Machu Picchu is the most spectacular ruin I have visited. A large percentage of what sets it apart is the setting, 8,000 feet up in the Andes. Rather expensive at $75 soles. We got in with the tour group the first day we were there but had to pay full fare the second day. Macchu Picchu Village (formerly Aguas Calientes) was a pleasnt suprise and one of the most interesting places we stayed in Peru. Don't miss a chance to see Macchu Picchu if you are going to be anywhere close to Peru!

From journal Peru

Editor Pick

Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu

To fully understand the history of Machu Picchu, you must hike the Inca Trail for 4 days. Of course, if hiking is not your thing, you can be a "lazy person" (as stated by my guide on the Inca Trail) and take the train/bus to Machu Picchu.

Machu Picchu is best visited in the morning. If you're hiking to Machu Picchu, try to arrive at sunrise. Once you reach the ruins, either by hiking or by taking the bus from Aguas Calientes, the grounds are quiet and sparse, which gives you plenty of time to enjoy Machu Picchu without the busloads of tourists around. It's very peaceful and relaxing.

Everyone sees photos of Machu Picchu, but do many people really know what it is? Archeologists believe it was built in the mid- to late 1400s, and probably served as a royal estate and religious retreat of some sort. Most of the buildings are built with granite rock, perfectly cut and shaped to form tight bonds without using mortar. Methods on how the rocks were cut are disputed since several different methods can be used to cut the stones. It is believed that more than 1,200 people lived at Machu Picchu, and surprisingly, most of the remains found at the site were women. The Incas planted crops, such as potatoes and maize, at Machu Picchu using advanced terracing and irrigation methods to reduce erosion and increase the area available for cultivation. The Spanish never found Machu Picchu. Therefore, it remained hidden deep in the Andes for centuries, only to be discovered by Hiram Bingham in 1911.

One of the most important things found at Machu Picchu is the intihuatana, which means "hitching post of the sun." It is a large stone about the size of a Daewoo car. Towards the solstices of each year, the sun appears to move farther and farther away. Priests would hold ceremonies here and use the stone to "tie up" the sun to prevent it from disappearing. At each solstice, it would appear that the ritual would work because the sun would "come back." Because the Spaniards never reached Machu Picchu, this intihuatana is intact (although it was cracked by a beer company filming a commercial at Machu Picchu), unlike other ones destroyed by the Spanish at other Inca sites.

Guided tours last a few hours, then you will be given the option of exploring the ruins on your own. Take advantage of this time by hiking up Huayna Picchu or exploring the many small rooms and passageways of Machu Picchu.

The cost to enter Machu Picchu is approximately $20. Tickets can be bought at the front gate. If you hike in, your tour operator may buy them for you ahead of time. There is also another charge to ride the bus to/from Aguas Calientes. If you're on a tight budget, there is a trail to hike instead of taking the bus. There are also several trains to/from Cusco to Aguas Calientes. See www.perurail.com.

From journal What's a Trip to Peru Without Machu Picchu?

Editor Pick

Wayna Picchu/Huayna Picchu

Wayna Picchu/Huayna Picchu

In any typical picture of Machu Picchu, you will almost always see a large peak rising above it. Most probably don't know this name of this peak: Wayna Picchu, sometimes spelled Huayna Picchu. Some myths regarding Wayna Picchu believe this peak is the nose of an Andean face looking skyward, which marks the spot where Machu Picchu was to be built.

Wayna Picchu can also be climbed. On top of this very steep mountain are terraces and buildings overlooking Machu Picchu, including the Temple of the Moon. How any of these places were constructed is beyond me.

To hike Wayna Picchu, walk through Machu Picchu to the caretaker's hut. Here, you must sign in and sign out when you enter and exit the trail, respectively. From here, it's almost a near-vertical climb up the side of the mountain. For most, the climb can take 45 to 60 minutes. Being in a hurry, I climbed it in 25 minutes. Unlike the Inca Trail, there are many rope and wire railings for you to hold onto as you ascend and descend. Without them, climbing this would be extremely difficult, if not impossible.

Once you reach the terraces, it is a bit difficult to find the actual peak. Climbing through an extremely narrow tunnel, I found myself confronted with more steps to climb. Following these brought me to the peak, in which there are several large stones piled together, each stone about the size of a car. There are alternative paths to the peak. No matter how you reach the top, you will be rewarded with amazing views of Machu Picchu and the surrounding area.

Descending this climb is almost as dangerous as ascending. Take your time and be patient with the people around you.

From journal What's a Trip to Peru Without Machu Picchu?

Editor Pick

Macchu Picchu

  • February 24, 2005
  • Rated 5 of 5 by drumzspace from Napa, California
Macchu Picchu

Everyone knows about it. Everyone has heard about it. Everyone has seen pictures of it. The once-hidden core of the Incan empire is now a hub of commerce and activity, prompting the government to take an active role in regulating the number of visitors to it and the Inca Trail leading to this historic site.

Macchu Picchu is the most popular tourist destination in South America for a reason: the views are spectacular, it's a manageable size, and there are plenty of services for tourists in the nearby staging town, Aguas Calientes.

Cheap lodging, good restaurants, Internet connections, and shops cram the small hamlet perched on the edge of the Urubamba River. When departing the train from Cusco, the traveler is bombarded by locals from the town selling film, panchos, T-shirts... just about everything the typical gringo needs.

Macchu Picchu itself is a 20-minute bus ride from Aguas Calientes, up a narrow and winding road. From there, it's a $20 entrance fee, and you're set to wander in the footsteps of the Incans. Those who have avoided the effects of the altitude can take the 45-minute climb up Huayna Picchu, the giant mountain that looms over the city of Macchu Picchu and graces countless pictures of the site.

The site itself is completely "doable" in one full day without feeling rushed, although if Huayna Picchu is in your plans, perhaps a day and a half is a better plan, because when you return from the mountain, you probably won't feel like doing much else. If you're energetic, not interested in soaking in every last detail of Macchu Picchu, and an early riser, though, one day should suffice for everything.

From journal Peru - Miles High and a World Away

Inca Trail (Trial) and Machu Picchu.

  • August 13, 2002
  • Rated 4 of 5 by astrid_travel from Guernsey, United Kingdom
I trekked the Inca Trail in May with some friends. We went with "X-treme Tour Buencia", one of the many tour operators in Cusco. (They are located along Calle Plateros.) As ISIC card holders, we paid $145 each and this included 2 English speaking guides, porters, food, accomodation (2 people in 4 man tents set up by the porters), entry to Machu Picchu and the train back to Cusco at the end.

From journal Cusco, Peru and surrounding area.

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