Machu Picchu Inca Archaeological Site Reviews (Cusco, Peru)

A amazing place, too crowded

Paris, Île-de-France, France

March 16, 2011

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Machu Picchu is an amazing experience. Watching the cloud go away and the sun rise on this 500 years old Lost City is a once in a lifetime experience that you will probably remember all your life. But the location is not only for people who diserved ...Read more

Machu Picchu

by SeenThat

Tel Aviv, Tel Aviv, Israel

February 10, 2011

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Best of IgoUgo Prelude: La Paz"It’s amazing! And the tools used for the construction were never found! It’s magic!"I was speaking with the American owner of a major handicrafts store in La Paz. As usual, I couldn’t avoid his fascination with Tiwanaku and Machu ...Read more

From journal Vanishing into a Lost City

The culmination of our guided visits of Inca Sites

by MichaelJM

Nottingham, England

September 27, 2010

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Best of IgoUgo A site where just a tiny amount of imagination transports us to a city at the height of the Inca Empire when temples, terraces, houses, palaces, towers, fountains and staircases were home to a population of about 1000. For many centuries this was a ...Read more A site where just a tiny amount of imagination transports us to a city at the height of the Inca Empire when temples, terraces, houses, palaces, towers, fountains and staircases were home to a population of about 1000.

For many centuries this was a site hidden, buried in the jungle, overgrown since the Incas deliberately abandoned the city, although it is not known when or why this happened.

The Spanish conquistadors never found Machu Picchu to loot or destroy and it was the American explorer Hiram Bingham who stumbled on the Inca citadel in 1911. At the time the city had almost returned to the original vegetation but a slow and often painful archaeological project from Yale University set about unearthing this stunning and now iconic site.

Entrance to the site was through a small complex and its narrow passage ways made it impossible for more than one person to enter at a time, an obvious and well constructed defence strategy. But having manoeuvred this entrance the whole site opened up in front of us. The emotion of the visitors was almost electric as the gasps of admiration and excitement rippled through our small party (four of us). This was the wow factor plus. Unbelievably believable. A magic site as the city of Machu Picchu emerged from the mist. The whole setting was just as I’d hoped it would be. Mystical, fascinating, awe inspiring, incredible ...... and any other superlative that you can muster.
All we’ve heard about earlier in respect of Inca design is laid out in front of us. The superbly constructed terracing on the steep hills; neatly planned streets; public building; and high status accommodation.

Our tour takes us to the key sights on this site: the waterfalls, storage buildings, agricultural terraces, temples, astronomy observation points, ceremonial places, and public plazas. Our guide had stories about every point of our tour. One of the most fascinating debates, in my opinion, was the one about the reason that the site was abandoned. There are numerous theories, but the important factor to make note of is that there were very few burials detected on the site. This fact alone pointed to the Incas leaving the city of their own volition. It is felt highly unlikely that disease ravaged the population because there is no sign of large scale burials and as the conquistadors did not find the city it is also believed unlikely that the Incas were fleeing the invaders. So just check out the sun temple and there is clear sign of fire damage and it is strongly suggested that a bolt of lightning hit this holy place causing significant structural damage (this is clearly evident today) and fire soon followed. The Incas would have seen this as the "wrath of the Gods" and as their Gods were displeased with them they felt no choice but to abandon their holy place. This theory sounded good to me and I happily signed up for this interpretation of the Inca’s abandonment of Machu Picchu.
We stand at the Intihuatana (Hitching Post of the Sun), which has been cordoned off since it was chipped by the makers of a television commercial when they dropped a piece of equipment a on it. Weird that this modern story should take precedence over tales of its contemporary life.

It was fascinating to note the different quality of the stone work, with prestigious temples being carefully crafted and lower level building being almost "thrown together", the latter is of course an over-statement but there is a real difference between the buildings. Indeed where other buildings join the Sun Temple you can observe the difference in a block’s width.

I’d advise a climb up to the upper terrace overlooking the settlement as it’s from here that you’ll get that "picture postcard" photograph. It is a bit of a tough climb, but that’s mainly because of the varying height of the steps with a touch of altitude.

At the far side of the site are the "labourer’s accommodation" and there’s a very interesting boulder which looks as if it was naturally deposited there. But take a moment to check out its contours and then look straight ahead into the middle distance towards the Sun Gate. There is the outline of natural cliff that is almost absolutely duplicated onto the boulder. Why? Who knows? But clearly the shapes were transferred by man onto the boulder. Perhaps a stone mason’s practice piece or a message to the Gods? Certainly this was overlooking the ceremonial site where the population of Machu Picchu would assemble for religious messages and where the archaeologists found a lot of broken high quality pottery believed to have been offered as "sacrificial offerings" to the Gods. The Inca’s best pottery that was donated to the Gods at key times in the Inca calendar or when there seemed to be a need to please the "spiritual beings" that overlooked the daily lives of this Inca settlement.

Machu Picchu is still a spiritual place that is very hard to give justice to in words or pictures. I think it is a truly iconic site that has to be seen and experienced to believe. If you can get there then I’d strongly recommend a visit. And then when you can’t capture the enormity of the site to others you will fully understand how I feel about the great Machu Picchu.
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From journal My trip to the great Machu Picchu

Aproaching the great iconic site of the Incas

by MichaelJM

Nottingham, England

September 22, 2010

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Best of IgoUgo As everyone knows Machu Picchu is the magnificent Inca citadel resting on a high peaks alongside other forested mountains. I guess it’s the one South America’s sights that all the world has heard about and that many travellers want to see. I ...Read more As everyone knows Machu Picchu is the magnificent Inca citadel resting on a high peaks alongside other forested mountains. I guess it’s the one South America’s sights that all the world has heard about and that many travellers want to see. I suggest it’s the fact that it has the lost City Syndrome status, the Indiana Jones explorer appear and the fact that it is so well preserved and largely intact. As an aside our guide suggested that Hiram Bingham, the explorer who is responsible for re-discovering Machu Picchu, was the inspiration for Indiana Jones, but I’m not sure whether I buy that snippet.

The journey up to Machu Picchu took about 20 minutes on the special bus from the town. They run very frequently, but don’t expect a timetable as it appears that they set off when all the seats were full. There was something special about the journey up there as everyone was nervously anticipating the great iconic site. It reminded me a bit of those childhood journeys to the coast when we were all waiting to see the sea first. The narrow road twisted its way up the steep incline and the bus seemed to be roaring away on occasions as the driver manoeuvred around the tight hairpin bends and wheels spun on the dry dusty road. A descending vehicle posed a slight problem as we had to reverse to a passing point to allow it past and then restart our ascent form the precarious position near the cliff edge. Perhaps it seemed worse than it was because the driver had no problems with the restart but us passengers on the cliff side crossed our fingers and hoped for the best. Of course the journey is safe – thousands of trips have taken place before – but that doesn’t help if you’re on your first trip!

What is truly superb are the views that you’ll see on route to the summit of the mountain that plays host to this Inca village. To check out how it would have been all you have to do is examine the other peeks that surround you. Here the steep forested slopes are in their pristine condition that would have faced the Incas back in the 16th century. It’s hard to understand what it is they saw in the site to merit all the man-years of work that must have gone in to the clearing, terracing and building of the site that became Machu Picchu .

Of course when Bingham was first guided to the site, by a local tribesman, in 1911 the jungle had almost reclaimed its original territory. The site which the Incas had deliberately abandoned had been untouched by the Spanish Conquistadors who we can only assumed never even had an inkling that this Inca citadel existed. It’s hard to think that they plundered every Inca site except this one and that this elaborate settlement was only "home" for around 1000 people. These were the elite of the Incas and the itinerant workers were barracked whilst working on the building.

But I digressed, so back to our transfer from the town up to Machu Picchu. Having negotiated more hair pin bends than I could count, we catch a glimpse of the iconic citadel. Virtually all the passengers on the bus breathe with hushed excitement and then before we can take a second look the view has disappeared. The "lost city" has been lost again! Necks are craned in a vain attempt to see the city again but it eludes us for a few more minutes and then... An excited gasp as the first person spots the wondrous sight which echoes down the bus (a bit like a Mexican Wave) as more people see the building.

Within seconds we’re in sight of the modern buildings that flank the entrance to Machu Picchu and we’re pouring out of the bus and heading for the entrance. It is worth remembering that there are no "facilities", as the guide had euphemistically referred to toilets, so get your sol ready and pay a visit to the toilet at the entrance.

We excitedly head for the turnstiles to enter the grounds of the Machu Picchu site, pausing only briefly to call in the office on the left of the turnstiles to get our passport endorsed with the official Machu Picchu. Now we’re on our way for our official guided tour of this great iconic site. Hold on to your hats as we’re now going to feel the Machu Picchu experience and imagine life as it must have been from those important Incas!
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From journal My trip to the great Machu Picchu

An incredible experience

by Marianina

Montevideo, Montevideo, Uruguay

August 30, 2010

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It’s beautiful place that you will remember forever. For the ones that like the nature, I recommend going thru the Incas road. You have the option for 3 or 5 days, and would be able to see ruins that are accessible only walking.Avoid going in the ...Read more

Machu Picchu

by nmagann

Ventura, California

May 16, 2010

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Best of IgoUgo The train going to Machu Picchu left promptly at 8am from Agua Caliente for the 1 1/2 ride. From everything I had read about limiting the number of visitors and such, getting some kind of package tour was recommended. While the scenery on the ...Read more

From journal Sneak Peak Peru

The Hype, and Then Some

by Niiko

Andújar, Spain

April 29, 2010

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Best of IgoUgo ~ A Little Background ~ Originally built during the 15th century, Machu Picchu is unusual for the fact that the relentless Spanish conquistadors who sought to wipe out the Incas never discovered its location. However, with the passing of those who ...Read more

From journal Snow, Stairs and Soroche; Heart of the Inca Empire

City of the Incas

by Essexgirl09

London, England, United Kingdom

March 14, 2010

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Best of IgoUgo Machu Picchu is an ancient Inca site built in the 1450s but abandoned about a century later (possibly due to an epidemic). It remained a mystery to the outside world, known only to locals until American explorer Hiram Bingham re-discovered it only ...Read more Machu Picchu is an ancient Inca site built in the 1450s but abandoned about a century later (possibly due to an epidemic). It remained a mystery to the outside world, known only to locals until American explorer Hiram Bingham re-discovered it only in 1911. It has since become one of the most famous tourist attractions in the world and was recently voted one of the seven new wonders of the world.

I went as part of an organised tour and we travelled from just outside Cusco, by train, to the incredibly unattractive and touristy town of Aguas Calientes (‘hot waters’ in Spanish, due to nearby hot springs). The journey itself is quite pleasant, but long and slow and takes about three hours. There is some lovely scenery in places en route, and it is nice to see rural scenes go by. Aguas Calientes is on a steep slope so you will need to either walk up a slope or some steps to get to your hotel, unless you have booked one near the bottom. From Aguas Calientes you can get a bus to Machu Picchu which runs regularly for a modest fee, or you can walk. I didn’t do the Inca trail or any of the other treks as I am essentially quite lazy! You can climb the mountains and hills around the sites for a few hours or a day if you wish, but tickets and passes run out quickly, so you need to start very early in the morning. If getting the bus, you wil find it takes a zig-zag route up the side of the mountain and is quite hairy at times, especially when it meets another coming the other way. Vertigo sufferers are advised to make sure they are looking the other way at all times – due to the twists and turns it doesn’t matter where you sit on the bus.

The altitude here is about 2400m, so lower than Cusco and other parts of the mountain range, therefore it is easier to walk around than in those places but I certainly felt the affects of the altitude on some of the uphill climbs though. Machu Picchu is on a slope, so there are a lot of steep up and down hills and steps to do. Although well looked after, ground is uneven, so sensible flat shoes need to be worn also. Llamas and alpacas graze at the site keeping the grass mowed, beware if you are walking up some steps and they are coming down, regardless of the rules of the road in your country, they are bigger than you and won’t give way - I speak from experience! Bring water too, as although there is a little shop, you can probably get some cheaper elsewhere (like Cusco!).

We had a guide with us as part of our tour group, and he was worth his weight in gold. He clearly explained what everything is, how the city operated in its heyday 500 years ago, and gave us a lot of information on Incan history. Many Inca sites were destroyed by the Spanish when they conquered in the early 16th Century, razed to the ground and cathedrals built on top. This site was not discovered by them (if access is difficult now, imagine how hard it was 450 years ago!) so although in ruins it is essentially unharmed by humans having been hidden in the jungle for centuries. The location was no doubt chosen for strategic purposes by the Incas and it certainly worked as the two main access points are over mountains, at altitude. The climate and soil was suitable for farming and was terraced, and there was access to clean spring water. All in all this was a busy and sophisticated Incan city.

Climb to the funerary rock hut for your picture postcard views of the site, don’t worry, the walk down is easier! I loved the view so much I had to be persuaded to move, assured that the site would live up to the view and to my expectations I continued on. This is also a good sunset viewing spot. Here you are also looking down on all the terraces that would have been used for farming. After this we went down to some of the buildings, still above the main plaza, and saw where some of the more important Incas may have lived and even an Incan toilet (also known as a hole in the ground), there are windows still in the walls, although no roof, so you can admire the views that they may have enjoyed. Here also is the royal tomb, but at the time I visited we could not go inside it for safety reasons. Nearer the main plaza is the intiwatana, used by the Incas to track the sun’s movements as a kind of calendar. The surviving building work is impressive, with many large stones, the logistics of getting these stones (some were identified as coming from Cusco region, some from further afield), across one mountain, let alone many is mind boggling.

The site is a UNESCO world heritage site, and may yet become one of their more endangered sites due to the increased volume in tourists; it already has a no fly zone above it. Recent landslides at the beginning of 2010 will have increased concerns, although the site should re-open to tourists in April 2010.

It is a popular site to see for sunrise and many people walk to the Sun-Gate to see it and then carry on into the site. This is probably the busiest time to visit. We visited mid-late afternoon and in the last hour before closing we almost had the place to ourselves.

It is possible to do Machu Picchu in a day from Cusco by getting the early train, missing the ‘delights’ of Aguas Calientes, and getting the late afternoon train back. but I’d hate to be rushed. Overall I think we were only there about 2.5 hours (this didn’t include stops for food, we ate before) and this is plenty of time, I certainly felt happy with the memories I got from here and we didn’t miss anything. Close

From journal Peru Part 1

Somewhere You Must See Before You Die

by catsholiday

ashbourne, United Kingdom

January 11, 2010

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Best of IgoUgo If you were asked to write a list of places you MUST see in the world I believe this would be on most people’s list. It was certainly on my list; it is a destination of a lifetime, a dream come true and one of the most fascinating archaeological ...Read more

From journal South America

Temple of Three Windows

by LenR

Townsville, Queensland, Australia

July 27, 2009

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Best of IgoUgo The Temple of Three Windows, together with the Principal Temple and the Intihuatana, make up what Bingham called the Sacred Plaza. He believed that the three windows framing the distant mountains represented the three mythological caves from which ...Read more The Temple of Three Windows, together with the Principal Temple and the Intihuatana, make up what Bingham called the Sacred Plaza. He believed that the three windows framing the distant mountains represented the three mythological caves from which the Ayar brothers, children of the sun, stepped into the world. The explorer believed that the fact that a temple at Machu Picchu had three large windows, a rare feature in Inca architecture, was evidence of the city’s importance to the Inca.

Located west of the main square, this sacred temple of the Three Windows is known for its huge walls and three trapezoidal-shaped windows through which the sun's rays would pass illuminating the "Sacred Plaza" beyond. This wall is built from one gigantic stone.

The Temple of the Three Windows housed an altar which was possibly used to sacrifice children for Pachamama (Mother Earth) in times of desperation. In front of the Wayrana-style construction, on the large doorjamb next to the central column, there is a sculpted lithograph with carefully polished moulds and flat parts. Shards of smashed pottery were found beneath the temple perhaps indicating to some experts that pots would have been ritually broken here.

The view from Machu Picchu's Sacred Plaza makes one appreciate the superb craftsmanship of the Inca workmen. Surrounding the plaza are the most important buildings of the city. Nearby is the Principal or Main Temple. It is built of three walls and is 11m long and 8m wide. This is an example of excellent Inca stonemasonry, with its large stone blocks polished smooth and joined perfectly. At one end there is a rare example of a wall failure. It appears that the stones were placed on inadequate foundations and the earth has settled over the years

One of the highlights of a Machu Picchu visit is to see the Intiwatana stone. This is located on a highpoint made up of several terraces. You gain access to the stone via 78 well-crafted steps. At the end of the staircase you enter an open patio with walls equally well-sculpted, and where one can see an upper platform where there is a granite rock sculpted into three steps. In the central part there is a rectangular prism that is 36cm high and which is pointing from North-West to South-East.
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Its four corners are directed to the four cardinal points. The Intiwatana apparently had specific functions: it measured time (the solstice and the equinox) by using sunlight and shadow, and also served as an altar.

The Spanish did not find Machu Picchu so the Intihuatana stone here was not destroyed as many other ritual stones in Peru were. The Spanish destroyed them because they deemed them to be objects of pagan worship. These stones are arranged to point directly at the sun during the winter solstice. Intihuatana also is called "The Hitching Point of the Sun" because it was believed to hold the sun in its place along its annual path in the sky. At midday on March 21 and September 21, the equinoxes, the sun stands almost above the pillar—casting no shadow.
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From journal Magical Machu Picchu

IgoUgo

Machu Picchu Inca Archaeological Site

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A amazing place, too crowded

Machu Picchu

The culmination of our guided visits of Inca Sites

Aproaching the great iconic site of the Incas

An incredible experience

Machu Picchu

The Hype, and Then Some

City of the Incas

Somewhere You Must See Before You Die

Temple of Three Windows

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Machu Picchu Inca Archaeological Site

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A amazing place, too crowded

Machu Picchu

The culmination of our guided visits of Inca Sites

Aproaching the great iconic site of the Incas

An incredible experience

Machu Picchu

The Hype, and Then Some

City of the Incas

Somewhere You Must See Before You Die

Temple of Three Windows

Compare Rates Across Websites