Machu Picchu, Cusco

2 more images

Machu Picchu is absolutely breathtaking. As soon as you pass through the entrance gate, you come round a bend in the trail and there before you lies this amazingly intact ancient city resting on the peak of a mountain. The view is incredible. If you take the bus instead of hiking the Inca Trail, even the switchbacks along the road leading up to Machu Picchu from Aguascalientes will make you gasp.

I hiked the Short Inca trail on October 1, 2007. This was a 1 day, 18km journey which I thought was absolutely incredible! I had a difficult time with the alititude compounded by the fact that the first 3 hours of the trail was practically vertical - with no shade from the hot sun (30C). I am no superstar athlete, but I do jog a couple of times a week and I found the trail rigorous. Once you reach the halfway point, you hike into jungle and there is more shade from the sun - the trail gets easier from here. Despite the difficulties, it was an incredible experience not to be missed! SAS was a great company.

When you get to Cusco, the chances are that you will have already booked the Inca Trail. You need to do this as it sells out months in advance as only a few hundred people per day are allowed on this route.

The question is, who do you book with?

Well, I can only tell you about what I saw on my trip. Some companies abuse the porters. The limit is 20kg per porter, yet this was being broken by several companies.

The company I used was Wayki Trek. Not only do they treat perters well, but they prove this with their free visit to the porter village. This allows you to see the porters, their family and friends. I would have paid for this kind of experience, yet it is free when you book the Inca Trail.

See my Machu Picchu pages for more info....

A must to visit when in Cusco. If your not up for the full on inca trail trek, a good alternative is to jump on some kind of transport up the day before you plan to visist Macchu Pichu. If you have time and interest I would recommend to visit the several incaruins in Sacred Valley. The night can be spent in Aguas Calientes quite cheap and get you the chance to get up early and take the first bus at 5.30 up to Macchu Pichu. You will be there to se the sunrise and before the site get invaded by tourists. The two hour guided tour is really good and informative and I also recommend to climb Wayna Pichu to get a fantastic view over Macchu Pichu. It is only the first 200 or so that are allowed up there so don't wait too long!

Machu Picchu is now one of the top tourist destinations in the world. It is a spectacular achievement left to us by the Incas. I took a four hour train ride from Cusco to Aguas Calientes and then a 25 minute bus ride up the mountain. Even though there will be many people there, everyone should visit Machu Picchu at least once in their life. The guy in the left background with the green coat had two artificial legs. Three of us had to help him off and on, but he did get to see much of the site. It rains there often, so be sure to take a raincoat or poncho. See my Cusco travelogues for more pictures. There is also an excellent travelogue by VT member, Hopkid, about his Inca Trail and Machu Picchu trip that should not be missed.

1 more image

Everyone who goes to Peru has to see Machu Picchu, and perhaps slightly to my surprise it lived up to its reputation as a tourist "must see". I've created a separate page about our visit there, but here are a few things I'd recommend if you're planning a visit:
Take a hat and sun screen, even if the weather's overcast - in those mountains it can change very quickly (it was cloudy all morning when we were there but clear and bright in the afternoon)
Take bottled water - there are no facilities inside the site. The same applies to food as well of course.
Do think about having a guide, especially if you only have the one day to see the place. OK it can be a bit of a hassle going round in a group, but a guide will make sure you see all the essentials and tell you some of the history, and there should still be time to explore by yourself in the afternoon.
If you don't think you have the stamina to climb to Huayna Picchu try the path up to and beyond the Caretaker's Hut which will get you high enough for some great photos - but even that will take some effort at this altitude!

4 more images

For more details, please see my travelogue. This amazing archeological site was the perfect culmination of a 3-5 day Inca Trail hike. Your porters will probably be sure you get there at sunrise, which is the best light for photos and offers the fewest tourists clogging your camera lenses. The entire experience was truly exceptional. As you hike the tiny road through majestic mountains, you'll be transported to another time. Still, many people continue to live in these mountains today, in simple homes hours (by foot) away from the nearest neighbor.

A trip to Cusco is not complete if you don't visit Macchu Picchu. The best way to appreciate this wonderful sight is to walk the famous Inca Trail. You will reach the sight well before the others (i.e. those who go by train). The view at sunrise is simply breathtaking.