by Carolyn O’Meara, Vision Travel Solutions –
Machu Picchu is one of those iconic places that you have to visit to truly appreciate. A series of plazas, terraces and stone structures – history come to life. The images we have all seen on the pages of glossy magazines do not do this ancient Inca wonder justice.
This 15th-century citadel sits high in the Andean Mountains of Peru. Shrouded in cloud forest, it is one of the finest unspoiled examples of Inca architecture. We can thank Hiram Bingham for revealing Machu Picchu to the western world. Fortunately, this hidden treasure was never discovered by the Spanish. A local farmer led Hiram Bingham to the former royal retreat in 1911.
Access to this mystical city is by a 3.5-hour train ride from Cuzco. If you are more adventurous (and don’t mind missing your shower) you can take the four-day physically challenging hike on the Inca Trail. The train will take you to Aquas Calientes, a small town named for its many hot springs. From here it is a 30-minute edge of your seat bus ride zig-zagging up the side of the mountain. A victim of its popularity, visitors must adhere to specific entrance times and be accompanied by an official guide. It is best to hire a private one.
We travelled to Peru three years ago. After a few days exploring Lima and the Sacred Valley, we travelled by train to Machu Picchu. After the harrowing bus ride up the mountain, we climbed up the steep stairs past the watch tower and out on to the terraces that provided us with our first real view of Machu Picchu. The view is difficult to put into words: it is so much more than ruins. It is a city on a massive scale. Flanked by deep gorges, this royal retreat dominates the mountain top. I would definitely recommend that you leave your fear of heights at home.
Our entrance tickets included permits to hike Huayna Picchu, the mountain peak that towers over Machu Picchu. If you are interested in this hike get your tickets early as only 400 permits are issued a day. We were excited to try Huayna Picchu; however, realistically this “hike” is more of a technical climb and we chose not to attempt it, electing to do the slightly less difficult hike to the Sun Gate – after all, we were on vacation! Our climb to the Sun Gate was through thick cloud cover which turned out to be a blessing in disguise when the clouds cleared and we realized just how steep the cliffs were that we were scrambling up. Once at the Sun Gate, the skies cleared and we were treated to a spectacular overlook of Machu Picchu and Huayna Picchu.
One thing that we were struck with was the majesty of this place, the precision of its architecture and the ingenuity of its ancient builders. You cannot go here and not be in awe of this UNESCO treasure.
You owe it to yourself to put Machu Picchu near the top of your travel wish list.
Email me at Carolyn.omeara@visiontravel.ca if you would like more information.
