Machu Picchu is an incredible example of the Inca's skill at stonework
Machu Picchu is one of the most famous places in the world. Many millions of people who have never been there have seen the classic picture of Machu Picchu high in the Peruvian Andes. I want to tell you about Machu Picchu but also show you some other views.
If you want to visit Machu Picchu you will have to first travel to Cusco, which was once the captial city of the Inca Empire, so it is worth a visit to see that. Obviously the Spanich colonialists destroyed most of the original Inca building but it is full of character and there are some amazing ruins in the hills outside the city called Sacsayhuaman.
You can reach Cusco by bus or plane. I would recommend a good company like Oltursa or Cruz del Sur if you choose to go by bus. LAN Peru are a good choice to go by plane.
There are many hotels in Cusco to suit all budgets. If you are just back packing there are backpackers hostels and if you have the money there are very luxurious 5 star hotels that even have oxygen pumped into the room to help you cope with the altitude.
Travel by train to Machu Picchu from Cusco
From Cusco you can catch a train to the small town of Aguas Calientes which is very near Machu Picchu. The train line is Operated by PeruRail who are jointly owned by Orient Express. They have different classes of train for backpackers and travellers who prefer (or can afford) luxury.
The train follows the Urubamba River into the Sacred Valley
The trains travel firstly up over the hills surrounding Cusco and then along the valley towards Aguas Calientes. Cusco is actually higher so you will be following the course of the river as it cuts through the mountains. The journey lasts about 4 hours and will take you past small towns, farm and some interesting landscapes. You will see evidence of the Incas long before you get to Aguas Calientes, if you watch out of the window you will see stone terraces that the Incas built to grow their crops.
From there you will probably want to to stay overnight in a local hotel before going to Machu Picchu. It is good to go early in the morning and see the sun rising over the mountains which is an amazing sight. You can travel from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu by one of the fleet of small buses there that take people up the winding road to the top of he mountain where you can enter the site .
Of course a tour operator can organise all of this for you. Even local tour operators can do this if you have not made all your plans before you get to Peru. Most hotels in Cusco will know trusted tour operators who will have organised hundreds, or thousands of tours for travellers.
The incredible skill of the Incas at Machu Picchu
When you first get to Machu Picchu you will probably be organised into a tour, which is good because even though it looks beautiful you need a guide to really understand everything. If you get close to the stonework you will see just how skillful the Incas were.
Just imagine how much each stone you see weighs, and try to imagine how it got all the way to the top of this mountain. That is amazing to think of but then look closer, all of the stone is carefully carved and shaped. It looks crazy, but because there are no straight lines these walls are not easily affected by earthquakes which is why you can still see them today.
Huayna Picchu and the Inca's terraces over the steep canyon
Another thing you will see is the terraces all around Machu Picchu where the Incas grew their crops. They were expert at growing food in difficult environments and they used their skill with stonework to create enourmous terraces. In the photo above I am climbing up to Huayna Picchu (say it like ‘Why-Nah’), which is the tall peak you always see in the ‘classic’ photos. It is a hard climb as it is VERY steep and the stone steps are very uneven but what makes it harder is the lack of oxygen which you rally notice when your leg muscles are working hard, so I would not recommend this for everyone. It can take around an hour to climb up and it is great to finally get to the top and see the views. You will of course have to share the place with the other tourists – and the french man writing a poem and sitting at the very highest point!
Just one of the unusual plants you mights see at Machu Picchu
Also very few people stop to see the plants and trees around them, you can find wild begonias, fuschias and other plants and flowers worth a moment of appreciation!
Tags: Machu Picchu, Tourism, Transport