Machu Picchu

Huaynapicchu: The tallest mountain peak in Machu Picchu

One of the New 7 Wonders of the World, the ancient city of Machu Picchu, sits about 8,000 feet in the Andes and is a testament to the stamina and skill of the Incas who built it of rock and stone in the 15th century. Over 600 terraces are in place and a water system running about 1 km remains. Incredibly, many building walls are still standing after years of earthquakes that plague the area.

Founded in 1911 by American archeologist, Hiram Bingham, Machu Picchu is surrounded by mystery and speculation. Zones for farming, commerce, royalty and sacred practice have been identified.

Witnessing sunrise in Machu Picchu is a crap-shoot. Arriving before the crack of dawn, many have been disappointed when greeted by the rain, fog and drizzle typical to the area. The good news is that the fog moves quickly and visibility does improve.

There are those who enjoy the luxury Machu Picchu experience. If you can afford it, take the Hiram Bingham train R/T from Ollytambo. Peru to Machu Picchu ($1000/pp) and stay at the five-star Sanctuary Lodge, located at the base of Machu Picchu...where your basic room will run about $1000/night. I would think at that price, the room should include a private, guided tour of Machpicchu but .... who knows? We didn't stay there.

We, the 'moderately-priced' travelers booked a tour group ... South Adventure Peru Tours. They were great and took care of the details all for about $600/pp. Offering an array of treks and tours in the area, they are honest and pleasant - we highly recommend them.

Hiking The Inca Trail is another option for those who are into that sort of thing...it takes about 4 days and is at altitude, so being physically fit would be helpful. South Adventure Peru Tours can outfit you for that pilgrimage.

Day 1 -  We were picked up at our room in Cusco, driven to the train station in Poroy, given our train tickets to Aguas Calientes, entry tickets to Machu Picchu and lunch and dinner details. After the 3.5 hr train trip, we arrived in Aguas Calientes and were met at the train station by a rep who walked us to our hotel room.

Peru Rail

Day 2 - The bus station in Aguas Calientes is just steps away from the train station. About $20 R/T. Walking to Machu Picchu was an option - but not for us. It's a very steep and winding climb - we opted to reserve our energy.

Arriving at Machu Picchu, you are required to show your passport along with your entry ticket - once inside, we met our guide who oriented us to Machu Picchu and its highlights. Be prepared to climb - a lot.

Intihuatana

One such highlight was "Intihuatana" (place where the the sun is bonded) - this stone was used as a way for the Inca to determine seasons and time and is considered to be sacred.  Legend has it that if you touch your forehead to it, your vision to the spirit world will be unblocked. Unfortunately, the practice became so popular that concern for the stone's preservation grew and a guard was posted to protect it.

After spending the day in Machu Picchu, we returned to Aguas Calientes and caught the train back to Poroy where we were met by our driver from South Adventure Peru Tours who dropped us off at our room in Cusco but also made plans to take us to the airport the following morning.

Exploring Machu Picchu was a dream come true. The wonder and mystery of how The Inca were able to transport boulders weighing in excess of 50 lbs each, up hill without the use of the wheel or iron tools, and how it still stands considering the stones are not mortared into place is astonishing.

It was one of the most special places I have ever visited. 

The Road to Machupicchu

Machupicchu

Our travel to Machupicchu began with...

• a one hour flight from Lima to Cusco (Cuzco)
• overnight stay in Cusco
• 20 min drive to Poroy station
• early morning train trip from Poroy to Aguas Calientes
• overnight stay in Aguas Calientes
• early morning bus to Machupicchu

Needless to say, I really wanted to go. 

A little background... Back in the 90's my dear friend, Rob and I visited Sedona, Arizona. While there, we learned that some people believe there are places in the world that are known as high energy hot spots or 'energy vortices'. Sedona, Arizona - Calgary, Alberta Canada - Machupicchu and Stonehenge were right up there on our list of places to 'get energized' at. Sadly, Sedona was the last trip Rob & I took together. He died 8 weeks later. My trip to Machupicchu was - in part - a tribute to him.

Cusco

Being warned that Cusco was at 11,000 feet above sea level, we were advised to walk slowly and (in order to prevent altitude sickness) start on Diamox. Good advice. After a short walk in town, climbing a hill or two and up a flight of stairs, my blue finger-tips and shortness of breath indicated I was mildly symptomatic - some people require hospitalization and supplemental oxygen -my personal remedy was to continue on Diamox, drink a lot of water and rest. It worked.

A natural preventative to altitude sickness: Coca Tea

And by-the-way... Peruvian pharmacies are great. I was like a nurse in a candy-store. You can get your choice of antibiotics, diuretics, salves and ointments...all without a prescription. The Pharmacist is the official drug gatekeeper - he and I became instant friends - and I stocked up. Diamox? Yes, please. Bactrim? Sure! Anything else?...let me look around... most medicines are easy to I.D. if you are familiar with their generic names.

Our accommodations in Cusco were perfect. A rustic room with private bath close to the city center, in a section known as San Blas.WiFi was included and Coca tea served on arrival. Who could ask for more? It was comfortable and quiet. Perfect.

Having to be up and ready to go by 5 am in order to catch a train to Aguas Calientes, we were all snug and asleep when the music started in our room from the bar, across the street. Normally, the option would have been to just suck it up or join them but we had a long day ahead. Earplugs didn't cut it. So, in the best Spanish that I could conjure up, I asked our elderly landlady if she knew what time the bar closed and tried to explain that we had to get up early. She apologized and then as if by magic...the music was taken down several notches. I'm thinking she marched herself over there ...

The following morning, we were picked up at our door by South Adventure Peru Tours and recommend them highly. We were driven to Poroy, where we caught our train to Aguas Calientes. The city itself has no need for cars as it is entirely walk-able. I had read somewhere that 'AC' was an armpit. True enough, but it is safe and there are a few quaint streets - that's about it. Our wake-up call in AC was needless as the dogs howling, cats wailing  and roosters crowing did the trick.

Visiting Machupicchu would be a dream come true 

... and Rob would have loved it.

Next - Machu Picchu