Machu Picchu (in hispanicized spelling, [ˈmatʃu ˈpiktʃu]) or Machu Pikchu (Quechua machu old, old person, pikchu peak; mountain or prominence with a broad base which ends in sharp peaks, “old peak”, pronunciation [ˈmɑtʃu ˈpixtʃu]) is a 15th-century Inca site located 2,430 metres (7,970 ft) above sea level. It is located in the Cusco Region, Urubamba Province, Machupicchu District in Peru. It is situated on a mountain ridge above the Sacred Valley which is 80 kilometres (50 mi) northwest of Cusco and through which the Urubamba River flows. Most archaeologists believe that Machu Picchu was built as an estate for the Inca emperor Pachacuti (1438–1472). Often mistakenly referred to as the “Lost City of the Incas”, it is the most familiar icon of Inca civilization.
This is my second trip to Peru (2000 to the Amazon River) and Lima has changed greatly. When I left in 2000 it was the day before the federal election and tanks were about to roll into the city. This time Lima was a much more relaxed city with a much more open and welcoming feeling.
Travel Tip: Elevation changes can be an issue when travelling when they happen quickly so keep that in mind. Lima is at sea-level, then you fly to Cuzco at 11,200 feet, then a train to Aguas Calientes at 6,600 feet. Try to stay away from alcohol and strenuous exercise until you have adjusted.
Cuzco
We arrived in the late morning, a day later than scheduled so I had a quick tour of the town and ruins before settling in at Palacio del Inka Hotel. (My travel partner was not feeling well and decided to rest.) I was expecting this to be a small town but it was much bigger than expected and had some beautiful buildings and architecture.
If you do get a chance to visit Cuzco you must spend time at Plaza de Armas in the centre of town and if you are adventurous try roast guinea pig at the Inka Grill for dinner. I did and it is very good. 🙂
The other must see in the area are the ruins of Saksaywaman which is an architectural marvel. You can easily find a local guide to take you through and explain the history, plus there are plenty of local craft stores up there for the shoppers.
Machu Picchu
The train leaving Cuzco for Aguas Calientes leaves at a very early time (in my opinion) but it is a nice four hour ride through the countryside and they do provide some entertainment on the train for the tourist. We stayed in this beautiful hotel, the Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo, which is tucked away in the forest but is also pure luxury. Cabins scattered around in such a way that you feel completely isolated but yet only steps away from the main building and restaurant.
Logistics
This trip was a short excursion after my trip to the Galapagos Islands as we wanted to see Machu Picchu and was arranged by Mountain Travel Sobek and would start and end in Lima Peru. There were only two of us on this extension which was great. We met a local representative in Lima that took us to our flight to Cuzco. Out flight ended up getting cancelled and the local guide in Lima pulled some strings to get us on another flight early the next day and he was also able to get us a good hotel for the night at no extra charge. (A great reason to travel with well respected tour operators.)
For our visit we would arrive fly to Cuzco and explore the town for the day and they take an early train to Aguas Calientes. Arriving mid day so we could explore Machu Picchu in the afternoon, return down the hill to Aguas Calientes for the night, then back up to Machu Picchu in the morning before getting the afternoon train back to Cuzco. With one night in Cuzco before flying back home.
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