Machu Picchu

"Machu Picchu is the biggest reason why people visit Cusco or Peru. This iconic archaeological site is, in fact, inspiring, beautiful, and astonishing. I spent a lot of time there, only appreciating the view and wondering how the Incas had been living there for many centuries. Since it is a famous tourist destination, the Peruvian government made a significant effort to boost tourism in the area. As a result, there are many ways to reach the archaeological site. This guide focuses on three ways to do it: Salkantay, Inca Trail, and Jungle Trek. In this note about Machu Picchu, we will explore the Salkanty option. The Salkantay is how I reached Machu Picchu, and honestly, after analyzing all the options, I realized this was the best way to get to Machu Picchu. Salkantay is the longest option, though, so it is suitable for those who can spare five days to complete the trek. The Inca Trail trek lasts four days and has a shorter option of two days. For more information, check the Inca Trail section. Jungle Trek also lasts four days with an option for a shorter three-day adventure. For more information about this adventure, check the Jungle Trek section. 🏅 ACTIVITIES The main activity is exploring the citadel and wandering through the ancient city's well-preserved stone structures, including the Temple of the Sun, the Intihuatana stone, and the Room of the Three Windows. Each of these structures holds deep cultural and astronomical significance, offering a peek into the advanced engineering and spiritual life of the Incas. Hiking Huayna Picchu is an option to extend your adventure by facing the famous "Stairs of Death." Huayna Picchu is a towering peak that overlooks the ruins, providing great views of Machu Picchu and the surrounding landscape, giving a new perspective on the scale of the site. 🚶‍♀️HIKING The Salkantay route to Machu Picchu has two parts: a four-day hike from Mollepata to Aguas Calientes and a day hike from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu, which includes exploring the archaeological site. Some people choose to skip the first day of hiking from Mollepata to Soraypampa, arguing that the views are not impressive. I strongly disagree with them. After being there, I was very impressed with the great views of the surrounding mountains and open fields. If you have the time and can spare one extra day, I recommend you not skip Mollepata. If you want to know more about this adventure, I wrote a series of five blog posts with details about each day of the Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu. The last part of the adventure is the hike to Machu Picchu. From Aguas Calientes, you can take an easy hike to the entrance of the archaeological site. Once you are there, the challenge starts with many stairs waiting for you to reach the top. You can expect to climb up the stairs for 30-90 minutes to reach the top and explore the citadel. 🚃 TRANSPORTATION You can find a colectivo from Cusco to Mollepata, the official trailhead to Salkantay. If you want to skip the hike from Mollepata to Soraypampa, you will find drivers at the center of the village offering rides for 100 PEN. 🏡 ACCOMMODATION You can bring your tent if you want, but it is unnecessary. There are several options for accommodation in the villages between Mollepata and Aguas Calientes. The main villages where you can easily find accommodation are Mollepata, Soraypampa, Colcapampa, Lucmabamba, Llactapa, and Aguas Calientes. "

"Due to time constraints, we chose to take the bus from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu, and the views along the way were absolutely incredible. This was my third wonder of the world that I have seen, and it honestly may be my favorite one! The routes make the areas feel not as crowded and seeing this historic monument in person was about as great as I expected it to be. Skies were clear and the weather was perfect for hiking! Due to our train leaving at 5, I was originally worried that we would be rushing to finish our tour, but 2.5 hours was more than enough to finish. "

" This World Wonder escaped detection by the Spaniards. Machu Picchu’s existence was not widely known in the West until it was discovered in 1911 by the Yale University professor Hiram Bingham, who was led to the site by Melchor Arteaga, a local Quechua-speaking resident. "