Few ancient sites compare to the breathtaking beauty of the Incan city of Machu Picchu.
Machu Picchu near Cusco, Peru, in the southeastern part of the country, is the postcard perfect Incan city that remained hidden from the Spanish during conquest. Machu Picchu is in the running to become one of the new world wonders.
The ruins were discovered by American Hiram Bingham in 1911, although locals had been living and farming on the terraces at the time. The city is believed to be a summer residence of the Incan ruler Pachacuti and built between 1460 and 1470 AD. It was not an important city by any means; however, the shear beauty of the ruins, high on a mountaintop in the middle of Andean cloud forests and green mountains is incomparable.
The ruins are made up of stone terraces that line the steep hillsides and a central collection of stone buildings, plazas, and paths used as residences, for ceremonies, astronomical observation and many other reasons that are still not completely understood. Typical Incan stonework can be seen, such as trapezoidal niches and precision stone work. The backdrop mountain of Huayna Picchu behind the ruins can be climbed in 1-2 hours for a complete view of the ruins and the surrounding valley.
To get to the citadel there are two options: One is to take a train from Cusco, which was the capital of the Incan empire and now one of the tourism capitals of the Americas. The train will take you to Aguas Caliente, also called Machu Picchu Pueblo or Machu Picchu town, from where you can take a short bus up the mountain to the ruins. The other option is to hike the Inca Trail, or the royal highway, or Kapaq Nan as it is called in Quechua, and then taking the train back. The full Inca Trail actually comprises of thousands of miles of paths stretching from Colombia to Argentina, however, this 3 day (also 1 day) route has become the more popular definition. Many opt to stick around in Aguas Caliente for a day or two, while many others come to the ruins solely for the day and catch an evening train back to Cusco or Ollantaytambo.
Admission to the ruins are $36 for foreigners. If you have a student card you will be able to enter for half price. Guides can be arranged in Aguas Caliente, Cusco, or right at the entrance to the park.
There is one hotel at the entrance to the park; the Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge, where many go for a pricey buffet breakfast. There are many other hotels in Aguas Caliente however, and buses to the ruins leave before dawn if you want to get there before the sunrise.
If you would like to vote for Machu Picchu to become one of the new world wonders visit: www.new7wonders.com
