Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu is a citadel high up in the Andes Mountains in Peru. It is an incredibly beautiful and very old site built by the Incas** in the 15th century. Abandoned after the Spanish invasion, it was once used as a retreat for the Inca (royal king) and his family to worship natural resources, deities, and the sun. In 2007 it was named one of the Seven Wonders of the World.

There are a couple of ways to get up to Machu Picchu, you can either take the train to the city of Aguas Calientes (which is the town next to Machu Picchu) and then a bus to the site. Or you can hike up the Inca Trail, which is what many choose to do. Quite an extensive hike, there is the one-day hike, which is about 8 hours, or you can do the four-day hike, which has you staying in tents at night. Either way, the hike itself is breathtaking and full of nature.

Our day started at 3 am, as our tour guide had to come pick us up at 4 am to take us to the train station for a 6:40 take-off. The drive to the train station from Cusco is about a two-hour drive, and the train ride itself is about 90 minutes. It drops you off in what feels like the middle of nowhere but is actually the start of the Inca trail to Machu Picchu. So by the time we had gotten to the start, it was about 8 am, and we'd also dropped about 4 thousand feet in elevation, so although I was exhausted, I also feel like I was on top of the world.

The hike is quite uphill, full of beautiful landscapes, and surrounded by mountains. Parts of it reminded me a lot of Mt. Tamalpais, a mountain in my hometown. The trail up to Machu Picchu was built by the Incas** centuries ago in order to find the "lost city of Machu Picchu." Although the city itself was never actually lost.

This picture is one of 18 archaeological sites on the Inca trail. You’ll see bridges, farming terraces, staircases, enclosures, walls, canals, plazas, enclosures, farming terraces, and much more.

I felt so much bliss on this hike: the beauty on this trail, with the waterfalls, rivers, and the view. Made the pain of waking up at 3 am well worth it. Hiking is one of my favorite things in the entire world, up there with traveling, cooking, baking, writing, and dogs. I guess you could say I have a theme.

I mean seriously...look at this view.

If you're thinking about coming to Cusco to hike Machu Picchu, make sure you come during the dry season which is May-September, this is sadly also the high season, so spaces fill up quickly. The Peruvian government offers only a limited number of permits per day, about 500, and only 200 of those are individual hikers while the rest are for guides themselves. The price is also quite expensive, ranging from $400-600. So pricey but well worth it.

***Some quick background: the Incas were a part of the Inca Empire, They were the largest empire in pre-Columbia America. Known for creating the largest empire ever seen by the Americans. They used agricultural techniques and geometrical stonework with the natural landscape, creating places like Machu Picchu that we see today.***