A Trek to Machu Picchu offers one of the most enjoyable ways to view this pre-Columbian site. In addition to being able to visit the old mountain at a time when there are fewer visitors, travelers will enjoy many sites along the trail. If the 14 day hike is too demanding there are also shorter paths and it is also possible to visit by bus or train.
The Incan builders created this mountain top city at almost 8,000 feet above sea level without the use of concrete. The main draw of the area is a 550 year old citadel built by the Incas. The ruins are combined with an adjoining wilderness park and forest, covering more than 116 square miles. There are many mysteries surrounding this village, which is though to have religious, residential and academic significance.
July and August are the most active seasons for tourists and also the time the area receives less rainfall than others. However, it is likely that there will be some showers and misty clouds hanging onto the peaks at one point or another in the trip. November to April tends to be the rainy season, with the months of January and February being the months when the most rainfall is received. The Inca Trail is closed each February for restoration.
Walking the trail requires a local guide. The number of visitors on the trail are limited to 500 each day, with 300 of these being guides and porters. At the site, the visitors are limited to 2,500 per day. Thus one should book the package before leaving on the trip. It is getting very difficult to book passage by just arriving at Cusco and hoping for the best.
It is possible to visit the ruins themselves without a guide. Buses leave Aguas Calientes frequently for the 20 to 25 minute journey to the ruins on a road making a series of hairpin bends. It is possible to reach Aguas Calientes by train.
Most experts on travel in the area recommend deciding how one wants to make the trip before contacting operators. If planning to hike, it is best to take a couple of days in one of the nearby cities to become acclimated to the elevation and lower oxygen levels. If planning to arrive by train or bus, do some research into the options as there are less expensive basic options as well as luxury ones, but there are also big differences in costs for the trip.
Temperatures in the altitude can be cold due to the altitude so you will want a sweater or jacket. Due to the likelihood of rain, carry waterproof gear. At the site there are numerous sandflies that bite making a repellant essential. In addition, travelers should have sunglasses, hat and high SPR sunscreen.
Regardless of how one makes his or her trek to Machu Picchu, this is one South American site you will not want to miss. The views are impressive no matter how one approaches the location. These ruins have stood the test of time and make an interesting place to visit.
The Incan builders created this mountain top city at almost 8,000 feet above sea level without the use of concrete. The main draw of the area is a 550 year old citadel built by the Incas. The ruins are combined with an adjoining wilderness park and forest, covering more than 116 square miles. There are many mysteries surrounding this village, which is though to have religious, residential and academic significance.
July and August are the most active seasons for tourists and also the time the area receives less rainfall than others. However, it is likely that there will be some showers and misty clouds hanging onto the peaks at one point or another in the trip. November to April tends to be the rainy season, with the months of January and February being the months when the most rainfall is received. The Inca Trail is closed each February for restoration.
Walking the trail requires a local guide. The number of visitors on the trail are limited to 500 each day, with 300 of these being guides and porters. At the site, the visitors are limited to 2,500 per day. Thus one should book the package before leaving on the trip. It is getting very difficult to book passage by just arriving at Cusco and hoping for the best.
It is possible to visit the ruins themselves without a guide. Buses leave Aguas Calientes frequently for the 20 to 25 minute journey to the ruins on a road making a series of hairpin bends. It is possible to reach Aguas Calientes by train.
Most experts on travel in the area recommend deciding how one wants to make the trip before contacting operators. If planning to hike, it is best to take a couple of days in one of the nearby cities to become acclimated to the elevation and lower oxygen levels. If planning to arrive by train or bus, do some research into the options as there are less expensive basic options as well as luxury ones, but there are also big differences in costs for the trip.
Temperatures in the altitude can be cold due to the altitude so you will want a sweater or jacket. Due to the likelihood of rain, carry waterproof gear. At the site there are numerous sandflies that bite making a repellant essential. In addition, travelers should have sunglasses, hat and high SPR sunscreen.
Regardless of how one makes his or her trek to Machu Picchu, this is one South American site you will not want to miss. The views are impressive no matter how one approaches the location. These ruins have stood the test of time and make an interesting place to visit.
About the Author:
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