2012 · Lima · Cusco · Machu Picchu · Peru
Machu Picchu,
(Written during the Great Shutdown of 2020. Memory isn't this good — internet searches filled in a lot of holes.)
Back in 2012, before moving to Korea, we had a family trip to Machu Picchu and Cusco. Very impressive but not an easy place to get to — maybe that is why no one knew about it from the Western world until the mid-1800s.
Back in 2012, before moving to Korea, we had a family trip to Machu Picchu and Cusco. Very impressive but not an easy place to get to (maybe that is why no one knew about it from the Western world until mid-1800's). The trip in 2012 entailed a flight to Lima, transfer and second flight to Cusco, a minibus from Cusco to Ollantaytambo then the train from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Caliente and then shuttle bus to Machu Picchu. We were lucky that I had a colleague from work based in Cusco and made arrangements for us to see the sites in Cusco. One element of Cusco is that it is at about 11,000 ft elevation so a little exhausting just walking around, but a lot of interesting ruins.
After a couple of days in Cusco, off to Machu Picchu. Up at O dark thirty for the train and figured out the first 4 hours of the train was on a mini-bus through the mountains (it is actually downhill to Machu Picchu from Cusco) to the town of Ollantaytambo where we hopped on a historical train to the town at the base of Machu Picchu called Aguas Caliente. Overall, the logistics for Machu Picchu are extensive — between getting the train tickets well in advance, tickets for entry to Machu Picchu well in advance, plus an extra hiking permit to Wayna Picchu.
Machu Picchu was built around 1450 CE at the height of the Inca Empire and was abandoned approximately 100 years later, shortly after the Spanish conquest, without the Spanish ever discovering it. The site was brought to international attention by American historian Hiram Bingham III in 1911 — not the mid-1800s as suggested here, though earlier explorers had visited. It sits at 2,430 metres (7,970 feet) above sea level on a ridge between two peaks — Machu Picchu (Old Peak) and Wayna Picchu (Young Peak). Wayna Picchu, the dramatic steep peak visible in most photographs behind the ruins, can be climbed via an ancient Inca trail with fixed cables; daily permits are strictly limited to 400 people. The site was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983 and is considered one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.
After getting to Aguas Calientes, we spent a day at Machu Picchu and another day hiking up to Wayna Picchu. Really impressive when you consider that all of the stone came from many miles away and carried up about 1,000 ft of elevation change. Then to get to Wayna Picchu was another 1,000 ft of elevation change…Incas were very motivated.
Most of our pictures are from the hike up Wayna Picchu — pretty much a straight up climb with cables to help you get up the hill.
Once at the top — spectacular views of the Sacred Valley.
The logistics for Machu Picchu are extensive — between getting the train tickets well in advance, tickets for entry to Machu Picchu well in advance, plus an extra hiking permit to Wayna Picchu. The minibus, the historical train to Aguas Calientes, the shuttle bus to the site, and then another climb up to the top of Wayna Picchu added another 1,000 feet. Incas were very motivated. The stone for the entire complex came from many miles away and was carried up about 1,000 feet of elevation change. Arriving before the crowds was key — the site is now strictly capped at a limited number of daily visitors split into morning and afternoon time slots.
After making it down — it was back to Cusco and to Lima. Only had 1 day in Lima but very nice and wish we would have had more time.
