The Lost City in the Mountains: Uncovering Machu Picchu

Dan Segal

Built halfway through the 15th century, Machu Picchu was inhabited for only a century before the Incas abandoned it in a mostly unsuccessful attempt to avoid the fatal doses of slaughter and smallpox that Francisco Pizarro was doling out. Fortunately for us, Pizarro never actually found the city, which means the ruins and sacred ritual sights were never ransacked or defaced. There are several theories on the significance of Machu Picchu, but the most prevalent is that it was an emperor’s palace.  Now, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, one of the new Seven Wonders of the World, and the most popular tourist destination in South America. What’s to see at Machu Picchu anyway?

The ruins and terraces themselves are beautiful and impressive, but there are several specific sites that warrant special attention. The Inti Watana Stone is a ritual stone that points directly at the sun during winter solstice, built as an astronomical clock. This is one of the only ritual stones in South America that didn’t get the conquistador treatment. There’s also Inti Mach’ay, a cave built to celebrate the Royal Feast of the Sun, a festival celebrated around the December solstice. The architecture is supposedly the best that the Incan empire has to offer, including specially crafted windows to only let the sun in during the festival. There’s also the Temple of the Sun, where Incan priests and royalty performed rituals to the Sun God. Apparently creative titles weren’t big in Incan culture. Besides prayer it was used to preserve mummies, which were an important part of the rituals. Inside you’ll find an observatory, sacrifice center, and mausoleum.

So, you’re hooked. How do you get there?

One of the main attractions of Machu Picchu is the hike itself, which is known to many as one of the best treks in the world. There are several options, ranging from two days to a week long, but the “classic” one is four days long. It’s only 26 miles long, but it gets rather steep at times. You’ll have to get a train to get there and I would recommend PeruRail. It offers the most variety in terms of cost and luxury. Once on the trail, you’ll trek through cloud forests and jungles, admire the beautiful mountain scenery, and pass through several Incan ruins and tunnels. Finally, you’ll arrive at the Machu Picchu Sun Gate at sunrise for a surreal scene. The dry season is April to October, but even then there’s a good chance of rain so plan ahead. The whole trip will cost you between $600-$700 a person if you take a group trek with a company based in Peru. If you want a personal guide, or book an outside travel agency, you’ll pay anywhere from $1,000 - $1,400 a person.

If you’re not into hiking, or if you simply don’t have the time, you can take the bus from Aguas Calientes right up to Machu Picchu. The bus starts running at 5:30 a.m. and runs every few minutes, but people will be lined up and the wait will be long, so keep that in mind. You can also hike about 90 minutes straight from the city to the citadel, but it’s a steep hike.  

Either way, the easiest place to fly into is Cusco. From there, you can either take a train directly to the hike or to Aguas Calientes. Cusco is a site worth exploring in itself, brimming with beautiful cathedrals, Incan ruins, and a lively nightlife. Make sure you plan a couple days for that.

There’s definitely more to it… right?

Right. The trail rises to 13,800 feet above sea level at its highest point, and Machu Picchu itself is about 8,000 feet so be wary of altitude sickness. If you want to limit the effects of the altitude as much as possible, you could spend a day at the foot of Machu Picchu in Aguas Calientes; it’s at 7,000 feet and will help you acclimate. There are also pills designed to help combat the effects of altitude sickness. In terms of weather, rain is common even in the drier months. Pack accordingly and be prepared. Speaking of being prepared, buy entrance tickets in advance here to save yourself a lot of time and energy. Finally, bring coins for the bathroom. On a similar note, you’ll need a passport to re-enter the gates, since the bathroom is outside. That’s right, you need a passport to use the bathroom.

And there you have it. See you in Peru!

Dan is a junior Business major from Livingston, New Jersey. A self-proclaimed history geek, cinephile, and avid traveler; he aims to walk away from every new destination with a good sense of the cuisine and a great story. He once jumped off of a moving train at the wrong station.

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