Hidden from modern civilization until Yale archaeologist Hiram Bingham discovered Machu Picchu in 1911, the Peruvian site is a relative newcomer to the world’s stage of not-to-be-missed wonders.
Named the “lost city” by Bingham, the historic ruin is the most prominent legacy of the Incans and has the distinction of being on both the World Cultural and Natural Heritage Lists by UNESCO.
Its location is mystical. Perched atop a peak that rises from a fertile Andean valley sitting on the fringe of the jungle, it is ringed by altitude-defying mountains. The surrounding terrain is steep, making accessibility to this part of the country limited to train or the Inca Trail.
The majority of Machu Picchu’s 1,500 daily visitors arrive by the traditional route – four-hour train ride from Cuzco to the tracks’ end at the village of Aguas Calientes. From the non-descript town a 20-minute bus ride is the last leg of the quest, transporting passengers up the mountain of Machu Picchu to the famous ruins.
By contrast, uber-adventurers opt to trek the Inca Trail from kilometer 88 (translation: 88 km by train from Cuzco) – camping three nights along the way and reaching altitudes of 4,200 m before arriving by foot at the 2,400-m mountaintop marvel.
A lesser known alternative is the Short Inca Trail. The option is a compelling compromise if you have the ability for adventure but a proclivity for hotel lodging.
Leaving from the Cuzco station at 6.15 a.m., the train passes the Wakay Wilka glacier, small farming communities and colorfully attired Peruvian women selling their wares alongside the tracks as it lumbers toward Machu Picchu.
Rather than disembarking at kilometer 88, further down the tracks is the exit – kilometer 104. Standing in gravel by the train, there are no embellishments – no station, no platform. An arrow on a simple green and white sign indicates the direction to the trailhead across the Urubamba River.
You’ll need your passport – they are shown at the checkpoint, where entrepreneurial locals sell $3 walking sticks carved from tree branches, a deal if you neglected to pack the hiking poles.
Chachabamba, an archeological complex discovered in 1940 appears immediately. From there the trail ascends steadily to an elevation where the train tracks become small silver slivers. Stone steps sized for diminutive Incan feet replace the dirt path, and the terrain transforms from a near-barren mountainside to a lush rainforest.
Four hours into the hike, Winay Wayna, a multi-terraced Incan temple, offers a modest peek of the real prize that awaits you.
The last challenge is a near vertical flight of 50 stone steps leading to the final pass, Sun Gate. Though viewed from a distance, the reward is dramatic – the first glimpse of Machu Picchu and its labyrinth of temples, plazas and agricultural terraces.
From here, the descent into the ancient city begins. Because crowds at Machu Picchu typically dissipate after 3.30 p.m., an arrival close to the 5.30 p.m. bus (the day’s final departure) may mean having the spiritual haunt to yourself.
And though the tour package includes a bus return the following day for a guided narrative visit, the memorable Machu Picchu is likely to be the first one that greeted you in magical silence.
Tempted to hit the trails? Just don't forget that a gui8de is required. The number of hikers on the Inca Trail is strictly regulated making prior arrangements through a licensed operator necessary – possibly one year in advance during the June-August high season.
Machu Picchu
