Machu Picchu - Peru

High above the clouds in the Andean Mountains ofone way. In Aquas Calientes you have several lodging
Peru lays the legendary Inca city of Machu Picchu.Noopportunities. It lies at the foot of the mountains on
visitor to Peru should ever miss the incredible sight ofwhich Machu Picchu is located. The Machu Picchu
this mysterious city.Hiram Bingham has discoveredSanctuary Lodge at the entrance to the city offers
Machu Picchu in 1911 with the help of local farmers. Itthe best evening views of the city for well-off
is the most famous sight in South America. Shroudedtravelers. Shuttle busses will take you from Aquas
in legend, the real purpose of Machu Picchu is stillCalientes to Machu Picchu. The ride takes about 20
subject of many debates. Many contradictoryminutes.Travelers get the best overview of the city
explanations for its existence and for the fact that itfrom the caretakers hut, uphill from the entrance.
couldn't be found by the Spaniards have surfaced.From here you can plan your attack on the city.
One of the more popular explanations states thatMachu Picchu is divided into three sectors, the Royal
Machu Picchu was some sort of Vacation retreat forDistrict, The Industrial District and the Sacred District.
the royalty of Cusco. The Inca themself probablyThe hitching post of the sun (or Intiwatana) is
forgot it, so even the Spaniards were not able toprobably the most famous of the archeological
find the city anymore. To this day, lost cities are stilltreasures found in the Sacred District. It is the best
being found in the area. Choquequirau is another sitepreserved one in all of South America. Others were
recently found and many others still continue to eludetorn down by Spaniards during the conquest. The
explorers. Most famous of all is Paititi, the city of goldTemple of the Sun and the Temple of the three
and last retreat of the Inca.No matter how muchWindows are other important places in the Sacred
gold any of those places might hold, it is hard toDistrict.You can hire a tour guide or take your time to
imagine that those cities can rival Machu Picchu inexplore the city on your own. Whatever way you
beauty. Perched high up in the Andean mountains,choose, there are incredible things to be discovered,
with breathtaking views of the valley and thelike a special stone in the quarry that impressively
Urubamba river below and Huayana Picchu above, thedocuments the stone splitting technique used by the
beauty of Machu Picchu is hard to grasp. UponInca.You should bring plenty of water, a raincoat and
entering the city for the first time, one can hear thesomething to eat. There is no food inside the site
many sighs of visitors who are just hit by theand the only other restaurants besides the one in the
unbelievable sight. Photos cannot prepare you forSanctuary Lodge can be found in Aquas Calientes.
what you are going to experience. No wonder theThe train from Cusco arrives around 10am and leaves
city attracts crowds of New Age people everyat around 3pm. There are plenty of eating
day.Machu Picchu is Peru's most popular attractionopportunities in Aquas Calientes. As you may have
and probably its most visited place too, although itguessed from the name of the city, you can find hot
lays in a remote area only reachable by train andsprings in Aquas Calientes. After a day of hiking in
busses or by train and foot via the Inca Trail. You willMachu Picchu you can soak in a relaxing bath.For
have to take the train from Cusco to Aquasmore information about Machu Picchu: Machu Picchu
Calientes. You can either travel by tourist train,picture guideAndre Gunther (Travel Photography)
vistadome train or the outrageously expensive Hiramis the owner of Open Travel Info and Forums a
Bingham train. The ride takes betwen 3.5 to 4 hourswebsite dedicated to travel writing.