It's a pretty steep hike up the mountain, and that's before you spend several hours hiking around the ruins of Machu Picchu itself. To be all the way clear: I am a year-old in pretty okay shape. I live in a major city and walk everywhere. My wife is in a similar position. Even still, it's a pretty taxing experience — beyond the hike itself, you're in a place that's over 8, feet up.
You're likely to be short of breath due to the altitude, which makes the hike all the more taxing. It's still not entirely clear why Machu Picchu was built or what its purpose was. The most commonly accepted theory nowadays is that it was built in the mids for Inka emperor Pachacuti — the Inka leader who expanded Inka society from a small kingdom to a sprawling empire. What's clear is that Machu Picchu once housed a large town, including various temples, plazas, and residential housing.
It's nice having a tour guide, but it's even nicer being able to walk around ancient ruins unattended.
I certainly wouldn't begrudge anyone who wants a local guide — there are a few dozen stationed at the entrance to Machu Picchu, and they can be hired for a relatively low price. Some travel agents book packages to Machu Picchu that include a tour guide, even! But I'd just as quickly encourage you to do some reading ahead of time and go it alone. Being able to explore Machu Picchu without a gaggle of fellow tourists — often asking the most asinine, obvious questions — made the experience all the more magical.
If you have questions while exploring, your smartphone is in your pocket and, yes, there's totally service up on the mountain. There is no time limit on your experience at Machu Picchu. We arrived around 11 a. We didn't go to the adjacent peak, nor did we walk to the Sun Gate a piece of Machu Picchu that's somewhat remotely located. If you want to go all out on exploring Machu Picchu, you should book a hotel room in Aguas Calientes and really dig in across a few days.
There are multi-day tickets available, and the bus ticket to the top isn't outrageously expensive. Now that you've reached the end, you're undoubtedly thinking, "I should plan a trip to Peru so I can visit Machu Picchu. The way the system works is you book a reservation online through the Peruvian government, and then you must visit a local bank in Peru to purchase the ticket within a short window of time three days.
There are options for public transportation all the way up to the entrance of Machu Picchu itself. Again: I'm in reasonably good shape, and was in no way prepared for this hike.
Thankfully I was able to buy bus tickets on site. Even if you plan to stay in Aguas Calientes before the hike, you're going to need time to physically acclimate to the altitude. Since Cusco is at about 11, feet, you'll likely feel the affects of altitude sickness — I certainly did. That means shortness of breath, headaches, and an overall sense of exhaustion.
The locals are used to it, and you'll get passed — quickly — by elderly folks while you're huffing and puffing. You'll wanna drop any sense of ego; these are folks who not only live in the clouds, but they come from generations of people who've lived there. Cusco is the original capital of the Inka Empire, and it's been continuously inhabited for thousands of years.
You are literally not built for the region. Accept that! They contain small amounts of coca — yes, the plant used to make cocaine — and it's a useful way to deal with the exhaustion of being so high above sea level. It will compound the effect of altitude sickness, and may cause anything from an upset stomach to vomiting. In so many words: Chill out! Make sure to give yourself ample time to chill out.
It'll make your time at Machu Picchu all the more memorable. For you. World globe An icon of the world globe, indicating different international options. Get the Insider App. Click here to learn more. A leading-edge research firm focused on digital transformation. Good Subscriber Account active since Shortcuts.
Account icon An icon in the shape of a person's head and shoulders. It often indicates a user profile. Log out. US Markets Loading H M S In the news. Ben Gilbert. There's no easy way to stay near Machu Picchu itself.
That makes sense: Machu Picchu is on a remote mountaintop in the Peruvian Andes! A few hours later, we arrived in Ollantaytambo. The Incas. May not be around much longer. The history. The Inca Trail. The culture. The adventure. Bragging rights.
The memories. Give us feedback. Read Next View. Atiq Boutique Hotel. Uros Qhota Uta Lodge. Life Hotel Valle Sagrado. DoubleTree by Hilton Iquitos. Hotel Tierra Inka Sacred Valley. Holiday Inn Lima Airport. Huaraz City Centre Hostel. It stands out as one of the few mountain regions that has abundant available information about the local flora and fauna. On record are species of birds, 19 reptiles, 10 amphibians, 13 fishes, diurnal butterflies and nocturnal, as well as species of orchids from a total of 1, species in the country.
Currently, Machu Picchu holds the rank of being considered one of the Seven Wonders of the New World; this distinction promotes increased tourism in the area. Tourists of all nationalities travel to Peru with the intention of observing the Inca legacy and of course visiting Machu Picchu, which is also known as the Lost City of the Incas.
Read more about the Lost City of Machu Picchu. Why is machu Picchu Important. Hotel Quality. Number of Travelers.
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