The mysterious of Machu Picchu

The location of Machupicchu is 112.5 km. northeast of the city of Cusco,Peru at 2,350 meters, within the Machu Picchu Archaeological Park, which comprises a large area of the province of Urubamba in the Cusco Department. It is surrounded by a huge forest of majestic mountains.

The Ruins of Machu Picchu

Certainly, the most important thing to do at Machu Picchu... is see the ruins of Machu Picchu! These world-famous restored remains of the pre-Columbian Inca Empire consist of 200 structures – mostly residential, but also including important sites like the sun-oriented Intihuatana, the sacred Temple of the Three Windows and the Temple of the Sun. Other principal points of interest include the Gate of the Sun, the Main Temple and the Condor. Throughout the site, keep an eye out for the sophisticated solid walls characteristic of the Inca – intricate stonework with no mortar.

The Ascent of Huayna Picchu

Huayna Picchu, or Young Peak, is the oft-pictured mountain rising in the background several hundred meters above the Machu Picchu citadel. A stunning outlook over Machu Picchu and the surrounding area, it has become a very popular hiking destination, so much so that access is now fee-based and limited to 400 daily permits – 200 at 7am and 200 at 10am. Physically fit hikers will reach the top of Huayna Picchu in about 45 minutes, but should not underestimate the climb. It is not an easy trek, especially in the rain. The most dangerous parts involve steep steps with via-ferrata-style support cables and railings. There is even a girth-limiting squeeze through a narrow tunnel.

Climb to the Inca Bridge

Some believe that the path of the Inca Bridge was a secret back entrance to Machu Picchu. Like a drawbridge, the bridge itself could even be made impassable across its 20-foot gap in the narrow mountain trail right where it clings to the face of a 1,900-foot cliff. Two long tree trunks could traverse the breach, but when removed, there would be no simple way through. These days, for security reasons, crossing the bridge itself is forbidden, but you can get very close via a 30-minute flat path from the Caretakers Hut. During the first 15 minutes, you pass through lush cloud-forest vegetation before, at a clearing, the trail narrows to stone track seemingly carved out of the mountain and perched above a sheer vertical drop. Use of the metal and rope hand holds along the way is strongly encouraged, especially when the trail is at its most narrow.