Machu Picchu, Peru
Machu Picchu was declared one of the New Seven Wonders of the Modern World on July 7th, 2007. Why? Well for one, this incredible place was designed with extreme attention to details. It was a special city in the Incas times and still is now. This citadel was made on the top of a mountain which makes the construction even more impressive. They needed to go all the way up with the construction materials which were enormous stone blocks to secure enough food and water for the priest, the virgins, and the Inca that spent their time there. More importantly, my reason for appreciating this place so much is really for the spiritual aspects that often times are overlooked and not discussed.
Machu Picchu was known to be at a location that the Incas believed was ideal for studying the pattern of the stars and indicating the cycle of the equinoxes. The stone of Intihuatana stands for the sun and its movement and means in literal terms ‘to tie the sun’.
The city has certain pillars which coincide exactly with the sun when it is at its highest point on two days a year (namely 21st September and 21st March). This was used as an indicator for the practice of certain rituals.
The Intihuatana was considered by the Incas to be a magical stone which could allow passage for spiritual visions as well as bestow wisdom to see the future. There is so much more to the spiritual aspect that it requires its own blog post, I will leave it for you to read further here: meditationretreatperu.com.
For me, it was truly a magical place that I would visit again and take my children. Now I will say this from the onset, we had to travel FAR to get there lol. This is not a cute little relaxing trip (unless of course you spend several days in one of the luxe hotels and schedule daily spa appointments). It is naturally one of adventure and excitement. We got on planes, trains, buses, taxis, every mode of transportation to ultimately reach our destination but man was it worth it. When I first walked through the entrance gates and got a glimpse of everything, I seriously felt like I was looking through High Definition lenses. It’s hard to describe. The air was so crisp and the mountains so green. It definitely felt surreal.
Best time to go
We went at the end of April, just after the rainy season. It was truly perfect timing. Not too hot, not too cold and we didn’t experience any rain. The typical rainy season for Machu Picchu is from November to March. If you want to go when there are less crowds, then you can go during those times but just know it won’t be as comfortable due to the weather. Also, there tends to be fog when its rainy which would block the view, so another reason not to go during rainy season.
The crowds never bothered me though because I was all the way immersed in my own world just appreciating my surroundings and I think that will be the case for you too.
What to Pack
In some pictures you will see me with my jacket on and in others you won’t. Now I do have a tendency to get hot and cold easily but this time it wasn’t just me! This is a known fact that the temperature ranges dramatically throughout the day and also changing back and forth. Since the weather in Machu Picchu is known to be unpredictable it is best to be as prepared as possible. You can bring a backpack where you can bring extra clothing, a hat, sunglasses and water (although I believe they didn’t let us bring in our own water).
Other things to pack:
Comfortable shoes to walk/hike in. They don’t have to be hiking boots unless you plan to actually climb up the mountain;
Comfortable, breathable clothing; and
Portable charger for your phone and/or camera.
Transportation
We flew from Dallas, Texas to Lima, Peru (capital of Peru). From Lima, we took another two hour flight to Cusco. From Cusco we took a taxi to Ollantaytambo. From Ollantaytambo, we took a two hour train into Aguas Calientes, before finally boarding a bus to take us up all the way to Machu Picchu. Whew! It was a lot. But the whole way my eyes were glued to the window, just witnessing the majestic mountains and nature. Truly breathtaking and humbling. Now I’m a “Mountain person” so to me it was just extra special. The train from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes cuts through the mountains and remote villages so you are able to take a glimpse into the way people live and witness up-close the ecosystem and vegetation that was just so lush. We took the fastest route but there are other ways to get to Machu Picchu depending on your preference and stay.
Accommodations
We stayed in Lima, Cusco (the best food I have ever had was in Cusco, seriously) and one night in Machu Picchu. The hotels we stayed at were very clean and had an old but regal vibe. The hotel we stayed at in Aguas Calientes was nestled in a bustling mini city. Right outside our hotel there were many businesses and eateries filled with local and tourists alike. It was nice to be amongst the people for sure.
Food
Like I said the food was amazing in Cusco. I’ve been a fan of Peruvian food ever since. I wish I could remember the exact restaurant but there are so many to choose from, check out Yelp for suggestions.
In transit we just ate whatever snacks were available on the road but every time we sat down for dinner it was amazing. Think ceviches, arroz con pollo, jalea, and empanadas. The food was just always very fresh and flavorful.
What to expect
When you get to Machu Picchu you have the option of following a tour guide or walking alone (tour guides might actually be a requirement now. I visited back in 2016. Either way there are plenty of tour guides so that won’t be an issue). We chose the tour guide option and it was actually helpful because she explained a lot of the history that I would not have known otherwise. She even was able to bring us close to one of the alpacas to take a picture. Alpacas are everywhere but just like any wild animal, you are not allowed to feed them or touch them. Our guide had food and that’s how she was able to lure him towards us.
If you are more into adventure and physical activity, like I’ve mentioned above, you have the option of hiking up the mountain.
Culture
When I travel I do it for the culture. I like to eat, sleep and breathe the people and customs. Since I speak Spanish I was able to communicate with everyone and ask questions which made it easier. However there were a couple of moments where if I didn’t speak Spanish, we may have been in a little bit of a bind. If you choose all the touristy options then you will be fine. If you go off the beaten path just make sure you have your translator app handy (if you have signal lol).
The market in Aguas Calientes was so special in particular. There were many luxurious products for sell made by the people who live there. From fine alpaca furs to intricately made household items, it was all just beautiful. Everything was made with vibrant colors and reflected what we would see people actually wearing so everything was 100% authentic for sure.
Have you been to Machu Picchu? Do you want to know more? Ask me in the comments below.
With LOVE,
KayaDejure