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Merged with the breathtaking landscapes of the Andes mountain peaks and cliffs, Machu Picchu is a magnificent example of ancient architecture, The Lost City of the Incas. It is believed that the Incas started building the city around 1400 AD as an estate for the Inca emperor Pachacuti (1438–1472), but it was abandoned 100 years later at the time of the Spanish conquest of the Inca Empire. There are many opinions and arguments why it was built and why it was abandoned but the mystery is not solved yet. Anyway, this amazing stone citadel remains one of Peru's most attractive mysterious places to visit. Machu Picchu is the city which was lost in centuries and discovered only in 1911, often referred to as "The Lost City of the Incas." Machu Picchu was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and in 2007 in a worldwide Internet poll Machu Picchu was voted one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.

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By Plain to Peru: You need to make quite a trip in order to get to Machu Picchu - first getting to capital of Peru Lima and than to Cusco. Jorge Chávez International Airport (IATA: LIM, ICAO: SPIM), in Spanish Aeropuerto Internacional Jorge Chavez, is Peruvian main international and domestic airport. It is located 7 miles (11 kilometers) from the historic center of Lima and 11 miles (17 km) from Miraflores - a famous district of beautiful homes, villas, parks and flower gardens.

By Plain from Lima to Cusco: You can get to Cuzco first, in order to get to Machu Picchu. Lima (the capital of Peru) and Cuzco connected by airlines. Cuzco’s Aeropuerto Internacional Alejandro Velasco Astete (code CUZ), is a few miles south of Cuzco city center at the altitude of 10,860 ft (3,310 m). Several airlines offer regular daily flights to and from Lima. The best thing to do is to reserve the earliest flight available, as later ones are the most likely to be delayed or canceled. The flight from Lima to Cuzco takes about one hour.

By Bus from Lima to Cusco: You can also reach Cuzco by bus. It is cheaper about $45 - $70 but it will take about 20 hours to cover 724 miles (1,165 km) of the road from Lima to Cuzco. Several bus companies serve the route among them the most popular Expreso Cruz del Sur and TEPSA Websites you can use to schedule your bus trip: http://www.cruzdelsur.com.pe/inicio_2.php http://www.tepsa.com.pe/

From Cusco to Machu Picchu: Machu Picchu is located 70 miles (112 km) northwest of Cusco. Once in Cuzco, you can reach Machu Picchu by train, bus or even by helicopter. Distance between Cuzco and Machu Picchu is 70 miles (112 Kilometers) and it takes about four hours to get there by train. A shorter train journey to Machu Picchu is from Ollantaytambo. There are a lot of trains departing for Machu Picchu from this ancient town. You can choose Backpackers, Vistadome or Hiram Bingham express. It will take you 3.5 hours to reach Aguas Calientes town and from there a bus will take you (about 20 minutes trip by bus) to the ruins of The Lost City of the Incas. From Aguas Calientes town the ruins site is about five miles (8 km). It is a good idea to buy a bus ticket in the town. Alternatively, you can take a hike up to Machu Picchu from Aguas Calientes town. Start very early, about 3:30 am so that you can come to the site by sunrise. If you are one of the first 400 people you can access Huayna Picchu or Wayna Picchu (the number of daily visitors is restricted to 400). There is a trail up with temples and terraces on its top.

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The climate of Andes is generally mild, clearly characterized by two seasons. The dry season lasts from April through October, with a lot of sunshine, and occasional nighttime freezes. The wet season lasts from November to March. There is practically no snow in Cuzco - Machu Picchu (the last snowfall was recorded in June 1911). The best time to go is dry season but if you want to escape crowds, April or October may be better.

Officially summer in Peru starts on December 22nd and lasts to March 21st. Winter - June 22nd - September 22nd.

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We can recommend Aranwa Cusco Boutique Hotel (Calle San Juan De Dios 255, Cuzco) five star hotel with rates starting from $280 to $350 per room/night. Taxes and 10% service fee are not included in the room price. It is located two blocks from Plaza De Armas in a refurbished 16th century mansion. All rooms feature an intelligent oxygen system. There are 43 rooms in the hotel.

Novotel Cusco (San Augustin, 239, 00 Cuzco) four star hotel with rates starting from $197 to $279 per room/night breakfast included.Taxes and 10% service fee are not included in the room price. Hotel is located three blocks from Plaza De Armas and the cathedral. There are 99 rooms in the hotel.

Research and book hotels in or near Cuzco, Peru

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Sightseeing.

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Authorities established the daily access limit of 2,500 people for Peru's main tourist attraction as a conservation measure. Tickets to enter the Inca ruins are available online (Ministerio de Cultura - Boletaje Virtual, Ministry of Culture - Virtual Ticketing).

There are several major temples in the Machu Picchu area. One of them is The Temple of the Moon (nestled on the side of the mountain at an elevation lower than Machu Picchu). Great Cavern is close to the Temple of the Moon. Both temples are built in natural caves.

What to see on the site: Main Temple of the Three Windows (it is connected to Andean cosmology, the summit of Huayna Picchu (one hour climb) give spectator a perfect view of Machu Picchu. In Machu Picchu you can stay at The Hostel de Turistas Chaska from $33, Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel from $415, El MaPi Hotel from $170.

Since to reach Machu Picchu you go via Cusco, you may want to consider to spend an additional day or two in this historic city where you can enjoy colonial architecture and in particular Cusco Cathedral Don't forget about high altitude: some people have difficulty to cope with it.

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Tags: Aguas Calientes; Andes (2); Cusco (2); Cuzco (3); Cuzco Province; Cuzco Region; Huayna Picchu; Inca; Lima (3); Lost City of the Incas; Machu Picchu (3); Machu Picchu train; Ollantaytambo; Peru (4); pre-Columbian; ruins; South America (2); Urubamba Valley; Wayna Picchu

Web Sites:   Machu Picchu Gateway

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