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