Here, you’ll see astonishing structures, mountain landscapes, and adorable llamas.
Machu Picchu is the most famous cultural landmark of the Inca tribe, a citadel of their vanished empire. This ancient city is located in Peru, at an altitude of 2,430 meters amidst mountain peaks. It is surrounded by clouds and dense vegetation. To reach it, you’ll need to embark on a true journey—and it’s absolutely worth it.
From the 11th to the 16th century, the Incas inhabited most of South America: modern-day Colombia, Peru, Chile, Bolivia, and Argentina. Before the arrival of European conquerors, their empire was the most advanced civilization on the continent. Machu Picchu served as both an emperor’s residence and a sacred sanctuary.
The discovery story of this ancient city resembles an adventure film plot.
In the early 1910s, American archaeologist Hiram Bingham explored Peru in search of Vilcabamba—the refuge of the last ruler of the Inca Empire. Bingham struggled to find anything. The locals distrusted the foreigner and refused to reveal their secrets.
One day, at the foot of a mountain, the explorer met a boy carrying an ancient jug. Bingham asked the child where he had gotten it. The naive boy showed the stranger the path to the mountain ridge’s summit. But instead of the last Inca settlement, he discovered an entire city with astonishing structures.
Thus, in 1911, Hiram Bingham became the first to rediscover the lost Machu Picchu.
Even 112 years after its discovery, historians still can’t say with certainty how Machu Picchu was built or why it was abandoned. Scholars believe it was the residence of one of the Inca emperors. The abundance of temples also suggests it was a sacred site.
Modern researchers and tourists are amazed by the structures in Machu Picchu, as they were all built from massive stone slabs without using cement.
The Incas developed a stone-cutting technique that allowed enormous blocks to fit together perfectly. They didn’t even need mortar to hold them firmly in place.
Since 2007, Machu Picchu has been one of the “New Seven Wonders of the World” (a list of the world’s most unique architectural structures). It has become Peru’s main landmark, attracting around 2,500 visitors daily.
The complex covers 325.92 square kilometers and is divided into two zones: agricultural and urban. There are many landmarks within, but we’ll focus on the most popular ones.
The Sacred Plaza is surrounded by three of Machu Picchu’s most famous structures: the Temple of the Three Windows (Templo de las 3 Ventanas), the Main Temple (el Templo Principal), and the Priest’s House (Casa del Sacerdote). This area is believed to have been the religious center where rituals dedicated to the sun were performed.
The Incas built this temple to make offerings to the sun, notable for its unusual circular shape. Researchers believe only priests and the city’s elite were allowed inside.
Located beneath the Temple of the Sun, this was the most important burial site in Machu Picchu, as it held the remains of the city’s noblest inhabitants.
The condor is a bird resembling a vulture. Inside the temple lies a stone shaped like a condor’s head. For the Incas, this bird was sacred—they saw it as a representative of the sun god and often depicted it in religious sites.
First, you’ll need to reach Peru. Flights from Russia to Lima, the country’s capital, are operated by Qatar Airways and Turkish Airlines, with layovers in Doha or Istanbul. Book tickets on Aviasales.
Next, you’ll need to fly to Cusco, a city in the Peruvian mountains. The domestic flight takes just 1.5 hours. Alternatively, you can take a bus from Lima to Cusco. It’s cheaper, but the journey lasts almost a day along winding mountain roads.
A good option is to stay in Cusco for a couple of days before heading to Machu Picchu. This will help you acclimate to the altitude. Additionally, Cusco was once the capital of the Inca Empire, so it’s full of fascinating historical sites.
The easiest way is to book a tour to Machu Picchu. However, it’s also possible to go independently. Here’s how: The first stop on the way is the town of Aguas Calientes.
You can reach this town by train from Poroy Station, located half an hour from Cusco. Ticket prices vary depending on the train type and operator.
Currently, two private companies operate trains to Machu Picchu: Peru Rail and Inca Rail.
From Aguas Calientes, it’s a short distance to Machu Picchu. The easiest and fastest way is by bus. The bus stop is right next to the train station. A one-way trip costs $12 (about 1,600 rubles as of October 2023) and takes 25 minutes. The first bus departs at 5:30 AM, and the last leaves at 3:30 PM.
You can also hike to Machu Picchu from town—the ascent takes about an hour and a half.
Most tourists travel directly from Cusco, but there’s another interesting option: first, take a bus or taxi to Ollantaytambo. Here, you can explore an ancient Inca ceremonial center with mysterious megaliths before continuing to Machu Picchu.
The journey from Cusco to Ollantaytambo takes about 2 hours. From there, trains run to Aguas Calientes, and then you can follow the same route described above.
Ollantaytambo
The town of Ollantaytambo
After a long journey, relax at the unique Mountain View Experience hotel. Here, you can stay in authentic cabins with modern amenities, unwind in a jacuzzi with mountain views, go horseback riding, or spend time with friendly alpacas.
After visiting Machu Picchu, stay in Aguas Calientes to soak in volcanic hot springs (38 °C to 46 °C).
The water in these pools may appear yellow, but it’s not dirty—the color comes from sulfur.
If you return to Cusco with extra time, visit the Sacred Valley, just 35 kilometers away. It’s home to archaeological parks and towns built by Spanish conquerors.
The famous Moray terraces in the Sacred Valley were used by the Incas for agricultural experiments. Due to varying elevations, each tier has a different temperature—up to a 15°C difference between the highest and lowest levels.
Researchers found that the Incas planted seeds at different heights to determine the ideal growing conditions.
Many tour companies in Cusco offer quad biking trips to the terraces—a great way to combine sightseeing with adventure.
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