Peru is a unique country. On its western side is a coastline with plenty of beaches and good surfing spots. Covering the eastern side is the Amazon rainforest with a wide variety of wildlife and dense jungle. Through its centre is the Andes Mountains which shoot up from the Earth creating majestic views. This is where the Inca civilisation used to be located. Machu Picchu is the lost city of the Inca.

Travelers are often advised to avoid brushing their teeth with tap water in Peru. You should only drink bottled water to save yourself from getting sick.

Machu Picchu holds the rank of being considered one of the Seven Wonders of the New World. When traveling to Machu Picchu you can fly via Lima on the coast, and then to Cusco high in the Andes Mountains.

The approach into Cusco is spectacular. Cusco is in a valley surrounded by mountains. The mountains are so high that the first sign you are near Cusco is seeing their peaks sticking through the clouds. On the approach to Cusco, you fly close to the mountains which reach up to touch the sky. It is an amazing experience so have your camera ready.

Upon arrival the altitude really hits you and you can feel a little lightheaded. It’s essential to spend a few days in Cusco to get acclimatized if you plan to walk the Inca trail. Many people are surprised to find that the altitude at Machu Picchu is lower than Cusco.

Machu Picchu enjoys cool temperatures due to its elevation. A steady 20C is the top temperature for most of the year, with lower reaches between 10C and 0C, dipping in July. The site of Machu Picchu is open all year round, with peak season falling between July and August. October is considered one of the best months to visit Machu Picchu.

Once in Cusco, you can get to Machu Picchu by bus or train through the Sacred Valley in Urubamba. In the Sacred Valley, you will get your first sight of Inca ruins on the mountainsides. Aguas Calientes is the town below Machu Picchu. The easiest and quickest way to get from Cusco to Aguas Calientes is by taking the Machu Picchu train. The journey takes about 3.5 hours and the price varies throughout the year.

Once there you can take a public bus up the hill to the citadel of Machu Picchu or walk the eight-kilometre ascent which takes around 90 minutes. Public transport runs regularly to the entrance and there’s even a luxury hotel within short walking distance of the main entry into the ancient city. To enter Machu Picchu you need a permit. Every foreign visitor must present their passport and a permit at the entry gates where your passport will be stamped.

If you feel like more of an adventure you can choose to walk along the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. The 40-kilometre trek over four or five days traces the footsteps of Incas from the Sacred Valley to Machu Picchu. Unless you are an experienced hiker you will need to hire a guide. The Inca Trail has to be booked well in advance and is sometimes closed through December and January to allow regeneration of the ecosystem.

 
Hiking the Inca Trail is an incredible, exhilarating, and exhausting experience. During the hike, it is possible to visit some otherwise inaccessible sites and the landscape is breathtaking. Along the trail, you will experience long hikes in the day, cold temperatures during the night, possible rain, and meals in the kitchen tent. The companionship with the rest of the group and the fact that it is virtually impossible to shower for the 4 days of the hike all add to this unforgettable experience.

It is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to actually walk along the sacred way of the Incas. And then on the final day, you get a 3:00 am wake-up call to start walking in the dark and reach the sun gate named Inti Punku in time for sunrise. There you can see Machu Picchu in all its glory. Once you arrive at Machu Picchu and wander the ancient ruins you feel like a local with a special connection.