Machu Picchu is one of the most important archaeological places in the world. A visit to the "Lost City of the Incas" is not for the faint of heart, but it is often defined as life-changing. While the four-day hike along the Inca Trail is exciting, arriving at the Peruvian site during sunrise is well value for the effort, according to past travelers.
Machu Picchu is real evidence of the urban Inca Empire at the peak of its power and accomplishment a citadel of cut stone fit together without mortar so tightly that its cracks still can’t be penetrated by a knife blade. The complex of palaces and plazas, temples and homes may have been built as a ceremonial site, a military stronghold, or a retreat for ruling elites its dramatic location is certainly well suited.
The ruins lie on a high ridge, surrounded on three sides by the windy, turbulent Urubamba River some 2,000 feet (610 meters) below. A journey to Machu Picchu is available in many ways, but low-priced is not one of them. Train tickets from Cusco can run more than a hundred dollars each, and entry fees range from $47 to $62 depending on which options you choose. In between, a round-trip bus trip up and down the 2,000-feet-high slope atop which the Inca ruins are located costs another $24. If you don’t mind a workout, however, you can walk up and down for free. The steep path roughly follows Hiram Bingham’s 1911 route and offers extraordinary views of the Machu Picchu Historical Sanctuary, which looks almost as it did in Bingham’s time. The climb is strenuous and takes about 90 minutes. If you're not up for the hike, you can also trip on a tourist train to the mountain base for an easier route to the top.
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