The Best Reasons to Visit Machu Picchu
James Bustamante is Native to New York but born to Peruvian parents. He has been traveling throughout Latin America since early 2003 and finally made his home in Peru. James has made his way by eating and traveling through almost every country in Central and South America.
Last Updated on November 20, 2022 by James Bustamante
Travel is an activity that brings not only immediate pleasure but also a lasting sense of accomplishment.
We, as curious humans, have the urge to go out and have new experiences, learn about new cultures, visit unknown destinations, and dive into something completely foreign to us. Basically, humans want an adventure.
Peru is a great destination to explore new cultures, and visit exotic destinations like Machu Picchu. Why the Inca citadel specifically? Well here are the Top 5 reasons to visit Machu Picchu.
Machu Picchu Can be a Challenging Experience
Going to Machu Picchu is unlike taking your average vacation to a sunny beach. Instead, the trip is more of an adventure mixed with a cultural experience. Once of the very best reasons to visit Machu Picchu is challenging yourself to actually get there and gaze into the Andes mountains in the background.
It takes careful planning and most importantly you have to know exactly what the best route for you to get there is. A Machu Picchu Travel package can have various routes and methods to reach the city.
With so many roads leading to Machu Picchu in the form of trains and adventurous trails, the possibilities for fun are endless. figuring out how to get there is one thing but actually doing it is something completely different.
Imagine trekking through the Andes mountains at over 15,000 feet and camping under the crisp Andean night sky for 3 nights via the classic Inca trail before entering Machu Picchu at the crack of dawn.
Or taking the vistadome train through the Sacred Valley into Aguas Calientes thereby crossing highlands and cloud forests all in the same day while enjoying the amazing scenery presented.
Machu Picchu Is An Exotic Destination
Machu Picchu can be as exotic as it gets. Its mere geographic location is something to ponder, and once you are there, the magnitude of this stone city can be hard to believe.
Why settle for a trip anyone can take when you can visit somewhere only some will ever get to see? For example, you can find Machu Picchu in a “cloud forest” region.
This geographic location is neither a jungle nor a highland but something in between. You still have the views of the fantastic highlands but at a lower altitude with greener surroundings.
Just as a reminder, Machu Picchu was traditionally a place for royalty. It was not a place just anyone could go and visit. You had to be on the upper echelon of Inca royalty even to fathom entering this Inca city. Travelers ask themselves, Why visit Machu Picchu? We should consider how particular this location was to the native Inca.
Taking One Of The Many Machu Picchu Trails
Once you conclude that a hike to Machu Picchu is the optimal path for you, the task turns into picking the correct trail.
Machu Picchu trails vary but ultimately land on three possibilities; there are more but let’s focus on the top 3. The classic four-day Inca trail, The 5-Day Salkantay Trek, and the 2-Day Inca trail.
The Classic 4-day Inca trail is the more popular hike in almost any way you look at it. It is a moderately challenging hike, with you going straight into Machu Picchu on day 4. Booking for this hike needs to be done 6-8 months in advance, or it will be challenging to get a permit.
The two-day Inca trail is also known as the express Inca trail. It involves a full day of hiking through the Peruvian highland. In the evening, you arrive at Aguas Calientes, the town at the bottom of Machu Picchu. The following morning you either walk to Machu Picchu (2.5 hours) or take the tourist shuttle (20 minutes).
The five-day Salkantay trek is arguably the most beautiful hike to Machu Picchu. To some, the scenery is superior to the classic 4-day walk, albeit a more challenging hike.
You will see fewer ruins along the way to Machu Picchu, but as a tradeoff, the views are spectacular. You are also more likely to spot local wildlife on this hike than others. In order to book a hike, it is a good idea to ask the travel adviser to include it in a Peru tour package so that it fits well into your schedule.
Machu Picchu World Wonder
In 2007 Machu Picchu was voted one of the world’s new seven wonders. After that event, its popularity skyrocketed, becoming one of the destinations on most people’s bucket lists.
Inti Punku
If you want to complete a tour visiting list of “wonders of the world,” Machu Picchu is a place you can’t miss.
You must check out a few famous landmarks within the Complex of Machu Picchu, like the Temple of the Sun and Moon.
The following is the list of places you will have the opportunity to visit within Machu Picchu.
Things to See in Machu Picchu
- The Main Square
- The Sacred Rock
- The Huayna Picchu Mountain
- The Sun Gate (Intipunku)
- The Intihuatana
- The Temple of the 3 Windows
- The Temple of the Condor
- The Hall of Mirrors
- The Ladder of the Fountains
Explore Other Parts of Peru
Peru is a popular destination overall! Machu Picchu might take, on most accounts, the title of a significant destination within the country, but there is so much more to see and experience.
The Miraflores district
Peru has won world travel awards in various categories. For example, it won for seven consecutive years as the best culinary destination. But that’s not all. Peru also has the Amazon rainforest, The Colca (the deepest canyon in the world), the enigmatic Nazca lines, and much more. All this variety makes it into the list of top 5 reasons to visit Machu Picchu.
Do You Need More Inceptives to Visit Machu Picchu?
Do you need more ideas on why travelers should visit Machu Picchu? Below are some more ideas to help you take that last step to finalize your trip to Peru and your hike to Machu Picchu.
Machu Picchu Has a Mysterious Origen
Archeologists worldwide are still trying to understand why these incredible stone temples were built.
Most believe the complex was built for the Incan Ruler, Pachacuti. They also considered it a sort of pilgrimage site that the citizens would travel to pay respects to their ruler. Many roads lead to Machu Picchu, the most important being named the Inca Trail.
Machu Picchu Might Not Be Around in the Future
Due to the incredible demand to visit the site, UNESCO is considering naming Machu Picchu as a World Heritage Site. There are already thousands of visitors each year in Machu Picchu, several got there via the train while others hiked across the Andes. Adding more visitors might not be the best idea in terms of site preservation.
Much of this stems from the fact that Machu Picchu is slowly sliding down the side of the mountain, so who knows how long it has. The Incan complex is in an area of seismic activity as well, remember that Aguas Calientes has hot springs due to this. In short, you should make your Machu Picchu Reservations sooner rather than later.
Machu Picchu Surrounding Sites
Many other sites are almost equal in beauty to Machu Picchu. One of these sites is Patallacta.
It was built atop stepped agricultural terraces surrounding a rising hillside, and it is believed to have been used by the Inca as a stopping point for those on their way to Machu Picchu.
Many of its stone temples and houses can still be explored today.
Take The Huayna Picchu Hike
You know that tall peak you see in most pictures of Machu Picchu? That peak is known as Huayna Picchu (Young Mountain).
It is about 300 meters higher than Machu Picchu and offers panoramic views of Machu Picchu. Hiking up this peak is an incredible experience as you pass through the “stairs of death,” a series of highly steep stone steps that almost makes you feel like you are climbing instead of trekking up the mountain.
Conclusion
Remember that Machu Picchu is an extraordinary place, so pointing out 5 or 10 top reasons to visit Machu Picchu is not enough. This list could go on for quite a while. So the next you as yourself, “Why visit Machu Picchu?”
The answer is relatively simple; make it over here and see for yourself. It is a fantastic place everyone should experience at least once in their life.
Below is a package that includes some of the highlights of Lima, Cusco, The Sacred Valley, and Machu Picchu. It is one of the more popular packages since it has both the Peruvian coast and the highlands.
7-Day Package Outline
- Arrival in Lima – Transfer to Lima Hotel by the Sea.
- Lima City Tour.
- Domestic flight to Cusco – Transfer to Cusco Hotel – Free Day to Acclimate.
- Sacred Valley Full Day Tour (9 am-6 pm) – Includes Buffet Lunch.
- Train to Aguas Calientes – Overnight Stay.
- Machu Picchu Guide Tour – Return Train to Cusco.
- Transfer to Cusco Airport for a Domestic flight to Lima.
Frequently Asked Questions: Top 5 Reasons to Visit Machu Picchu
Machu Picchu is a set of ancient Inca structures covering the mountain tops with extensive terraces carved into rock and earth.
You can buy Machu Picchu tickets through our website or as part of a tour/trek.
There are two options when traveling from Lima to Cusco. You can go by plane or by bus. The bus can take up to 27 hours, while the flight will only take 1.5 hours. However, we suggest taking the flight to avoid feeling heavy fatigue upon arriving in Cusco.
You can take a Machu Picchu day tour or a long trek. A day tour will take you directly via private transportation and train in a few hours, while the treks have you camping along the Inca ruins. The best excursions include the four-day Inca Trail, the 4/5-day Salkantay Trek, and the two-day Inca Trail.
It is the official route taken by the Inca to Machu Picchu. It is estimated to be nearly 600 years old and is of great historical/cultural value.
