Hike to the historic ruins of Machu Picchu.
Machu Picchu in Peru is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Most people who travel to Machu Picchu start in Cusco, Peru. Some travel from there to Machu Picchu by train, while others hike for several days from Cusco along the Inca Trail. Hiking Machu Picchu via the Inca Trail from Cusco is an adventure you won't forget.
Instructions
1. Understand some basic facts about the journey. The rainy season is December through February, and the most popular time to hike is from June to August. The hike begins near Cusco, Peru, in the Sacred Valley and near the villages of Chinchero, Urubamba and Ollantaytambo. The average journey takes about four days. Hikers, after exploring the ruins, typically return to Cusco by train from Aguas Calientes, below Machu Picchu. The hike is considered a moderate hike, suitable for any reasonably fit person, but it is recommended that travelers acclimate themselves to the high altitude and less oxygen in Cusco for several days prior to beginning the hike. You must arrange the hike through an official tour organization. It is required that you have porters and a guide, which cost a fee.
2. Arrange airfare to Peru. International flights from the United States and most other countries will be to Aeropuerto Internacional Jorge Chávez (Jorge Chávez International Airport) in Lima, Peru, airport code is LIM.
3. Travel by air or bus from Lima to Cusco. The flight from Lima to Cusco is about one hour and very scenic as the plane travels over the Andes. Be aware that Lima is at sea level on the Pacific Coast and Cusco is at 10,800 feet elevation in the Andes, so you will immediately feel the effects of the altitude when you land and step off the plane. At first, simple tasks will cause you to be of breath, but after a day or two you will acclimate to the high altitude. If you travel by bus, you typically have to change buses in Arequipa or in Nasca. The total bus journey is long, more than 24 hours, and winds through the Andes.
4. Make accommodations. You might want to spend your first night or two in Lima; most travelers stay in the Miraflores or San Isidro areas of the city. When you arrive in Cusco, there are many hotels of various types, from the simple and inexpensive to the luxurious and costly, spread around the historic and cultural center of the city. Cusco is the travel and tourism hub of the Peruvian Andes and many travelers make it their base for touring this region of South America. Spend a night or two in Cusco when you arrive to get acclimated to the high altitude and explore the city and surrounding area. Cusco was the cultural heart and the capital of the Incan Empire.
5. Arrange your hike to Machu Picchu with an official tour company that will arrange for you to join a group and have the mandatory guide and porters. You can find many reputable outfits online who specialize in making such arrangements. See the Resources section below for some tour companies offering Inca Trail hike packages.
Tags: Machu Picchu, high altitude, Inca Trail, Cusco Peru, from Cusco, from Lima, from Lima Cusco