In This Issue:
Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu - The Lost City of the Incas

Machu Picchu, one of the most famous and spectacular sets of ruins in the world and an UNESCO World Heritage site; celebrated its 100th anniversary this year of its rediscovery by explorer Hiram Bingham. Bingham found Machu Picchu by accident in 1911 while heading a Yale University expedition to Peru.

Surrounded by steep valley on all sides and two thousand feet about the Urubamba River, the ruins have palaces, baths, temples, storage rooms and some 150 houses, all in a remarkable state of preservation. With llamas grazing and the rising mist floating past stone terraces, Machu Picchu lives up to its mythical status.

To reach Machu Picchu most people fly into Lima, Peru's capital and then fly southeast to Cusco. Cusco was the site of the historic capital of the Inca Empire and today you will still see massive Inca-built walls amongst the steep narrow cobblestone streets, colonial mansions and churches and modern buildings. You will want to spend a few days in Cusco to get acclimated to the higher elevation, nearly 11,000 above sea level.

From Cusco you can take the train to Aguas Calientes, the town at the base of the mountain where Machu Picchu rests. This neat and tidy town is worth staying a night or two. The town is full of shops, restaurants, hotels and hot-springs nearby. From Aguas Calientes it is a 20 minute bus ride to Machu Picchu.

For the more adventurous type, hiking The Inca Trail is a must. The Inca Trail is the most famous trek in South America and is rated by many to be in the top 5 treks in the world. The Incas built a highly advanced network of nearly 40,000 thousand kilometres of trails to connect the distant corners of their vast empire that stretched from Quito in Ecuador down to Santiago in Chile and east to Mendoza in Argentina. Cusco was at the heart of this great empire and The Inca Trail takes you 43 kilometres to Machu Picchu.

The trek usually takes 4 days, arriving at the Inca ruins of Machu Picchu for sunrise on the fourth day. Trek through beautiful mountain scenery, lush cloud-forest, subtropical jungle and a stunning mix of Inca paving stones, ruins and tunnels. The trek is rated moderate and any reasonably fit person should be able to cover the route. It is fairly challenging nevertheless, and altitudes of 4200m are reached, so ensuring that you are well acclimatized is important.

If you still love the idea of hiking but looking for something shorter, there is the Sacred Trail trek. It takes 2 days and starts along the Vilcanota River Valley closer to Machu Picchu. Access to The Inca Trail is strictly controlled and only authorized trekking companies are allowed to sell this trek. Also the number of people allowed on the trail each day is limited so it is recommended to book well in advance.

A visit to Peru would not be complete without seeing Machu Picchu. Speak with a Flight Centre travel consultant at 1 866 317 4794 to plan your Machu Picchu adventure.

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