Machu Picchu, Peru

Hi again!

This will be short since we are a mere 10 days away from moving back to Germany (🤯). And, let’s face it, there is so much information on the logistics of getting to Machu Picchu that I don’t need to go into the details.

So, this post is all about the pictures!

I will say, however, that I debated arranging this trip DIY-style. Which, sure, is possible, but I’m glad we didn’t do that. Instead, we booked the 1-day tour with Cusco Peru and paid $328 per person to have them arrange everything. And everything includes a lot: return transportation from Cusco (comprising a bus to a train to another bus… I had no idea!), entrance to Machu Picchu, and a private tour guide. Oh, and that price also included the upgraded train with 360-degrees views and snacks!

Yes, I’m confident that I could have booked all these things independently, but why? And, if you know me, then you know I had an Excel sheet with a thorough cost analysis of the two options. Honestly, the tour was only ~$50 more expensive per person, which, for the convenience, was worth it. AND my DIY version didn’t include a private guide. So, it’s certainly an expensive day trip, but it’s worth the money. Especially when you walk around the corner for this view!

It reminded me of the moment when I first saw the Acropolis in Greece in 2006. Our guide stopped the group and told us to get ready because we were about to turn the corner and see one of the most iconic ruins. Sure enough, he hyped up that moment enough that I still vividly remember it.

There are four circuits through Machu Picchu. Our tour included Circuit 2, the most common route for the one-day tour. This circuit covers the entire area, which is way bigger than I thought! You can tell from that iconic angle of Machu Picchu that it’s big, but photos really don’t do the size justice. Another thing that was a bit surprising was the mountain in the background, called Huayna Picchu, is a separate area. It’s accessible from Machu Picchu City, but further away than it seems in the pictures.

And yes, I called it Machu Picchu City, which is what our guide called it. No one actually knows the true name of the ruins, but the mountain directly behind, in the opposite direction of Huayna Picchu, is called Machu Picchu mountain. Hence, the ruins are called Machu Picchu City.

Don’t worry though, all circuits include the overlook so you can get THE shot!

Machu Picchu is definitely a bucket list item, and it would have been really disappointing to be this close, relatively speaking, for two years and not visit. Shane compared the experience to visiting the pyramids in Egypt! So, I’m happy that the butterflies allowed us to squeeze this in!

Now that we’re back, Shane and I are both reading the book Turn Right at Machu Picchu. If you like non-fiction, it covers both Hiram Bingham III’s journey to discover Machu Picchu and a modern-day hiker’s quest to follow in his footsteps. But it’s full of good information about the region, the culture, and Machu Picchu that would have been fun to know before going. So, I highly recommend reading this before you go!

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I mentioned in my last post that we had three full days in Cusco, one for ATV rides, one for Machu Picchu, and one for Rainbow Mountain, which literally blew my mind. So, until then…

Nos vemos,

Whitney