Visit Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu or as it is at times refered to, “Old Peak” is a pre-Columbian Inca site located 2,430 metres or 8,000 ft above sea level. It is positioned on a mountain ridge above the Urubamba Valley in Peru, which is 80 kilometres or 50 miles northwest of Cuzco and through which the Urubamba River flows. To many it is simply “The Lost City of the Incas”. Machu Picchu is one of the most noteworthy historical sites of the Inca Empire.

It is in a subtropical zone. As a result of this the climate is exquisite, warm and damp, with temperatures averaging 130 degrees Celsius for the entire year in the daytime. There are two identifiable seasons during the year. The first is the rainy season which is evident from November to March. During this season there is a lot of heavy rain fall. The dry season usually lasts from April to October and corresponds with elevated temperatures. Tour guides will generally advice visitors to dress in accordance with the seasonal adjustments.

Of the great number of things to be fathomed in Machu Picchu the flowers and animals that live there are of great interest. There are multiple species of animals and plants. The prevalently seen plant life in the historic reserve of Machu picchu is inclusive of pisonayes, q’eofias, alisos, puya palm trees, ferns and over 90 species of orchids. The animals that may be observed in the reserve include the spectacled bear, cock-of-the-rocks or “tunqui”, tankas, wildcats and a fantastic number of butterflies and insects that are known only to the region.

The guided tour of Machu Picchu commences on a path that leads from the bus terminal. The path which was carefully built to accommodate tourism goes through the massive structure in the section that holds a set of rooms that are very near the outer wall. The path passes through a terrace and then into the agricultural zone just before smoothly meeting the urban area.

The impressive spectacle is divided into two parts: the agricultural and the urban. There are main squares, temples, palaces, storehouses, workshops, stairways, cables and water fountains which run through both areas. The agricultural sector measures 20 hectares while the urban area measures 10 hectares.

Its fundamental architectural design was unquestionably based on Cuzco, which is the capital of the Inca Empire. Machu Picchu was constructed in accordance with its natural surroundings. Its basic design follows the natural curves and dips and rises that are readily seen in the land.

There is railway line that runs between the city of Cuzco and the station of Puente Ruinas or Machu Picchu. The trip commences in the station of San Pedro in Cuzco, after which the train makes it way up the Picchu mountain until it reaches the highest point, an area declared “El Arco” (in English the arch), located in the northwest part of the city. The route then goes down to the villages of Poroy, Cachimayo and lzcuchaca until it comes uponthe Anta plains, which is a well known cattle area. It climbs down the gully of Pomatales before once again making a descent to the Sacred Valley of the Incas. At this segment of the journey it arrives at the station of Pachar. The train will then make its final stop at Machu Picchu.

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