The ancient city of Machu Picchu | Squirrl

The ancient city of Machu Picchu

One of the most inspiring archaeological sites ever discovered, Machu Picchu is nestled high in the misty, lush slopes of the Andes and continues to reveal the mysteries of the Inca Empire. This ancient city was never revealed to the conquering Spaniards and was virtually forgotten until the early part of the 20th century.

Today, this UNESCO World Heritage Site attracts over 2 million tourists a year. Here are 4 things you must do:

  1. HIKE THE INCA TRAIL
    The Inca Trail to Machu Picchu is a hiking trail in Peru that terminates at Machu Picchu. It consists of three overlapping trails: Mollepata, Classic and One Day. Mollepata is the longest of the three routes with the highest mountain pass and intersects with the Classic route before crossing Warmiwañusqa.
  2. WATCH THE SUN RISE
    The easiest way is to spend the night at Aguas Calientes which is a town at the foot of Machu Picchu. You can then grab a shuttle bus before ‪5am to reach Machu Picchu before sunrise. Please note - buy your bus ticket the day before to ensure a spot. For the more adventurous who want to hike up, you will need to kick off ‪at 4am to get there in time for sunrise.
  3. CLIMB HUAYNA PICCHU
    This is the mountain that sits behind Machu Picchu and climbing it gives you a humbling view revealing the sheer magnitude and complexity of Machu Picchu. This is a highlight for many travellers!
  4. VISIT THE MOCHE TEMPLES OF THE SUN & MOON
    These sacred temples were built between 100 - 800AD. The Temple of the Sun was built for religious ceremonies and solar observations where only sacred priests were permitted inside. 500 metres away, you'll find the Temple of the Moon which is a monument made up of overlapping temples built across different periods. In the centre there's an open-face, shallow cave where you will find a throne carved out of rock.

A trip to Machu Picchu guarantees you an experience like no other.

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📸 @donwoods

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