Online booking available or call +44 (0)1963 363 400
Visit Machu Picchu on Your Travels to Peru
The pilgrimage to Machu Picchu is one made by many travellers and tourists and is an integral part of any trip to Peru. Located 7710 feet above sea-level, the enigma and charm of this destination will captivate you. One of the few sites where visitors can gain meaningful insights into pre-Columbian South America, Machu Picchu is situated on a mountain ridge above the Urubamba Valley in Peru, about 70 km northwest of Cusco. Machu Picchu was originally thought to be the fabled "Lost City of the Incas", although in recent years this myth has been all but dispelled. Machu Picchu is now thought to be only one of a series of fortress towns, situated along a mountain footpath.
Machu Picchu: A Hidden Fortress
Concealed from prying Western eyes until 1911, the now popular destination is a UNESCO world heritage site. Accessible only by the famous Inca Trail or by rail, travel to Machu Picchu as part of a Peru tour does require some degree of physical strength. The last 1,640 vertical feet must be walked over the course of several days up steps, through tunnels, and across bridges. The multi-terraced trail is connected by pathways, and sometimes visitors have to make use of foot- and hand-holds carved into the rock like ladders.
Considered the most exotic and beautiful of the Inca ruins, Machu Picchu is an enchanting destination and is a must see for those planning a trip to Peru. Nestled on a terraced plateau between two mountain peaks, visitors to this area will be awed by the forested mountains and the Urubamba River that snakes through the valley beneath. With a panoramic view of the Andean glacial peaks, scenically this historically rich destination may be the highlight of Peru travel.
