Trip To Machu Picchu

So I was in Machu Picchu.

Dream come true? Yup, because I had been wanting to get here at least once in this lifetime.

Planning the Trip to Machu Picchu

So how did I go about it?

First, I planned my trip and after a very serious brainstorming with Google, I decided I am ready to conquer Machu Picchu. Second, I arranged my schedule, then booked my flights, hotel reservations and the train trip to Aguas Calientes (you can book the train online via perurail.com, the only railway company operating trains to Machu Picchu).

Basically I had to get my butt and the rest of me to Lima, Peru first. From Lima, I had to fly to the city of Cusco, the first and foremost connection to Machu Picchu.

From Cusco I took the train for 3 1/2 hours to Aguas Calientes. Aboard the Hiram Bingham Express, the journey was very pleasant and enjoyable as we passed through Peruvian towns, fields, valleys and mountains. The scenery was rustic yet refreshingly beautiful.

Aguas Calientes is a quiet a small town at the foot of the mountains leading to the citadel of Machu Picchu. The town’s economy rely on tourism services such as hotels and restaurants and a fair share of souvenir shops and stalls.

From Aguas Calientes, I took the bus ride (included in the Hiram Bingham ticket; along with the entrance ticket to Machu Picchu, an English speaking tour guide and an afternoon tea and snacks at Machu Picchu Lodge) with some other tourists for about 20 minutes.

We went up the winding roads around the mountainside until we reached the entrance to the ruins. The climb was gradual and the driver was cautious enough to make us feel safe.

The bus then deposited us in front of Machu Picchu Lodge, a few meters from the main entrance.

“This would be your last chance to pee! There are no toilets anywhere inside the citadel. You are not allowed to pee anywhere else inside the ruins! Remember Machu Picchu is a sacred place and sacred places has no toilets!”, our tour guide announced.

That made us all scramble to the nearest WC at Machu Picchu Lodge as the journey around the ruins would take at least 3 hours.

As soon as you’ve passed the main entrance, you’ll find these commemoration plaques in honor of Machu Picchu’s discoverer Hiram Bingham, hanging on the wall on the left side.

On the right side would be the carved stone stairs that goes around the agricultural sector but which is normally the “exit way” for tourists finishing their exploration of the ruins.

The Machu Picchu Ruins

The moment you enter Machu Picchu, you are confronted with a variety of choices of which way to go. Confused of whether to climb up, go down or go straight ahead, as your excitement to explore the ruins before your eyes overcomes you.

From the main entrance, climbing up would take you to the Watchman’s Hut which has a spectacular view of the ruins below. This hut was used by the Incas to oversee both the Agricultural and the Royal sectors.

You could also go down the side stairs by the Inca hut next to the terrraces (it has been said that the Incas invented terraces farming) and from there and straight ahead,

you’d find yourself in the midst of the Royal and Sacred sector, you know… temples, priests, altars.. chief’s residence, etc.

Our guide led us in a roundabout way from the Watchman’s hut going down to the Old City Gate.

Note: the walking and climbing paths around the ruins are mostly carved stone steps or flattened ground that even candidates for the Biggest Loser would find the place not too difficult to navigate.

The Old City Gate led us to the Dry Moat, which gave a stunning view of the Watchman’s Hut above us,

and this spectacular view below us

Going down from the Dry Moat, we proceeded to the Temple of the Sun easily recognized by its semi circle wall. This was accessible only to the priests and the Sapa Inca (their chief). It served as an observatory for measuring the winter and summer solstices which the Incas used on planning their crop rotation. In the middle is a big carved boulder that was used as an altar for sacrificing animals offered to the sun god Inti to ask for a favorable harvest.

Beneath the Sun Temple is a cavernous room named the Royal Tomb. Here the nobles and priests, were laid to rest in their mummified state.

The roof of the Ceremonial Center lies next to the Temple of the Sun and to see its interior you need to get one level lower.

The water supply of Machu Picchu originates from the Ceremonial Center going all the way down through holes and ducts carved on stones and pavements and continues to the terraces. Even up to this day, a small amount of water still flows along the ducts and fountains.

The Quarry, where granite boulders were supposed to had been left by the Incas proving that their construction was unfinished yet when they abandoned Machu Picchu.

Alongside the Quarry is the Sacred Plaza where religious rituals are held and where stood the Temple of Three Windows, characterized by its trapezoid shaped windows, the Principal temple and the Chamber of Ornaments.

The Temple of Three Windows is shaped like a bracket with the open end facing the Sacred Plaza. The three windows are situated to frame three distant mountain peaks when seen from an angle, which unfortunately we didn’t see as they were hidden amongst the clouds.

The Principal Temple lies on the right side of the Temple of Three Windows with the Intihuatana Pyramid a few feet behind.

The Chamber of Ornaments is annexed to the Principal Temple on the rear side right below the Intihuatana Pyramid.

The Intihuatana Pyramid on top of which lies the sacred Intihuatana stone.

The Intihuatana was used in a ritual that binds the presence of the sun on winter solstice, hence its common name of “The hitching post of the sun”. It was so called to stop the sun from going away any further during the shortest day of the year. It could indicate the position of the sun during its solstices and give useful information for agriculture in respect to the time of plant and harvest.

This picture was taken at the Intihuatana Pyramid with two Filipino-Canadians (pointing at me) and an Indian-American lady whom I met during the trip.

From the Intihuatana Pyramid, we crossed the Main Square (that green, green grass you see) to the eastern side, where the Workshop and Industrial Sectors are. The Workshop features the private dwellings, craft shops and storehouses while the Industrial was for the production of pottery, weavings and would you believe? …Beer!

On the farther northern end of the Workshop sector are these two huts mainly used for crop storage. Behind them is the Wayna Picchu also known as Huayna Picchu. Machu Picchu means “Old Peak” in the Quechua language, while Huayana means “Young Peak”. Beyond the two huts is where the trail to Huayna Picchu begins. It is a separate climb and would take at least 2 hours. It may not be suitable for candidates of the Biggest Loser.

Our last “guide-suggested must-see attraction” is the Temple of the Condor, burried within a cluster of structure next to the Industrial Sector.

The Temple of the Condor are stone carvings resembling a condor with stretched wings. Its head and beak are located on the ground while the wings are the two enormous slanting boulders behind it. An entrance to an underground labyrinth have been used as some sort of prison. The condor for the Inca was the god of the sky, the all-seeing god that punishes those who commit wrong doings.

From the Temple of the Condor, it is just a few steps down to the terraces (where I spotted a solitary llama) that leads to the way out.

So there you go… or there I went. From the main entrance to the exit point, I walked, I climbed, I sweat… and stopped once in a while to catch my breath (and take pictures). But every step is worth the effort. Every climb is worth the try. Every sweat is worth wiping and don’t forget to bring a bottle of mineral water, because kiosks there you wouldn’t find.

Conquering Machu Picchu is an awesome experience… exhilerating and incredibly fascinating. Reward yourself with something extraordinary. Do it this lifetime. You’ll never know… you could be an elephant in the next one.

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