Machu Picchu: a world tourist icon and one of the 7 wonders of the modern world. You will love to discover this must see stop during your journey in Peru. Everything around Machu Picchu, from its history to its culture is amazing. Not to mention the environment and the nature. The name “Machu Picchu” comes from the translation of “Old mountain “ and it is located 2490 metres above sea level, linking Machu Picchu Mountain and Huayna Picchu Mountain. Macchu Picchu is 129 kilometres away from Cusco. Without any doubt, Machu Picchu is one of the most recognised monuments of the Inca Empire and also one of the most famous ruins in the world. A culture still alive, you will feel privileged to have had the chance to visit Machu Picchu.
History and places to visit
The history of this icon comes from the 15th Century. According to some documents, Machu Picchu was created as a residence for the first Inca emperor Pachucútec. Some experts consider that this construction was in fact created as a military strategy. Today, it is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world surrounded by the most beautiful landscapes. You can get to Machu Picchu by walking the Inca’s Way, the most picturesque trial in the world surrounded by unmatched views and nature. Aguas Calientes is the main stop when you arrive from Cusco to Machu Picchu by train and this village offers a lot of services for tourists. It has also a thermal station and a lot of treatments for different illnesses, the perfect place to stop and refresh.
How to arrive there
The main access to Machu Picchu is by the rail road (112.5 km and 4 hours) from San Pedro station (Cusco) to Aguas Calientes and the only company who offers this service is Perú Rail. From this point you have two ways to go up to the citadel: by bus (the most common one) takes 20 minutes and walking the Inca’s Way for one hour and a half.
Opening times and prices ( mobility)
You can visit Machu Picchu from 6am to 5 pm. As we mentioned above, when you plan your visit to Machu Picchu you should take into consideration that the train takes 3 hours and a half to arrive from Cusco. The price to visit Machu Picchu is 128 soles (around 49 dollars). For disabled people Machu Picchu is not very accessible but the recovery treatment provided at Aguas Calientes 05/be worth exploring.
Tips and tricks
The history of Machu Picchu provokes curiosity and the mysteries around the ruins creates even more interest. Machu Picchu was called “Little Cusco” due to the similarity between the cities. It’s also interesting to know that the city was discovered in 1911 by an American historian but the world wasn’t intrigued by it until 1913 when the National Geographic Magazine dedicated all of the April’s magazines to this discovery. When it was discovered, there were still people living there and even some old mummies. InsureandGo recommends you to stay there for two days to enjoy all of the wonders that Machu Picchu has to offer you.
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