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Situated at 7972 ft elevation, between Huayna Picchu ("Young Peak," HP) on the North, and MP mountain ("Old Peak," MMP) on the South, is this 80,000-acre complex of Machu Picchu (MP) with 200 archaeological structures. One of the most popular Bucket List item in South America, these well maintained "ruins" were definitely the highlight of our Peru trip.
Having seen other ruins in Cusco and Sacred Valley, we were interested in visiting only a few famous structures at MP such as the Temple of the Sun, Temple of the three windows, Temple of Condor and water mirrors. More interesting was the view from the top of HP - one that most people don't get to see. We planned to do HP hike rather than hike up to MP from the town below, Aguas Calientes (AC.) HP is famous not only because of it is in the background of every MP picture, but also because climbing it is very popular. It’s also very difficult, and a little dangerous.
Due to its popularity, MP has a daily visitor limit - so does HP (8924 ft) and MMP (10000 ft.) Limit for MP matters only during summer peak season, but to go up to HP or MMP, only 200 people are allowed at 7 am and another 200 at 10 am. HP hike is only about 1-1/2 hours - 4 hours if you do the complete loop including Temple of Moon, caves and Huchu Picchu. MMP hike is longer but more gradual - also less popular.
The road up from AC is a continuous series of switchbacks, the trail is part steps and part trail and crosses the road at several of the switchbacks. It is also in fairly dense bush so you really have no view of anything on the hike up.
HP hike is very steep for the most part, and don’t expect hand rails all the way. Best if you are fit and healthy, and do not suffer from a fear of heights. Keep in mind that your knees will take strain, and you will need to use your hands at times - going up as well as coming down. There are stairs and caves where you may need to sit down and slide down one step at a time. Hiking poles may be useful part of the way, but not for steps. Also, in the entire MP/HP site, you are required to use rubber tips on hiking poles to protect the stone. Remember to bring lots of water and take your time on the more difficult sections.
Of course, as soon as you reach the top, the view is worth it - especially on a clear day like we had, Not seen in Machu Picchu pictures are the back side of HP that has many structures such as terraces, small enclosures, rocks carved passages and tunnels. There are many spots where you can stop, take a breather, enjoy the view and take pictures.
MP site looks tiny from the top of HP - most of it is terraces with all buildings clustered around the center of the site. Had we done the proper tour, we would have started at the top at the Guard House, followed the red path from South to North towards HP and returned on the blue path as we did. There were some signs but not enough to let you know exactly where you were. In the end, we found them one way or another. The most famous is the Sun Temple, or Torreon, where each year on the winter solstice (21 June in the southern hemisphere) a beam of light shines through a window, forming a mysterious rectangle atop a slab of granite.
On one hand, Machu Picchu appears to be tangible evidence of the urban Inca Empire at the peak of its power and achievement—a citadel of cut stone fit together without mortar so tightly that its cracks still can’t be penetrated by a knife blade. Landscape engineering skills are also in strong evidence at Machu Picchu. The site’s buildings, walls, terraces, and ramps reclaim the steep mountainous terrain and make the city blend naturally into the rock escarpments on which it is situated.
On the other hand, scholars are still striving to uncover clues to the mysteries hidden here. The complex of palaces and plazas, temples and homes may have been built as a ceremonial site, a military stronghold, or a retreat for ruling elites—its dramatic location lies on a high ridge, surrounded on three sides by the windy, turbulent Urubamba River below.
The Inca had no written language, so they left no record of why they built the site or how they used it before it was abandoned in the early 16th century. The Inca’s achievements and skills are all the more impressive in light of the knowledge they lacked. When Machu Picchu was built some 500 years ago, the Inca had no iron, no steel, and no wheels. Their tremendous effort apparently benefited relatively few people—some experts maintain that fewer than a thousand individuals lived here. One also wonders why quality of stones used in construction of upper parts of structures is inferior than those below. May be we will find out some day.
For more about MP, check out Virtual Tour of MP or this one
Situated at 7972 ft elevation, between Huayna Picchu ("Young Peak," HP) on the North, and MP mountain ("Old Peak," MMP) on the South, is this 80,000-acre complex of Machu Picchu (MP) with 200 archaeological structures. One of the most popular Bucket List item in South America, these well maintained "ruins" were definitely the highlight of our Peru trip.
Having seen other ruins in Cusco and Sacred Valley, we were interested in visiting only a few famous structures at MP such as the Temple of the Sun, Temple of the three windows, Temple of Condor and water mirrors. More interesting was the view from the top of HP - one that most people don't get to see. We planned to do HP hike rather than hike up to MP from the town below, Aguas Calientes (AC.) HP is famous not only because of it is in the background of every MP picture, but also because climbing it is very popular. It’s also very difficult, and a little dangerous.
Due to its popularity, MP has a daily visitor limit - so does HP (8924 ft) and MMP (10000 ft.) Limit for MP matters only during summer peak season, but to go up to HP or MMP, only 200 people are allowed at 7 am and another 200 at 10 am. HP hike is only about 1-1/2 hours - 4 hours if you do the complete loop including Temple of Moon, caves and Huchu Picchu. MMP hike is longer but more gradual - also less popular.
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| MP archaeological site and MP mountain from HP |
The road up from AC is a continuous series of switchbacks, the trail is part steps and part trail and crosses the road at several of the switchbacks. It is also in fairly dense bush so you really have no view of anything on the hike up.
HP hike is very steep for the most part, and don’t expect hand rails all the way. Best if you are fit and healthy, and do not suffer from a fear of heights. Keep in mind that your knees will take strain, and you will need to use your hands at times - going up as well as coming down. There are stairs and caves where you may need to sit down and slide down one step at a time. Hiking poles may be useful part of the way, but not for steps. Also, in the entire MP/HP site, you are required to use rubber tips on hiking poles to protect the stone. Remember to bring lots of water and take your time on the more difficult sections.
Of course, as soon as you reach the top, the view is worth it - especially on a clear day like we had, Not seen in Machu Picchu pictures are the back side of HP that has many structures such as terraces, small enclosures, rocks carved passages and tunnels. There are many spots where you can stop, take a breather, enjoy the view and take pictures.
MP site looks tiny from the top of HP - most of it is terraces with all buildings clustered around the center of the site. Had we done the proper tour, we would have started at the top at the Guard House, followed the red path from South to North towards HP and returned on the blue path as we did. There were some signs but not enough to let you know exactly where you were. In the end, we found them one way or another. The most famous is the Sun Temple, or Torreon, where each year on the winter solstice (21 June in the southern hemisphere) a beam of light shines through a window, forming a mysterious rectangle atop a slab of granite.
On one hand, Machu Picchu appears to be tangible evidence of the urban Inca Empire at the peak of its power and achievement—a citadel of cut stone fit together without mortar so tightly that its cracks still can’t be penetrated by a knife blade. Landscape engineering skills are also in strong evidence at Machu Picchu. The site’s buildings, walls, terraces, and ramps reclaim the steep mountainous terrain and make the city blend naturally into the rock escarpments on which it is situated.
On the other hand, scholars are still striving to uncover clues to the mysteries hidden here. The complex of palaces and plazas, temples and homes may have been built as a ceremonial site, a military stronghold, or a retreat for ruling elites—its dramatic location lies on a high ridge, surrounded on three sides by the windy, turbulent Urubamba River below.
The Inca had no written language, so they left no record of why they built the site or how they used it before it was abandoned in the early 16th century. The Inca’s achievements and skills are all the more impressive in light of the knowledge they lacked. When Machu Picchu was built some 500 years ago, the Inca had no iron, no steel, and no wheels. Their tremendous effort apparently benefited relatively few people—some experts maintain that fewer than a thousand individuals lived here. One also wonders why quality of stones used in construction of upper parts of structures is inferior than those below. May be we will find out some day.
For more about MP, check out Virtual Tour of MP or this one
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