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Machu Picchu
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Machu Picchu is the most visited tourist attraction of Peru, and not without reason, if you believe the many tourists and travelers from many countries or hundreds of publications and blogs who classify it among one of the top destinations in the world.
Built on a mountain top, without disrupting the scenery, its awesome constructions, the scenery, the fauna and flora in the area, its rise and fall have turned Machu Picchu into the epiphany of Inca architecture. Visiting it is an unforgettable, marvelous experience.
Machu Picchu is several hours from the city of Cusco and is one of the few World Heritage Sites that has been recongnized for both its natural and cultural value by the UNESCO.
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Machu Picchu Archeological Site
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The city of Machu Picchu is on the list of World Heritage Sites since 1983, as part of a cultural and ecological site called the Historic Sancturary of Machu Picchu.
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On July 7th 2007, Machu Picchu secured its place in the hall of fame of historic monuments by being declared one of the New World Wonders in an international vote on the internet where more than a hundred million votes participated.
At 2,340 m. (7,677 ft.) on top of the Old Mountain (the translation of Machu Picchu), surrounded by mountain chains, its perfectly integrated constructions at the border of the cliffs impress its visitors again and again. The construction techniques used to move huge rocks and fit them together with an astonishing precision, on a mountain top, defy the imagination.
Machu Picchu can be reached by train (4h.) from the city of Cusco, or from Ollantaytambo (2h.) . Both trains arrive in the village of Aguas Calientes, at the bottom of the Machu Picchu mountain. From the vilage you can go up to the site by bus, or take an inca trail and arrive at the entrance after a three-hour walk.
In order to be able to preserve the archeological integrity of the site, the access to Machu Picchu is restricted to 2,500 visitors per day. It is therefore highly recommended to purchase your entrance tickets with anticipation in order to avoid inconveniences.
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Historic Sanctuary Machu Picchu
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The historic sancturary of Machu Picchu has a total extension of 32,592 hectares (square feet), between the Cusichace and the Aobamba rivers, which both end in the Vilcanota River.
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On top of the Machu Picchu citadel, the sanctuary contains the staggering amount of almost 200 archeological sites, like terraces, ceremonial centers and Inca Trails. Moreover, a large number of endemic species like some orchids and birds can almost only be found in this area. Every archeological site is connected to the next one, forming a unified territory of sites and nature, in the religious and cultural context of one of the most important ancient civilizations, as can only be found in a few places on Earth.
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Aguas calientes (Machu Picchu Pueblo)
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The village of Aguas Calientes, also called Machu Picchu Pueblo, is an obligatory stop-over for travelers to Machu Picchu Pueblo. It is at the end of the railroad from Cusco and Ollantaytambo. Being the entrance gate to Machu Picchu, it is highly transited and an overnight town for many visitors, even though prices of lodgings and restaurants are quite elevated.
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Aguas Calientes was founded during the construction of the railroad, mainly to provide lodging for the railroad workers. Together with the rise of popularity of Machu, the village grew into a disorganized gathering of hotels, restaurants, and pubs around the rail road.
The village itself doesn´t have much to offer apart from its hotsprings where you can relax or recover after hiking the Inca Trail or running around Machu Picchu.
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Huayna Picchu
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The mountain of Huayna Picchu or Wayna Picchu, is the mountain that is always seen in the background of the images of Machu Picchu and is part of the Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu. In Quechua, Huayna means “young”, in contrast to “Machu” which means “old”.
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The entrance to Huayna Picchu is now limited to 400 people a day, in two turns, 200 in the morning and 200 in the afternoon, and requires a separate ticket. The climb is quite steep and requires good physical condition and a lack of vertigo. Once you get to the top, and reach what is called The Inca´s Throne, your effort will be rewarded, though, with a magnificent view on the city of Machu Picchu and the valley with the river below. It takes about 50 minutes to get to the top.
There´s a second way to reach Wayna Picchu, over the back side of the mountain. It´s quite tough, but leads to a series of archeological sites in subterranean caves and salt rocks. The most important site is the so-called Temple of the Moon, with its strange, apparently unfinished trapezoid windows and doors, that were built at the same time and in the same style as the constructions of Machu Picchu, but whose function is unknown until today.
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The Inca Trail to Machu Picchu
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The Inca Trail to Machu Picchu is a small section of a network of about 30,000 km. (20,000 miles) of trails in stone and earth throughout the Inca Empire that were built to maintain quick and permanent communication and that stretch from Colombia to Chile. This network, often called the Capac Ñan, consisted of thousands of relays where the so-called “Chasquis” or messengers literally ran from one post to another.
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Up until today, many sections of the Capac Ñan are still in use by the local populations in the South, Centre and North of Peru. Hiking an Inca Trail is always a special experience, and even more so when the final destination is a spectacular place like Machu Pichu.
The Inca Trail became so popular with hikers that it had to be strictly regulated. Now, only 500 hikers per day are allowed to cross the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, and only a selected number of agencies in Cusco are licensed to sell the trail. This has also rules to restrict abuses with porters and other local personal that are involved in the logistics of the trek.
This has also lead to a steady rise of the costo of the Inca Trail trekking. But the trail is truly unique, passing through incredible landscapes, over many steps in rocks, placed by Incas, over rivers, creeks, valleys, mountain passes and a large variety of archeological sites, until you reach the Inti Punku, or Sun Gate, with a priviliged view on Machu Picchu and Huayna Picchu at sunrise. It´s no wonder, the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu has become one of the most popular trekkings in South America, and it is absolutely necessary to book 3 to 5 months ahead to ensure your spot.
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Hotel Qalasaya
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Region: PUNO
Detalle: Edificio de 11 pisos con servicio de ascensor...
Fecha: 15/05/2011
Categoria
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Precio desde:
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US $72.60
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