Not a stone's throw away
But nestled high above on the Andean slopes Machu Picchu lies waiting to mesmerize. Here, the sun rises to remind mankind of his omnipresence since the beginning of time. And it is here that an ancient empire built a citadel without using mortar. Cut to perfection, wedged to wonder, the stones in Machu Picchu, which is situated on a fault line dance to the tremors of frequent earthquakes always settling back into place. If that isn't enigma, what is? The secrets of this civilization remain undisclosed with only the citadel bearing testimony to the fact that the Incas built Machu Picchu in 1540 only to abandon it during the Spanish conquest. It was revealed to the world by American historian Hiram Bingham and remains a wondrous remnant of history towering tall in the canyon of the Urubamba river. Lush jungles abound, unknown surprises lurk and nature and history merge to mesmerize and beguile. The dry stone walls are built in Classical Inca style with the Temple of the Sun lighting up in splendor with the first rays of sunrise. There are a secret temple and a hidden museum - find them and maybe the Incas will speak to you in more ways than one.
Built in the 15th century and later deserted, high in the Andes Mountains in Peru is an Incan citadel, “ Machu Picchu”. The sophisticated dry stone walls fused together with huge blocks without the use of mortar are an amazing sight. What these buildings were first used for is still a mystery. In 1981 it was labeled a Peruvian Historic Sanctuary. It became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983. In 2007, Machu Picchu's status was elevated to one of the New Seven Wonders of the World in a worldwide Internet poll. You have to visit here to experience and enjoy the atmosphere of Machu Picchu. Why delay?
From Cusco, one first needs to travel to Ollantaytambo. From Ollantaytambo take either Peru Rail or Inka RailService to Aguas Calientes. This journey takes around 1 hrs 50 min. Trains operate from 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. It is advisable to purchase the ticket well in advance. On arrival to Aguas Calientes take a shuttle bus ride or hike up to Machu Picchu.
The distance from Cuzco city center to Machu Picchu is 72.7 km. The bus or the train will reach you there in 3 hours 30 minutes. The one-way ticket cost is roughly about 244 SOL.
Machu Picchu opens in two shifts:
Sunday 6:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. & 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m
Monday 6:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. & 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m
Tuesday 6:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. & 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m
Wednesday 6:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. & 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m
Thursday 6:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. & 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m
Friday 6:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. & 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m
Saturday 6:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. & 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m
Waiting Time
No
Entrance Fee
Entry Fee: 150.50 SOL
Time you can spend
1 to 2 hours
Weather
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