August
3
2010
By Greg Sacks
The Inca peoples of Peru knew how to keep a secret, but at Trufflepig we tend to be a little loose-lipped. So don't tell anyone I told you, but there's this ancient city perched up high in the Andes, and it's accessible again for the first time in months.
In today's demystified world of science and big business, it's so rewarding to find questions left unanswered. Many of us travel to experience a sense of wonder, to fan the flames of our creativity, and nothing activates our imaginations quite like a mystery where we are left to connect the dots. So it is with great relief that one of the great mysteries of our time, the ruins of Machu Picchu, has opened again after months of closures. Royal estate? Religious retreat? Agricultural laboratory? We may never know, and that perhaps is the best part.
Back in January torrential rainfalls, floods and mudslides washed away parts of the rail line that give access to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Machu Picchu. There were terrifying pictures of railway beds contorted downwards on gruesome angles into the roiling waters of the Urubamba river, and the entire town of Aguas Calientes was cut off from the rest of the valley. With up to 2,000 visitors a day, the closing of Machu Picchu was a disaster both for travellers and tourism in general.
If you are interested in visiting Machu Picchu, here are a few quick tips to keep in mind:
1. The main hiking trail to Machu Picchu is congested and spoiled. If you want to reach Machu Picchu on foot, take the Salkantay Route using the Mountain Lodges of Peru.
2. There are many amazing sections of the Inka trail that do not lead to Machu Picchu, many of which offer superior scenery and cultural contact. We can organize some amazing multi-day treks using private tented camps if you are serious about your hiking.
3. If you are not a hiker and plan on taking the train to Machu Picchu, we recommend taking the earliest Vistadome train from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes. This way you get there early with no muss and no fuss, but with great views from the picture windows. On the way back, consider the Hiram Bingham luxury train to Cusco, where people gather in the bar car and share their excitement for what they have just witnessed.
Greg Sacks knows the ins and outs of Peru's mot sacred site from his time working as a guide in the region. Get in touch with him and check out our trip planning site to learn more. You can also follow along on Facebook and Twitter if you'd like to hear more from us.