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| World wonder: Machu Picchu (CLICK TO ENLARGE) |
Obvious really – but to leave Peru without seeing one of the Wonders of the World is to have wasted a trip. Lost for centuries before being ‘rediscovered’ in 1911 and reclaimed from the jungle, the ancient Incan city straddles precariously the mountain-top, as if it may slide down at any moment. It is surrounded on all sides by a cordon of verdant peaks, including the conical Wayna Picchu, the perfect backdrop for most photos over the ruins. Machu Picchu is best reached by the Inca Trail, a three and a half-day hike over 35 miles of rugged Andean terrain, reaching heights of 4,200m and following the steps laid by the Incans themselves before reaching the Sun Gate high above Machu Picchu to watch the sun rise over the ruins on the morning of the fourth day. It is magical. Make sure you book ahead online to guarantee a place on the true Inca Trail – only 500 passes are given out each day (and half of these go to the porters). If you can't plan that far in advance then there are a number of alternative treks finishing at Machu Picchu (including the popular Lares Trek), which are no less rewarding and that can be booked with only a few days notice. For the less adventurous, there is train service to Aguas Calientes at the foot of the mountain, and a bus which plies the meandering road up and down.
Read our free guide to Peru here.
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