There are sites in the world that everyone wants to visit regardless of their origin, age or any other factor. These sites are so beautiful, fantastic, mysterious and amazing that no one can resist the urge to visit them at least once in their life. There aren’t many of them in the world, and one of them is definitely Machu Picchu. This medieval citadel, built 5 centuries ago in Peru, is considered one of the Seven Wonders of the World.
When you finally reach Machu Picchu, you will see an amazing view of the remains of the old citadel and the mountains that surround it. That is why almost 2 million people visited this locality last year. That number is even higher than it seems when it comes to the context that it is not so easy to get there and that Peru is not among the major tourist countries in the world, not even close. Since you probably already know all the generally known information, we will reveal the secrets you need to know before visiting.
1. It should never have been found
The arrival of Spanish conquistadors on the territory of South America brought the downfall of many, if not all local civilizations, including the largest, the Incas. The conquistadors killed and plundered, and to protect Machu Picchu, the Incas left the city, so that the Spaniards would never find it. Along the way, they burned forests, so as to further hide the way to this citadel. We are witnesses that their plan succeeded, at least at that moment, because no one discovered it until the beginning of the 20th century. It was a lost city for almost 300 years, although there is some information that several families have continued to live there for centuries, but it was not known to the rest of humanity.
2. It is not “Lost City of the Incas”
Although Machu Picchu has been lost for so many centuries, as we have said, many still mistakenly consider it the “Lost City of the Incas”. Even the man who discovered Hiram Bingham thought wrongly until his death. Vilcabamba is actually the “Lost City of the Incas” and is very close, less than 40 miles away. It was the last place the Spaniards conquered.
3. Machu Picchu was the forerunner of the resort
You must have been very surprised by this subtitle. Although this information has not been fully proven and confirmed, there are strong indications that it was the first resort ever. As Cuzco, the capital had over 100 thousand inhabitants, and according to some data, close to 200,000, the Incas needed a place to go to rest from everyday life. Although it does not seem like a large number of inhabitants to us today, at that time it was among the larger cities in the world. That is why, like us today, they occasionally wanted to get away from it all and relax surrounded by nature. As you can conclude when you look at the scenery in which Machu Picchu was built, it is clear to you that it was an ideal location for the first resort ever. Whether you believe this theory or not, many researchers think it is true. If it is really true, it is another indication of how advanced civilization it was.
4. There are different ways to get to Machu Picchu
Everyone thinks that the only way to get to this locality is by a well-known route, and that is to the city of Cusco, and then by train and bus to Machu Picchu. There is also the option to cross the part of the road on foot and it takes less than two hours. These are the most popular and easiest options for most tourist, but they are certainly not the most beautiful. There is something called the Inca Trail and only that offers you a complete experience. It is a multi-day hiking on which you cover about 40 kilometers. It can last between 3 and 5 days. Here you will reach the site in a completely different way, where you will enjoy the beautiful landscapes and other archaeological sites along the way. On the last day, when you see the goal of your endeavor, you will feel like never before in your life. If you are interested in the Inca trail, read more about it and be fully prepared. There are also some alternative trekking routes, which are less popular but still interesting. If you are in very good shape, you can go from Choquequirao to Machu Picchu, but it will take more than 7 days.
5. Much is invisible to you
Although the whole citadel is very fascinating, there are also some other fascinating things that you will not see. How advanced they were we can see by the various systems they had, and much of it is underground. They had drainage which they needed very much because there are rainy seasons. It is simply amazing what they managed to build on such inaccessible terrain. Since the territory is prone to earthquakes, they even built in such a way that most of it do not fall during the earthquake. They built by fitting stones and then everything shakes during an earthquake, but it doesn’t fall apart.
6. There is a museum that few people know about
There is no information about anything on the site itself. Although it may seem very strange to you, it was done with the intention reducing already huge crowds. If everyone stop to read the details, there will be impossible for all people to visit it. That is why there is a museum that is located for about half an hour and that will answer all your questions about Machu Picchu. Admission costs less than 10 dollars, so it’s absolutely worth it. And there are very few visitors, so no one will bother you.
7. Temple of the Moon
The Temple of the Moon is very far from the rest of the site, but certainly not too far as it takes you about 3 hours to reach it. It’s another spectacular thing to see, and when you get there, you’ll see that you’re probably among the only ones to have found this temple. It will be worth it, trust us.
Conclusion
This is a trip you will probably embark on only once in your life, both because of the distance to Peru and because of the price, as well as the time it requires. So make the most of the opportunity once you get there.