Macchu Picchu

As a member of the Incan ruler Pachacútec’s family in the 15th century, you were lucky to receive an invitation to winter at Macchu Picchu, currently believed to be a resort perched high in the mountains of the Sacred Valley, a week’s journey by foot from Cusco. The lost Incan city was “discovered” by American archaeologist Hiram Bingham in 1911 during a quest to find Vilcabamba, the last jungle stronghold of the Incans. Instead, a local villager pointed him to the ruins of Macchu Picchu, overgrown with ivy on the top of some of the most spectacular peaks in the valley.

Journeying to the ruins today is a lot easier and cushier. We took two local buses a few hours from Cusco to the historical town of Ollantaytambo, where we hopped on our comfortable, glass-ceilinged train to ride along the lush gorges of the Río Urubamba before arriving at the base of the ruins. Early the next morning, we grabbed a shuttle out of the gateway town of Agua Calientes (hot springs) to the top of the peak.

Macchu Picchu was covered by fog and light rain, as if shrouding it in continued mystery. As we were some of the first tourists there, walking through the eerily deserted buildings and pathways added to the intrigue. We didn’t linger, but breezed to the other side of the ruins to start our trek to Huayna Picchu, the mountain peak which towers behind the city. Rain made the grueling stone steps especially slippery, but we safely made it to the peak, though our views were obscured by thick clouds. Thankfully, as often happens during the rainy season, the late morning sun began to burn through the cloud jungle and reveal glimpses of Macchu Picchu – fleetingly at first, but gradually increasing in permanence until the whole city was seen.

We took well advantage of the magnificent views and, after filling our camera memory cards to our desires, started the steep descent back down to the ruins. By now, tour groups had staked ground in various corners of the ruins, and we returned after lunch to more carefully explore the ruins. The city is surrounded by self-sufficient agricultural terraces and traversed by an elaborate drainage system, allowing the foundation to stay intact until today. Some of the views from the individual homes are spectacular, with stone patios giving way to deep gorges and soaring mountain views. This was not a bad vacation resort!

Turning a corner in the city, we saw a couple with the guy proposing on one knee. After giving them a minute, we shouted “¡Felicidades!” before passing by. The excited couple showed off their matching rings with grins from corner to corner. Truly this was a fitting place in history from which to begin their own future.