Peru 4U

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Machu Picchu Information

Machu Picchu, the lost city of the Inca's is a "must see" when you are visiting Peru. Gazing across the ruins, with its perfectly set stairways, dwellings, fountains and still functional aqueducts, is a haunting experience. The "lost city of the Inca's" is so in tact that it seems as if its residents have walked away just recently.

How the community of Machu Picchu ended is still a great mystery. It was once filled with priests, artisans, and the mamacunas, a group of selected virgins who dedicated their lives to the sun god. The Spanish have no records of the city, and when it was rediscovered in 1911, by Hiram Bingham, its walls overrun by the nearby jungle, only 173 skeletons were found at the site.

Machu picchu is surrounded by a huge jungle and imposing mountains that remain next to the visitors through their entire journey. Once you arrive you'll be captured by the magic of the mysterious ruins, which have been kept for ages, to delight the visitors with its beauty. Feel the mystery of the lost city of the Inca's after our you have hiked the 2 or 4 days Inca Trail or went there by the 1 day train tour.

The Inca Trail

The Inca Trail to Machu Picchu is known as South America's most famous and tough hiking circuit. In former times Machu picchu was connected with the city of Cusco and the rest of the Inca empire by amazing trails, specifically designed for the use of the Inca's, in perfect harmony with the environment. The Inca Trail demonstrates the profound expertise of the Inca's with regard to architecture and construction.

Throughout the whole trail you can locate shelters surrounded by gorgeous country sites and great views. Some of the trails lead you to a few archeological remains. The Inca Trail is approximately 32 km long. It passes several archeological ruins along the route. At the same time, it crosses 9 different ecological areas which are located between 2000 and 6000 meters above the sea level.The trail is occupied by more than 400 species of orchids, begonias, trees and bushes.

At the present time the Inca trail uses three routes. The first, the longest and the best, route starts at km 82 in Chilca. This is the most distant you can go by bus. Duration is 4 days and 3 nights. The second route starts at km 88, where you go by train and it joins route 1 after a couple of kilometers.The third starts at km 104. You get there by train. Route 1 and 2 takes 4 days and 3 nights, route 3 takes 2 days and 1 night.