First Post -- Trip to Machu Picchu

I'm starting this blog to go along with my new World's Top Wonders website. I just got back from visiting Peru and, of course, Machu Picchu. The site's dramatic setting definitely puts it in the top-ten man-made world wonders and is what really sets it apart from other contenders.

The trip was kind of last minute, but the travel agency I went through, CAT, did a top-notch job. A two-day strike less than two weeks before I left that cut off travel to Machu Picchu and other sites had me a little worried ahead of time, but everything went off without a hitch and everyone I met was extremely friendly. Apparently boulders were pushed onto the train tracks at some spots, making passage to the site impossible unless you had big bucks to afford a helicopter ride to the Aguas Caliente, the town right below the archaeological site. After missing out on going to Tibet and seeing the Potala Palace earlier this year because of protests, making it to Machu Picchu brought with it some relief to go along with excitement.

The most surprising part of the experience was how many other tourists were lined up for the first bus to the site at the Aguas Caliente station before 5:30 A.M. in the morning. I was expecting a decent crowd, but not 22 bus loads. If you go, make sure to wake up even earlier to get on one of the first ones. Many of the early risers are looking to climb Huayna Picchu, the picturesque mountain seen behind the site in photos (it is linked to the site). The climb is limited to the first 400 people in line, and people are split into two groups of 200 each, with the first starting at 7:30 and the second group starting at 10:00 AM.

Fortunately for me, I was one of the last people in the first group after snapping some classic post-card pics from the agricultural sector. Huayna Picchu is a fairly tough climb, and I'm in decent shape, but it was well worth it for the spectacular view. Although how tough it is a matter of perspective I guess, as I did see a couple of ten-year old girls make the climb too.

More later.