Learning More About Peru and Machu Picchu

Before I travel thousands of miles to a destination, I like to read up on some of the history of the country I'm going to visit, as well as Tivo and watch any television specials that occasionally show up on stations like the History, Travel, and Discovery Channels. I find that this at the very least supplements the information I get from a guide and often times supersedes it.

For my trip to Peru and Machu Picchu, I chose to read the book The Last Days of the Incas by Kim MacQuarrie, and I don't think I could have found a better book. Not only is the history surrounding the conquest of the Incan Empire by Francisco Pizarro and company fascinating, MacQuarrie spins it into a fast-paced novel full of intrigue that should be turned into a movie or an HBO mini-series. While we all know the ultimate outcome, you can't help but root for the Incas.

In addition to the Spanish conquest of Peru, MacQuarrie also delves into the discovery of Machu Picchu and Vilcabamba, the last holdout of the Incas. The discoveries are equally interesting and also fraught with controversy. The book has its own website, and Mr. MacQuarrie also has a fascinating blog on Peru.

As always, for more information of Machu Picchu, you can check out the section on my website. Also do you like to read up before a trip, or do you prefer to learn on the fly -- relying on either a guide or a guidebook? Weigh in on the comment section, I'd love to hear people's thoughts.

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.