Peru - Day 8: Lares Trek Day 4: Machu Picchu and Huayna Picchu
On Thursday, June 20, 2024, my friends and I finally visited Machu Picchu!!! After several days of hiking the Lares Trek and making our way through the Sacred Valley, we had finally made it to one of the places I was most excited to see in Peru.
Machu Picchu
We met our guide around 5:30am and took the approximately 20-minute bus ride from Aguas Calientes up to Machu Picchu. We arrived around 6:00am and spent the entire morning there, leaving around 12:30pm.
Machu Picchu is a 15th-century Inca citadel built high in the Andes Mountains above the Urubamba River at an elevation of approximately 7,970 feet. The site is famous for its incredible stonework, agricultural terraces, temples, and dramatic location surrounded by mountains. Its buildings were constructed using precisely cut stones fitted together without mortar, and while historians have several theories about how the site was used, its exact purpose during the Inca Empire is still debated.
Machu Picchu is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is recognized as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, so seeing it in person was incredibly exciting!
Machu Picchu Circuits
The system for visiting Machu Picchu changed right around the time of our trip. We had purchased our tickets through SAM Travel Peru in April 2024, but beginning on June 1, 2024, Machu Picchu introduced a new system consisting of three main circuits divided into 10 different routes.
The three main circuits are:
Circuit 1 – Panoramic: Primarily focuses on the upper terraces and panoramic viewpoints overlooking Machu Picchu.
Circuit 2 – Machu Picchu Classic: Includes many of the classic viewpoints along with portions of the archaeological site.
Circuit 3 – Machu Picchu Royalty: Focuses on the lower portion of the archaeological site and includes routes providing access to hikes such as Huayna Picchu.
Because our tickets had been purchased before the new system went into effect, they were handled according to the equivalent routes established for tickets purchased under the previous system. Luckily, the tickets we had purchased still allowed us to follow the standard Classic Circuit through Machu Picchu.
We began by exploring the Classic Circuit, walking through the archaeological site with our guide, learning more about the history, architecture, and significance of Machu Picchu, and stopping for photos along the way. The weather was beautiful that morning, and we had some incredible views of the ruins and surrounding mountains.
It was so wonderful finally seeing Machu Picchu in person!
Huayna Picchu
After exploring the main archaeological site, we made our way over to the entrance for Huayna Picchu, the tall mountain that rises directly behind Machu Picchu and appears in many of the classic photographs of the site.
Huayna Picchu, which means “Young Mountain” in Quechua, reaches approximately 8,835 feet above sea level and rises several hundred feet above the Machu Picchu archaeological site. It sits opposite Machu Picchu Mountain, another mountain visitors can hike for panoramic views of the area.
The hike up Huayna Picchu is relatively short but steep. Much of the trail consists of narrow paths and old stone stairways, with cables available for support in some of the steeper sections. The climb can definitely be intimidating in places, especially if you aren't a fan of heights, but the views from above are incredible.
We started hiking Huayna Picchu around 9:00am and reached the top around 10:30am. There was a bit of a line to take photos at the top, but our guide was wonderful enough to take a group photo of all four of us once it was our turn.
After getting our photos and spending some time enjoying the views, we began making our way back down. The descent was much faster, taking us about 30 minutes to reach the bottom.
We continued exploring Machu Picchu before eventually leaving around 12:30pm. From there, we returned to Aguas Calientes and headed to Full House Machupicchu Restaurant for lunch.
Full House Machupicchu Restaurant
After leaving Machu Picchu, we headed to Full House Machupicchu Restaurant in Aguas Calientes for lunch. The restaurant sits alongside the river and has large windows with views of the surrounding mountains and water. It serves a mix of traditional Peruvian dishes, fusion cuisine, and more casual options such as burgers and wood-fired pizzas.
I ordered the Full House Burger, which came with thick-cut Peruvian potato wedges and dipping sauces. The food was so good and was exactly what I needed after spending the entire morning exploring Machu Picchu and hiking Huayna Picchu!
Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo to Cusco
When we were finished with lunch, we said goodbye to our guide and headed to the train station for our trip back to Ollantaytambo. We took the PeruRail Vistadome, which has large panoramic windows designed to provide better views of the mountains, river, and scenery along the route through the Sacred Valley.
The train ride was a relaxing way to make our way back after such a busy morning. Once we arrived at the Ollantaytambo train station, a driver from SAM Travel Peru was waiting for us and drove us back to Union Hotel in Cusco.
Cusco
That evening, La Noche de Luces y Sonido 2024, or the Night of Light and Sound, was taking place in Cusco’s Plaza de Armas as part of the city’s annual June festivities. After checking back into the hotel, one of my friends and I walked over to the plaza to watch the celebrations, including the parade and fireworks.
It was a perfect way to end an already incredible day!
