Machu Picchu is an ancient Incan city set high in the Andes Mountains in Peru. The spectacular ruins sit at approximately 8000 ft. above sea-level in the middle of a beautiful tropical mountain forest. Built by the Inca sometime in the 1400s, the ruins represent a city that was an amazing urban area at the height of the Incan Empire. The Inca built their city on terraces and ramps among the rock spires and escarpments of the Andes. You must set aside the time to explore Machu Picchu with your family.
Nearly 200 structures make up this religious, astronomical and agricultural center set on the stone terraces. The city is divided into two sections, farming and residential separated by a large square between the two.
Keep in mind that there is some hiking to the site but this beautiful and mysterious location is easily accessible for most travelers. Be sure to reach out to the various tour operators to ensure you have chosen the right tour for your physical condition. Listed below are a few of the tour companies that offer tour packages to help you begin your search for the perfect get-a-way.
Tour Operators
- SA Expeditions; from $2999 pp
- G Adventures-National Geographic Expeditions; from $4199 pp
- G Adventures; from 1359 pp
- Intrepid Travel; from $1215 pp
- Inca Expert Travel: from $1569 pp
There are a variety of packages to meet your travel style to choose from.
Sample Itinerary
Many tour operators follow a fairly simple itinerary to explore Machu Picchu, there are various options to choose from. To give you a better idea of what to expect, I’ve listed a sample itinerary below:
- 1st day – Arrival in Lima, Peru
- 2nd day – Lima to the Sacred Valley
- 3rd day – Sacred Valley Tour
- 4th day – Machu Picchu (full day)
- 5th day – Machu Picchu (half day)
- 6th day – Lima/Cuzco City Tour
- 7th day – Departure for home
If you’re up to a trek, be sure to explore some of the beautiful back country while you are in Peru.
For more information of the area and things to do visit the Peru Travel Website.
Trekking
If you are the more adventurous type and physically fit, explore Machu Picchu via the sacred valley and Inca trail. Many of the same tour operators offer treks of various lengths and physical demands.
Peru Travel
There are some fairly inexpensive flights on the web, a quick search showed flights from Tampa to Lima for $450. Since the status of the cruise industry is currently unknown, flights are probably your best option. If you need a little help finding deals, check out our “Finding Travel Deals” post. Here, we’ll will show you all of our “go to websites” for finding some really great deals.
Right now could be a great time to book your Peru travel, it never hurts to dream. We all day dream about that awesome trip of a lifetime. If you have time, hiking the famous Incan trail will be a great way to explore Machu Picchu.
Never forget to “Unleash Your Inner Trekker!”