Machu Picchu, the famous lost city of the Incas, is one of the most evocative places in Peru. It is perched on a mountain ridge 600m above the Urubamba River which winds spectacularly through the valley below. The mountainside is clad in thick jungle cloud forest, often covered in mists which are quickly burnt off by the powerful equatorial sun. Constructed from precisely sculpted granite blocks carefully joined with the projecting exposed stone of the surrounding mountain, Machu Picchu may well be the finest architectural achievement of the new world. Your guide will tell you the story of the rise and fall of the ancient civilisations of the Andes, the tragic end of the Incas, and the unresolved mystery that this ‘lost city’ remains.
You can travel to Machu Picchu from Cusco either by train or on foot. Most people arrive by train which takes about 4 hours through wonderful scenery. It is also the ultimate destination of the Inca Trail trek through the mountains. However you get there, it is a must for your Peru holiday.