We have seen lots of amazing things on our travels but there are still places that make us say "Wow!". Machu Picchu was one of those places.
Machu Picchu was an Inca city built high in the Andes Mountains. The site was not discovered by the Spanish when they conquered the Inca Empire so it wasn't damaged or destroyed like other Inca sites.
Part of the attraction of Machu Picchu is the mystery that surrounds it. There are lots of theories but no definitive answers to questions like why the Incas built there and what the purpose of the site was. Another mystery is why, after dedicating huge amounts of human and physical resources to the construction of Machu Picchu, the Incas abandoned the site and destroyed all trails leading to it. There is no evidence of a Spanish attack or a disease.
There are also lots of myths regarding Machu Picchu. A popular one relates to the shape of the mountains behind the site.
The myth is that the mountains form the face of an Inca staring up at the stars and this is why the Incas built at Machu Picchu. There's no evidence that this is true but it makes for a good story.
One last thing to mention about Machu Picchu. Part of the adventure is getting there and you have two options. One way is a four-day camping trip where you hike 82 kilometres through the Andes. The other way is a very comfortable three-hour train ride through the Sacred Valley followed by a short bus ride up the mountain. Which one did we pick?
Yes we took the easy way to Machu Picchu but that doesn't mean we took it easy once we got there. After touring the site on our first day, we did a whole bunch of climbing on day two. Read all about it on our next post.
Vanessa and Blake
Machu Picchu was an Inca city built high in the Andes Mountains. The site was not discovered by the Spanish when they conquered the Inca Empire so it wasn't damaged or destroyed like other Inca sites.
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| Machu Picchu |
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| A llama welcomes Blake to Machu Picchu |
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| Mugging for the camera |
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| Temple of the Sun |
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| Smooth walls of the temple on the right, coarse rock walls for storage rooms on left |
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| Terraces used for agriculture |
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| Sun dial - the Incas used astronomical events to guide religious and agricultural activities |
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| Just some of the living areas |
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| Inside a two storey house |
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| Looking out over the valley |
Part of the attraction of Machu Picchu is the mystery that surrounds it. There are lots of theories but no definitive answers to questions like why the Incas built there and what the purpose of the site was. Another mystery is why, after dedicating huge amounts of human and physical resources to the construction of Machu Picchu, the Incas abandoned the site and destroyed all trails leading to it. There is no evidence of a Spanish attack or a disease.
There are also lots of myths regarding Machu Picchu. A popular one relates to the shape of the mountains behind the site.
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| Can you see a face? |
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| Now can you? This is the same photo turned 90 degrees counterclockwise |
The myth is that the mountains form the face of an Inca staring up at the stars and this is why the Incas built at Machu Picchu. There's no evidence that this is true but it makes for a good story.
One last thing to mention about Machu Picchu. Part of the adventure is getting there and you have two options. One way is a four-day camping trip where you hike 82 kilometres through the Andes. The other way is a very comfortable three-hour train ride through the Sacred Valley followed by a short bus ride up the mountain. Which one did we pick?
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| Relaxing with breakfast on the train |
Yes we took the easy way to Machu Picchu but that doesn't mean we took it easy once we got there. After touring the site on our first day, we did a whole bunch of climbing on day two. Read all about it on our next post.
Vanessa and Blake
