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Cuzco Flights & Machu Picchu Travel Guide Info
Cuzco, (population 350,000) was once the proud capital of the Inca Empire. Today it retains much of that pride. Inca architecture, now shadowed by colonial Spanish buildings, holds up the foundations for a majority of the city. The Quechua people, the present-day ancestors of the Incas, are also the foundation for the city and bring the charm, humility and beauty that keep tourism booming in Cuzco.
Cuzco's elevation of 3,326 m (10,912 ft) is not to be taken lightly. Chugging mate (tea made from coca leaves) will help and will most likely be offered in the reception area of your hotel. Some tourists prefer to work their way up to Cuzco by starting in the Sacred Valley which features a string of sacred Inca temples and fortresses especially in Pisac and Ollantaytambo.
Almost every visitor to Cuzco is drawn to best-preserved Inca ruins four hours away at Machu Picchu . These breathtaking ruins were naturally concealed from the world until 1911 by the fantastic green peaks that loom up and around the ancient city 610 m (2,000 ft) above the Ro Urubamba below. Around 200 houses, palaces and temples built from large and small perfectly fitted stone blocks surround the central court.
At an elevation of 2,450 m (8,000 feet) Machu Picchu is only reached by train from Cuzco or on foot via the Inca Trail, a stone pathway paved by the Incas that passes through multiple other Inca creations only seen by those who take the 2-4 days to make the trek. The hike finishes with a bird's eye view of Machu Picchu and gives the trekker a true taste of how the Incas saw their city. Recent government restrictions limit the number of hikers on the trail to 500 and require all tourists wishing to trek the Inca Trail to take a government-certified guide.
The train from Cuzco leaves early every morning and returns in the afternoon. It is wise to purchase your ticket a day or two in advance or through a travel agency. There are two classes of trains and both leave around 6:30 every morning.
The train stops in the town below Machu Picchu, Aguas Calientes. From here, just a few blocks from the train station, catch a 20-minute bus up a winding mountain road to the park entrance. To avoid crowds at Machu Picchu, we recommend staying one night at Aguas Calientes and taking the bus up to Machu Picchu before the first train arrives in the morning.
Aguas Calientes is an unremarkable town, and you won't want to spend more than one night there, but there are a number of international restaurants and tourist-friendly hotels that live off the Machu Picchu crowds. There are some nice hikes in the area with decent bird and butterfly watching.
Plan your trip to and around Machu Picchu with up-to-date travel info provided by V!VA Guides.
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