Machu Picchu Tour

Machu Picchu - Geography

noreply@blogger.com (ParkYank) — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 13:42:00 +0000

Machu Picchu lies in the southern hemisphere, some 13 degrees south of the equator. It is 80 kilometers
northwest of Cusco, on the crest of the mountain Machu Picchu, located about 2,450 metres (8,040 ft)
above mean sea level, over 1,000 metres (3,300 ft) lower than Cusco, which has an altitude of 3,600 metres (11,800 ft). As such, it had a milder climate than the Inca capital. It is one of the most important archaeological sites in South America, one of the most visited tourist attractions in all of Latin America and the most visited tourist attraction in Peru.

Machu Picchu is situated above a loop of the Urubamba River, which surrounds the site on the three sides, with cliffs dropping vertically for 450 metres (1,480 ft) to the river at their base. The area is subject to morning mists rising from the river.

The location of the city was a military secret, and its deep precipices and steep mountains provided excellent natural defenses. The Inca Bridge, an Inca rope bridge, across the Urubamba River in the Pongo de Mainique, provided a secret entrance for the Inca army. Another Inca bridge was built to the west of Machu Picchu, the tree-trunk bridge, at a location where a gap occurs in the cliff that measures 6 metres (20 ft). It could be bridged by two tree trunks, but with the trees removed, there was a 570 metres (1,870 ft) fall to the base of the cliffs.

The city sits in a saddle between the two mountains Machu Picchu and Huayna Picchu, with a commanding view down two valleys and a nearly impassable mountain at its back. It has a water supply from springs that cannot be blocked easily, and enough land to grow food for about four times as many people as ever lived there. The hillsides leading to it have been terraced, not only to provide more farmland to grow crops, but to steepen the slopes which invaders would have to ascend. The terraces reduced soil erosion and protected against landslides.Two high-altitude routes from Machu Picchu go across the mountains back to Cusco, one through the sun gate, and the other across the Inca bridge. Both could be easily blocked, should invaders approach along them. Regardless of its original purpose, it is strategically located and readily defended.

Inca Buildings and Inca Architecture

noreply@blogger.com (ParkYank) — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 13:03:00 +0000

Incan architecture is the most significant pre-Columbian architecture in South America.The Incas inherited an architectural legacy from Tiwanaku, founded in the 2nd century BC in present day Bolivia.
The capital of the Inca empire, Cuzco, still contains many fine examples of Inca architecture, although many walls of Inca masonry have been incorporated into Spanish Colonial structures. The famous royal estate of Machu Picchu is a surviving example of Inca architecture. Other significant sites include Sacsayhuaman and Ollantaytambo. The Incas also developed an extensive road system spanning most of the western length of the continent.

Water engineer Ken Wright estimates that 60 percent of the Inca construction effort was underground. The Inca built their cities with locally available materials, usually including limestone or granite. To cut these hard rocks the Inca used stone, bronze or copper tools, usually splitting the stones along the natural fracture lines. Without the wheel the stones were rolled up wood beams on earth ramps. Extraordinary manpower would have been necessary. Hyslop comments that the “ ‘secret’ to the production of fine Inca masonry…was the social organization necessary to maintain the great numbers of people creating such energy-consuming monuments.”

Usually the walls of Incan buildings were slightly inclined inside and the corners were rounded. This, in combination with masonry thoroughness, led Incan buildings to have a peerless seismic resistance thanks to high static and dynamic steadiness, absence of resonant frequencies and stress concentration points. During an earthquake with a small or moderate magnitude, masonry was stable, and during a strong earthquake stone blocks were “ dancing ” near their normal positions and lay down exactly in right order after an earthquake.

Another building method was called “pillow-faced” architecture. Pillow faced building was achieved by using fired adobe bricks and mud mortar. The Incas would then sand large, finely shaped stones coated in mud and clay. Then they would fit the bricks and stones together using the mud mortar into jigsaw like patterns. Pillow-faced architecture was typically used for temples and royal places like Machu Picchu.

Machu Picchu - Intihuatana Solar Clock

noreply@blogger.com (ParkYank) — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 12:51:00 +0000

The Intihuatana stone is one of many ritual stones in South America. These stones are arranged to point directly at the sun during the winter solstice. The name of the stone is derived from the
Quechua language: inti means 'sun', and wata- is the verb root 'to tie, hitch (up)' ('huata-' is simply a Spanish spelling). The Quechua -na suffix derives nouns for tools or places. Hence inti watana is literally an instrument or place to 'tie up the sun', often expressed in English as "The Hitching Post of the Sun". The Inca believed the stone held the sun in its place along its annual path in the sky. At midday on October 27 and February 14, the sun stands almost above the pillar, casting no shadow at all. Researchers believe that it was built as an astronomic clock or calendar.

Machu Picchu Tour - The Inca Trail

noreply@blogger.com (ParkYank) — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 12:31:00 +0000

The Inca trail to Machu Picchu (also known as Camino Inca or Camino Inka) consists of three overlapping trails: Mollepata, Classic and One Day. Mollepata is the longest of the three routes with
the highest mountain pass and intersects with the Classic route before crossing "Dead Woman's Pass". Located in the Andes mountain range, the trail passes through several types of Andean environments including cloud forest and alpine tundra. Settlements, tunnels, and many Incan ruins are located along the trail before ending the terminus at the Sun Gate on Machu Picchu mountain. The two longer routes require an ascent to beyond 3,660 metres (12,010 ft) above sea level, which can result in altitude sickness.

Concern about overuse leading to erosion has led the Peruvian government to place a limit on the number of people who may hike this trail per season, and to sharply limit the companies that can provide guides. As a result, advance booking is mandatory. A maximum of 500 people, including guides and porters, are permitted to begin the trail every day. As a result, the high season books out very quickly.

Trekkers normally take three or four days to complete the "Classic Inca Trail".
It starts from one of two points: km 88 or km 82 from Cuzco on the Urubamba River at approximately 2,800 m altitude.

Patallacta viewed from above.Both of these trail segments meet above the Inca ruins of Patallacta (aka Llaqtapata), a site used for religious and ceremonial functions, crop production, and housing for soldiers from the nearby hilltop site of Willkaraqay, an ancient pre-Inca site first inhabited around 500 BC. The trail undulates, but overall ascends along Rio Cusichca (aka River Kusichca aka "happy river").

At the small village of Wayllabamba the trail intersects with the "Mollepata Trail" at 3,000 metres (9,800 ft).

Small, permanent settlements are located adjacent to the trail, and Wayllabamba has approximately 400 inhabitants (130 families) spread along this portion of the trail. Pack animals—horses, mules, donkeys, and llamas—are allowed.

At Wayllabamba the trail to Machu Picchu turns west and begins ascending along a tributary of the Cusichca. Because of previous damage caused by hooves, pack animals are not allowed on the remainder of the trail. For the same reason, metal-tipped trekking poles are not allowed on the trail.

As the trail ascends toward, Warmiwañusca or "Dead Woman's Pass", which resembles a supine woman, it passes through differing habitats, one of which is a cloud forest containing Polylepis trees. The campsite at Llulluchapampa is located on this stretch of trail at 3,800 metres (12,500 ft). The pass itself is located at 4,215 metres (13,829 ft). above sea level, and is the highest point on this, the "Classic" trail. After crossing the pass the trail drops steeply into the Pacaymayu River drainage. At a distance of 2.1 km and 600 m below the pass is the campground Pacaymayu.

After passing Pacaymayu the trail begins steeply ascending the other side of the valley. One kilometre along the trail, at an altitude of 3,750 metres (12,300 ft) is the Incan tambo of Runkuraqay, which overlooks the valley. The site was heavily restored in the late 1990s.

The trail continues to ascend, passing a small lake named Laguna Cochapata in an area that is recognized as deer habitat. This site had been used as a camp site. As with other sites that were being degraded due to overuse, camping is no longer allowed. The trail reaches the pass at an altitude of 3,950 m.

The Trail continues through high cloud forest, undulating, sometimes steeply while affording increasingly dramatic viewpoints of mountains and dropoffs. A long Inca tunnel and a viewpoint overlooking two valleys: the Urubamba and Aobamba, are passed.

Another high point at altitude of 3,650 m is crossed, followed by a campground, and then after a short descent, a site with extensive ruins. The name Phuyupatamarka (Cloud-level Town)(poo-yoo-patta-marka) is applied to both the campground, and the ruins.

Hiram Bingham discovered the site, but left most of it covered with vegetation. The Fejos team named the site, and uncovered the remainder. Design of the site closely follows the natural contours, and includes five fountains and an altar, which was probably used for llama sacrifice.

The trail then descends approximately 1,000 meters including an irregular staircase of from 1,300 to 1,500 steps, some of which were carved into solid granite. Vegetation becomes more dense, lush, and "jungle" like with an accompanying increase in butterflies and birds. A second Incan tunnel is along this section of trail.

Even before passing through the tunnel there are views down to the Urubamba River, the first since leaving the river at Patallacta. The number of these views increases. After the tunnel the town of Aguas Calientes can be seen, and trains running along the river can be heard. As the trail nears Intipata, it affords views of the "Two Day" Inca Trail (aka "Camino Real de los Inkas" or "One Day Inca Trail"). A small spur of the trail leads directly to Wiñay Wayna, while the main route continues to Intipata.

Intipata (sunny place aka Yunkapata[6]) is a recently uncovered extensive set of agricultural terraces which follow the convex shape of the terrain. Potatoes, maize, fruit, and sweet potato were grown here.

The name Wiñay Wayna (forever young) (win-yay-way-na) is used to refer to both a hostel–restaurant–camp site and a set of Inca ruins. Two groups of major architectural structures, a lower and upper, are set among multiple agricultural terraces at this concave mountainside site. A long flight of fountains or ritual baths utilizing as many as 19 springs runs between the two groups of buildings.

From Wiñay Wayna the trail undulates along below the crest of the east slope of the mountain named Machu Picchu. The steep stairs leading to Intipunku (sun gate) are reached after approximately 3 km. Reaching the crest of this ridge reveals the grandeur of the ruins of Machu Picchu, which lie below. A short downhill walk is the final section of the trail.

The trail is closed every February for cleaning.

Machu Picchu Tour - Plants and Flowers (Flora)

noreply@blogger.com (ParkYank) — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 12:22:00 +0000

Machu Picchu's myriad of flora is characteristic of the Andean Cloud Forest. Vibrant orchids and bromeliads pepper the surroundings.Bromeliaceae (the bromeliads) is a family of monocot flowering
plants of around 3,170 species native mainly to the tropical Americas.

Machu Picchu Tour - Peruvian Food

noreply@blogger.com (ParkYank) — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 12:01:00 +0000

This is Chupe de Camarones, which is a Peruvian shrimp chowder with milk cream, rice, eggs, green peas, corn, and spices. Its a great huge bowl of soup suitable for cold winter days and nights.

Peruvian food is famous for its taste and diversity. Every region has its own specialty. Plenty of dishes contain potato. Chicken, pork, fish, lamb, rice and potatoes are the main ingredients in Peruvian cuisine.

Peruvian traditional dishes are called Criollo dishes. Most of the dishes you see in Peruvian restaurants are Criollo dishes.

Ceviche is a very popular traditional Peruvian dish. It is made of raw fish that has been marinated in fresh lime, onions and chillies. Sea bass is the preferred fish for ceviche. Eating ceviche is a new experience for anyone. It is complimented with boiled sweet potatoes or corn.

Tiradito is the youngest member of the ceviche family and the one growing most in variety of preparation. Unlike ceviche, tiradito does not include onions, but the main difference is the cut of the fish, which is sliced thinly and then flattened. Fresh ingredients are used and they are served chilled.

Machu Picchu Tour - Animals and Wildlife (Fauna)

noreply@blogger.com (ParkYank) — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 11:52:00 +0000

Llamas which are well-socialized and trained to halter and lead after weaning are very friendly and pleasant to be around. They are extremely curious and most will approach people easily.

Machu Picchu's natural exuberance is characteristic of the Andean Cloud Forest; a land of vibrant orchids, exotic bromeliads, colorful butterflies, and several species of indigenous birds, such as the Inca Roacher, Parodi's Hemispingus, and Green and White Hummingbird.

Several species of hummingbirds, monkeys, and various endangered species such as the Peruvian Cock-of-the-Rock, the Andean Spectacled Bear, the Giant Otter and the Mountain Lion are also seen in Machu Picchu.

The Cock-of-the-Rock is Peru's national bird, and the male is the only one with all the bright distinctive colours. It is quite large (the males reaches 30cm in length), and can be found along the banks of the Urubamba River. As always, the best time to bird-watch is very early in the morning.

Machu Picchu Tour - Visa Requirements

noreply@blogger.com (ParkYank) — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 10:49:00 +0000

ENTRY / EXIT REQUIREMENTS: A valid passport is required to enter and depart Peru. Tourists must also provide evidence of return or onward travel. Visit the Embassy of Peru Website for
the most current visa information. Peru does not require any immunizations for entry, although it recommends vaccination against Yellow Fever.

Machu Picchu In The Media

noreply@blogger.com (ParkYank) — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 09:39:00 +0000

The 1954 film Secret of the Incas was filmed by Paramount Pictures on location at Cusco and Machu Picchu,
the first time that a major Hollywood studio filmed on site. Five hundred indigenous people
were hired as extras in the film.

Machu Picchu is also featured prominently in the 2004 film The Motorcycle Diaries, a biopic based on the1952 youthful travel memoir of Marxist revolutionary Che Guevara. A review noted, "The scenes at Machu Picchu are worth watching several times over.

The song "Kilimanjaro" from the 2010 film Enthiran was filmed in Machu Picchu. The sanction for filming was granted only after direct intervention from the Indian government.

Machu Picchu Tour - The Ruins

noreply@blogger.com (ParkYank) — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 09:22:00 +0000

The ruins of Machu Picchu are divided into two main sections known as the Urban and Agricultural Sectors, divided by a wall. The Agricultural Sector is further subdivided into Upper and Lower
sectors, while the Urban Sector is split into East and West sectors, separated by wide plazas.

The central buildings of Machu Picchu use the classical Inca architectural style of polished dry-stone walls of regular shape. The Incas were masters of this technique, called ashlar, in which blocks of stone are cut to fit together tightly without mortar. Many junctions in the central city are so perfect that it is said not even a blade of grass fits between the stones.

Some Inca buildings were constructed using mortar, but by Inca standards this was quick, shoddy construction, and was not used in the building of important structures. Peru is a highly seismic land, and mortar-free construction was more earthquake-resistant than using mortar. The stones of the dry-stone walls built by the Incas can move slightly and resettle without the walls collapsing.

Inca walls had numerous design details that helped protect them against collapsing in an earthquake. Doors and windows are trapezoidal and tilt inward from bottom to top; corners usually are rounded; inside corners often incline slightly into the rooms; and "L"-shaped blocks often were used to tie outside corners of the structure together. These walls do not rise straight from bottom to top but are offset slightly from row to row.

The Incas never used the wheel in any practical manner. Its use in toys demonstrates that the principle was well-known to them, although it was not applied in their engineering. The lack of strong draft animals, as well as steep terrain and dense vegetation issues, may have rendered the wheel impractical. How they moved and placed the enormous blocks of stones remains a mystery, although the general belief is that they used hundreds of men to push the stones up inclined planes. A few of the stones still have knobs on them that could have been used to lever them into position; it is believed that after the stones were placed, the Incas would have sanded the knobs away, but a few were overlooked.

The space is composed of 140 structures or features, including temples, sanctuaries, parks, and residences that include houses with thatched roofs. There are more than one hundred flights of stone steps –often completely carved from a single block of granite –and numerous water fountains. These were interconnected by channels and water-drains perforated in the rock that were designed for the original irrigation system. Evidence suggests that the irrigation system was used to carry water from a holy spring to each of the houses in turn.

According to archaeologists, the urban sector of Machu Picchu was divided into three great districts: the Sacred District, the Popular District to the south, and the District of the Priests and the Nobility.

Located in the first zone are the primary archaeological treasures: the Intihuatana, the Temple of the Sun and the Room of the Three Windows. These were dedicated to Inti, their sun god and greatest deity. The Popular District, or Residential District, is the place where the lower-class people lived. It includes storage buildings and simple houses.

The royalty area, a sector for the nobility, is a group of houses located in rows over a slope; the residence of the Amautas (wise persons) was characterized by its reddish walls, and the zone of the Ñustas (princesses) had trapezoid-shaped rooms. The Monumental Mausoleum is a carved statue with a vaulted interior and carved drawings. It was used for rites or sacrifices.

As part of their road system, the Incas built a road to the Machu Picchu region. Today, tens of thousands of tourists walk the Inca Trail to visit Machu Picchu each year. They acclimatise at Cusco before starting on the two- to four-day journey on foot from the Urubamba valley, walking up through the Andes mountain range to the isolated city.

The people of Machu Picchu were connected to long-distance trade, as shown by non-local artifacts found at the site. As an example, Bingham found unmodified obsidian nodules at the entrance gateway. In the 1970s, Burger and Asaro determined that these obsidian samples were from the Titicaca or Chivay obsidian source, and that the samples from Machu Picchu showed long-distance transport of this obsidian type in pre-Hispanic Peru.

A History of Machu Picchu

noreply@blogger.com (ParkYank) — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 13:44:00 +0000

Machu Picchu is located above the Urubamba Valley in Peru. Built around AD 1450 at the height of the Inca Empire, it was abandoned in 1572 due to the Spanish Conquest, but most of its inhabitants
had perished from smallpox before the arrival of the Spanish Conquistadores. Machu Picchu is believed to be a sacred religious site because it is built on and around mountains that hold high religious importance in the Inca culture. The site in position relative to sacred landscape features such as its mountains, are purportedly to be in alignment with key astronomical events important to the Incas.

At the highest point of the mountain in which Machu Picchu was named after, there are artificial platforms where the Inca ritual offerings were found buried under them. These platforms are also found in other Incan religious sites.

Another theory states that Machu Picchu was an Inca Illaqta, a settlement built to control the economy of conquered regions, while another states that it may have been built as a prison for a select few who had committed grievous crimes against the Inca society. There was also another theory proposed suggesting the city was built for the coronation of kings (for the gods to live in).

The Site received significant publicity after the National Geographic Society devoted their entire April 1913 issue to Machu Picchu.

Peru declared Machu Picchu and its surrounding area as a Historical Sanctuary, in 1981. In 1983 UNESCO described Machu Picchu as "an absolute masterpiece of architecture and a unique testimony to the Inca civilization", and it was subsequently designated a World Heritage Site.