Machu Picchu is one of the most known ruin cities in the world. But what makes the place so special?

No doubt it looks good in photos, but when we went to Peru we quickly discovered that Inc cities are everywhere. Driving from Cusco heading north you see old houses, fields in terraces and fences all the time. Why are everyone so focused on visiting the city that is so remote and inaccessible?

First of all, Machu Picchu is not the Inca town, but the name of the mountain where the city was build. No-one actually knows what the city is called, so it is simpler to just name it Machu Picchu, even though it is wrong. Speaking of misconceptions, the city was not the capital of the Incas, nor the largest city. However, what makes this city so unique is a combination of the size of the city and the fact that it is very well preserved. When the Inca Empire fell the Spanish eagerly searched for gold and treasure. This quest will probably not earn them an award for preservation of cultural heritage… Luckily, Machu Picchu was never discovered by the Spanish and is therefore much better preserved than other Inca cities. Much effort has also been given to restore, excavate and preserve the city.

We reach Machu Picchu from a location not too many tourists get to see for the first time, the so called Sun Gate. Around 2700 tourists arrive with train from Ollantaytambo and ascend to Machu Pichu from the bottom of the mountain through Agual Callientes every day, while just 200 do like us an arrive by foot from above through the Inca Trail. This is the one road that leads directly into the old Inca town. At Sun Gate we see the whole city, stretching from the hilltop all the way down to the river at the bottom of the valley. Around 40 % of the city is excavated, while the rest is still hidden in the jungle.

Walking from Sun Gate into the city itself we pass a temple carved into the mountain. It is made in a way that makes it look like the mountain on the other side of the valley. Poor guy being told by his boss: I like that mountain over there, can you make me another one?

Inside the city we ascend to the top and take the infamous picture everyone has seen. The city is by far the largest Inca city we have seen, and the preservation is very well done. Most rooftops are missing because they were made out of thatch, but the walls are preserved and new roof is being created to restore the city to its former look.

Most tourists have not arrived yet, and in some remarkable way there is no fog to be seen. This combination makes Machu Picchu a spectacular sight!

After enjoying the view from the top we descend into the main city itself and get a guided tour of the place and a history lesson.

So, who did actually discover Machu Picchu? Well, it depends a bit on who you ask. A few locals have always known the location of the city, but for the majority of the world it was hidden for centuries. Rumour has it that the city was visited and plundered by a German in the 1800’s, but the first person we know for sure that came to Machu Picchu in newer times – and make it known to the world – was an American named Hiram Bingham. He searched for the city and was guided into Peru’s mountains and valleys by a local farmer in 1911. When arriving at Machu Picchu the farmer had better things to do than to look at old rocks and left Bingham with his son as a guide, a 12 year old boy. That went well and 72 years later the place was added to UNESCOs world heritage sites and later voted as one of the new 7 wonders of the world.

Even though the city has been discovered there are still many sites hidden in Peru’s mountains. On the other site of the valley our guide points at a thin line going uphill in the green forest. This is a newly discovered road that leads to other ruins from the Incas, but no-one knows how much is really hiding in the jungle.

Our guide also explains that it is possible to walk to the top of Machu Picchu itself, that being the mountain. There is a road going up there, and one can get access by buying a special ticket. Unfortunately we have not done this in advance, but oh no, this means that we have to come back another time! Lares trek is another hike in the mountains around Machu Picchu that looks very exiting and has been added to our wish list for future travel. Now we just need time and money…

Ultimately we board the bus and leave Peru’s most iconic attraction. Machu Picchu is an incredible experience, but we still have to highlight that Inca Trail, the road to Machu Picchu, was an even better experience for us. Both are amazing, but Peru’s mountains should not be ignored if you find yourself in this place.