Cabin fever is ramping up in many parts of the world under the extended Covid-19 restrictions. Has it really been over a year since most of us have gotten out of the house? Yikes!
Vacation is going to be a hot topic, and getting away from the craters of the pandemic will mean getting as far away as possible from everything familiar.
The remoteness of a location like Machu Picchu is both its charm and its challenge. Being there will make you feel like you’re a million miles away from the recovering world. Getting there, however, may feel like you have a million miles to travel.
Let’s take the sting out of some of the considerations necessary for reaching someplace as majestic and lonely as Machu Picchu.
Choosing Your Path to Machu Picchu
The most common way to make the journey to Machu Picchu is to start in Lima, then make one’s way to Cusco, and then go to Machu Picchu from there. You have some choices, while some choices are made for you by the geography of the land.
Making Tracks
The two most common methods of reaching Machu Picchu from Cusco are tracks: the kind for trains and the kind for feet.
However —
It is not possible to take a train from Lima all the way through to Machu Picchu. The informed traveler must be prepared to change their mode of movement at least once.
From Lima, it is possible to fly to Cusco. This is the most direct and fastest way. But you came to Peru to see the sights, right? Sightseeing from the window of an airliner isn’t as satisfying as one might think.
The clouds where you take off look pretty much like the clouds where you land. The really unique experiences of Peru are on the ground.
That said, we recommend taking a bus from Lima. You will be on the road longer, but it’s less expensive and — well — who’s in a hurry to get back to the post-pandemic world? Didn’t think so.
The window and the pace of a bus will stretch the value of both your time and your vacation money, allowing you to return home with a smile that lingers longer.
Into the Grand Citadel
Welcome to Cusco! Now how will you go about reaching Machu Picchu? Here the choices are narrowed down to two:
Hiking and taking the train.
It should be noted that the hikes into Machu Picchu are one-way, so plan on being on the train at least once: the return journey!
Someone might mention the option of taking a minivan to Machu Picchu. It is possible to make part of the journey by minivan, but only as far as the Hidroeléctrica train terminal. From there, it is either a 3-hour walk or by train.
If you’ve been confined to the house for most of the pandemic, you might find hiking to Machu Picchu to be most refreshing.
Take it from me, there are sights, sounds, and scents that cannot be experienced from the car of a train. If you make the choice of hiking up the Inca Trail, you’ll find yourself walking directly into the citadel.
You’ll experience entry to Machu Picchu the way it was experienced by travelers of old when the place was buzzing with activity. The speed of a train or vehicle will never be able to replace that.
The Road Beckons
As the world comes out of its shell, its sights and wonders are ready to be experienced with a fresh set of eyes. Perhaps Peru would be an excellent starting point. Not only is Machu Picchu relatively isolated, tourist channels are also going to be uncluttered on record levels.
The time to schedule a trip with TOUR IN PERU is here!
