Machu Picchu sits hidden out of sight on a steep mountaintop in the tropical rainforest. with the river Rio Vilcanato snaking in the valley.

 

Even today the site is not easy to reach.

You can either take the early morning train from Cuzco to Aguas Calientes or walk the famous Camino Inca trail that starts in Ollantaytambo.

 

This is a 50 km streneous four-day trek at elevated altitudes of up to 4500 meters that ends right at Machu Picchu via the Sun Gate. The number of hikers is limited and a professional guide is mandatory.

 

The less adventurous among us all end up at Aguas Callientes, a hot spring area which is dedicated to handle the countless Machu Picchu visitors.

From here you can walk all the way up or take the bus that negotiates the many hairpins of the Hiram Bingham road and drops you off right at the gate of the site.

 

We took the train and bus in June 2008 for an unforgettable visit to magic Machu Picchu.