Napaikuna (hi in Quechuan)
Today, I will talk about a place that makes me particularly dream, but that I have not yet had the opportunity to visit myself, Machu Picchu. Located in the Andes Cordillera in Peru, this Inca site is classified among the Wonders of the Modern World, just like Chichén Itzá in Mexico, which I had the pleasure of visiting (and which I wrote about in a previous article).
Luckily Rita, a friend currently traveling around the world, went there at the end of 2021, and agreed to share her experience with us (find her testimony at the end of the article).
The Site
The site of Machu Picchu is located in Peru, on the eastern foothills of the Andes mountain range, near the Amazon rainforest. The nearest major city is Cusco.
The name comes from the Quechuan language, and is made up of Machu (“old“) and Pikchu (“peak” or “summit“). In reality, the Inca site is located on the promontory between Macchu Picchu and Huayna (“young”) Picchu. You understood, we are here in the mountains.
FOCUS ON… Quechuan
Before being a brand of sports equipment, Quechuan is a language, still official in Peru, but also in Bolivia, Ecuador and Colombia. Of Inca origin, it served as a sort of Esperanto, a common language for the different peoples of the region (who used different dialects), in order to be able to understand each other and trade together.
History
This is still a controversial point and several interpretations exist. Nevertheless, the appearance of the site can be attributed during the 15th century (1440), during the reign of the Inca emperor Pachacútec.
The population would have varied between 400 and 1000 inhabitants, a political and/or religious elite on the one hand, and labor brought by force from the territories conquered by the empire.
On the death of the emperor, in accordance with tradition, the activity of the city was maintained by his successors in order to ensure the cult of his mummy.
Finally, during the 16th century, the gradual disinterest in the site, the emergence of a safer route between Ollantaytambo and Vilcabamba, and the arrival of the Spaniards in the region marked the decline and then the abandonment of Machu Picchu. .sonneront le déclin puis l’abandon du Machu Picchu. Its construction has never have been completed.
A rich architecture
Machu Picchu offers great architectural diversity, making it one of the most important sites in Latin America. No wonder it is therefore among the 7 Wonders of the Modern World…
There are two large areas, separated by a stone wall:
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- The agricultural area, composed mainly of terraced crops, but also some buildings that served as stores
- The urban area, which includes the main constructions, such as:
- The Torréon (or Temple of the Sun)
- Le main Temple
- The Temple of Three Windows
- The Intiwatana
- The Condor Temple
Rita’s Testimony
Rita is a mother who is currently traveling around the world with her husband and 2 children. Their route took them to Peru, and therefore to Machu Picchu at the end of 2021. She agreed to share her experience with us…
Il existe plusieurs possibilités pour se rendre auMachu Picchu :
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- Faire le trek de 3 jours avec une agence (j’ai entendu de très bons retours de Trekkinca par exemple)
- Faire le trek seul en une journée: au lieu de prendre le trainau départ d’Ollantaytambo marcher jusqu’à Aguas Calientes puis le lendemain matin monter jusqu’au Machu Picchu
- Prendre le train à la gare d’Ollantaytambo
Nous avons décidé de prendre le train 324 $ pour nous 4 (en ayant eu un tarif avecTout Pérou)
Nous arrivons en gare d’Aguas Calientes où nous avons passé la nuit avant de prendre le bus le lendemain matin à 7h30 (48 $ pour nous 4 l’aller) ou alors on peut monter à pied ensachant qu’il y a énormement de marches.
Nous sommes juste redescendus à pied.
Prix du Machu Picchu 116 $ pour nous 4
A mon sens pour profiter à fond du Machu Picchu il faut le faire avec un guide lenotreétait extra (55 euros) la visite dure 4 h il nous a expliqué toute l’histoire duMachu Picchu, comment il a été découvert, par qui, en quelle année, ses 1ers habitants c’était tellement passionnant et la vue de tout là haut est juste splendide nous en avons eu des frissons et nous sommes revenus avec des étoiles pleins les yeux.
Cost of a visit to Machu Picchu
Example of a family of 4:
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- Train Ollantaytambo – Aguas Calientes: $324 ($81/pers.)
- Bus Aguas Calientes – Machu Picchu : $48$ ($12/pers.), retour à pied par les marches
- Entrance to Machu Picchu : $116 ($29/pers.)
- Guide : €55
So: $122 per person, and €55 for a guide to share
Machu Picchu is really one of the places that I hope to be able to visit very soon. I hope this article will have made you want to go there too, or that it will have been in line with your memories if you are one of the lucky ones to have already visited it. Besides, do not hesitate to complete the information by leaving a comment below.
I would like to thank Rita for her feedback and for sharing her tips with us. Go follow her World Tour.
Below are some ideas for excursions to continue your Peruvian adventure.
