I couldn’t agree more.
Though stunning in photographs, Machu Picchu takes your breath away in person. By the end of the day, we all said we felt like a broken record because we couldn’t stop commenting on the majesty of the ruins. They truly are incredible.
Our day at Machu Picchu began before dawn. We ate breakfast at our hotel before catching one of the first buses up to the ruins.
We had a wonderful guide named Victor for our first two and a half hours at the ruins. Though our tour was obviously in English, I loved listening to Victor speak Quecha, the language of the Inca, to other guides.
Victor did a fantastic job guiding us around and sharing information with our small group about the incredible place. He began the tour by explaining four popular theories that exist that seek to explain why the city was built.
I found the story of the discovery of Machu Picchu interesting as well. Hiram Bingham, a Yale architect, cleared the site in 1911 after locals led him to the ruins and he understood its importance. Now it is one of the most phenomenal examples of architecture integrating with landscape in the world.
If a trip to Machu Picchu is on your travel bucket list, I highly recommend arriving first thing in the morning. We were able to watch the sun rise over the mountains and enjoy the quiet, peaceful energy of the place before it started bustling with tourists.
Victor’s tour was extremely informative and, as always, I had a ton of questions. He was able to answer every single one and I loved learning about the history surrounding Machu Picchu.
As we walked around the ruins, Victor pointed out important highlights, including the only door that led into the city.
The door, known as the Main Gate, was sealed at night to keep invaders and large, dangerous animals out of the city.
The Temple of the Sun was one of the most impressive sights at the ruins.
The temple was built with only two windows. One faced sunrise during the December solstice and the other faced sunrise during the June solstice, creating rays of light that entered the temple on these sacred days.
Though Victor told us that the llamas inside of Machu Picchu were there for tourists and not for accuracy purposes, my mom, sister and I still loved seeing them wandering around and made sure to snap a few pictures. They were fearless and came right up to tourists, though there was a rope holding them back from walking all over the ruins.
By mid-morning, our time with Victor came to a close and after thanking him, Ryan, my dad, Leslie, Ross and I headed off to do some hiking. (My mom has a stress fracture in her foot, so she was smart and opted out.)
We set off on the Inti Punku (Sun Gate) trail which took us up to a site with incredible views of the mountains and Machu Picchu.
It took us about 35 minutes to climb to the top.
I was afraid it would be a really intense hike (the altitude really gets to ya!) and, at times, all of the steps left me feeling quite breathless, but it was definitely manageable and we had a great time. Our hike on the Inti Punku trail was my favorite part of the day!
As if the views from the top weren’t enough, the stone structure at the end of the top of the mountain provided a great resting place where other hikers stopped for lunch. It was gorgeous!
Following the Sun Gate trail hike, Ryan, my dad and I decided to do a second, shorter hike to the Inca drawbridge.
The hike was easier than our first hike, but scarier! The trail looked right over the edge of the mountain and if I glanced over the side, I felt a bit dizzy. It’s definitely not the hike to do if you’re scared of heights!
After our hike, we boarded the buses and headed back down the mountain and spent the rest of the day in Aguas Calientes before heading back to Cusco for the night.
Our day at Machu Picchu was absolutely unforgettable. I will treasure the time we spent together at the ruins for the rest of my life. It was incredible!
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Wow – just that first picture itself is amazing. Almost looks like a fake background because it looks so perfect! I remember going to a mountain town in WA and there were these glorious mountains in the background photos. Those hardly looked real either. What a gorgeous day for exploring Machu Picchu! What is the weather like around there this time of year?
OH. MY. GOODNESS!!! These pics are STUNNING!! I am so excited to plan a trip here.
If you do a follow up post, could you please list how you put all of your tours and stuff together? That’s the part that holds me back the most is not knowing how to coordinate something like that out of the country. Websites or anything that helped you guys plan such an amazing trip would be great!
It looks amazing I really hope to go one day. Love the llama photos again 🙂
How gorgeous!! And if the pictures do not do it justice, then I can only imagine how beautiful it is in person.
oh my gosh, I would love to go there one day. And the fact that there was just one door into the city is so interesting! I wonder what it would have been like living there
I want to go so badly!! Those pictures are amazing!!
So beautiful! Looks like you’re having an amazing time!!
Wow, what an experience! I know you said the pics don’t do it justice, but you sure got some good ones.
Ok, Machu Picchu is now on my list of “must-see-before-I-die cities.” Gorgeous!!
the pictures are breath taking! This is definitely on my bucket list!
Wow that looks incredible!! I have always wanted to go there. I really want to hike the entire Inca Trail up to the ruins, but the hikes that you went on look really great, too!!
Wow talk about a view! The llamas sound so friendly.
Wow.. just wow! I never thought of traveling there but I think you just convinced me lol it looks like an amazing trip!
How beautiful! I love that you were able to get there early and enjoy the quiet, I’m sure beautiful, sunrise before it started getting crowded.
This destination wasn’t on my bucket list before, but it is now! That looks incredible!
Wow girl, these photos are amazing! It looks absolutely breathtaking – Machu Picchu has always been on my Mum’s bucket list – it’s just been officially added to mine.
p.s. I love your scarf!
Looks like a sensational place! I bet you took hundreds, if not thousands of photographs and loads of sun creme.
It seriously looks like you photoshopped yourself into that picture haha. It’s just too gorgeous there!
I’ve heard such amazing things from my Mom about Machu Picchu and now I really want to go.
Wow, these pictures are unbelievable! I love how all of your outfits coordinate together. Christmas card picture, anyone? Glad you’re having such a great time!
Wow!! What amazing splendor!! You’re pics and commentary have inspired me to put machu pichu on my bucket list, oh first I have to have a bucket list, LOL!! Definitely doing this someday before I’m too old and out of shape! I love that you did it with your folks, that was inspiring also!!
BEAUTIFUL pictures!!
Tell the truth – did you guys *really* color coordinate your outfits?! 🙂
I am loving these posts! Peru is now on my must-see list. I want to hear about the food! How are you guys liking it?
Wow if the pictures truly don’t do this place justice, I really can’t imagine how beautiful this place really is!! These pictures are just gorgeous 🙂
Beautiful! Stunning! Wow! You’re making me want to go! My daughter actually just learned about Machu Picchu last week in class!
Ahhh these pictures are gorgeous! I can’t even imagine what it would look like in real life!
The Incas have such a fascinating culture. I’m sure you learned a ton! And yes the pictures are gorgeous but that goes without saying.
Great pics Julie! Although some made me dizzy! One slip and a person would be a gonner! LOL
So, so, so cool! It looks simply breathtaking. I MUST get there someday!
Memories! I lived in Lima in 6th grade and got to take 2 different trips down to Cuzco and the like. Would love to go back and take my husband. Glad you are enjoying the trip!
Beautiful pictures, but I think that the real amazing thing is how you got the men in your family to color coordinate…not only color coordinate…but with coral. I love it!
I cannot believe I’ve been to Peru twice and never done this! Amazing!
I would also love to have thoughts on how you planned your trip, good resources, etc. Peru is on my bucket list and has been for some time. Just beautiful…thank you for sharing
Amazing. This is definitely on my bucket list!
These pictures are amazing! I can only imagine how it must look in person! Sounds like you guys are having an awesome trip so far! Look forward to hearing more!
Your photos are breathe taking! Machu Picchu was not on my bucket list, but now is for sure, the photos you have taken show off the beauty and make the place seem so magical 🙂 sending you more beautiful journies love + shine Courtsytar
Omg that looks incredible! Makes me want to go traveling NOW.
Wow!! What gorgeous landscape! How cool that you get to go out there… definitely on my to-do list. And the upside on the altitude: when you get back to Florida, those workouts will seem a lot easier for a while! Your red blood cell count will be through the roof. 🙂
Honestly, what more can I say than WOW!
This looks absolutely amazing! I hope I get a chance to visit one day!
Those pictures are amazing! I have never thought about visiting Machu Pitchu but it is now definitely on my list. Enjoy the rest of your trip!
ohhh I would love to visit that place! My Linguistics professor always talks about the Quechuan language so it’s cool reading that you heard it personally. 🙂
these pictures are amazing! did you book the trip through a group? I saw a deal to Peru with tours to machu pichu on livingsocial and am seriously thinking about buying, but would love to know who you and your family used to book your trip.
have an amazing time on the rest of your vacation 🙂
Oh my. These pictures are breathtaking! I want to visit there so badly!
Wow how gorgeous! I’d love to visit there someday!!
That looks absolutely spectacular!!! I would definitely love to visit Machu Picchu one day! Great view AND great exercise 😉
wow, your pictures are stunning! i can imagine that it truly is even more breathtaking in person. visiting machu picchu is officially on my bucket list!
Breathtaking indeed! It’s really memory for a life!
These pictures are incredible. You’ve definitely moved Machu Picchu up my bucket list 🙂 thanks for the pictures and for sharing such interesting stories!
AMAZING PICS!!! Looks like you’re having an incredible trip!!! Random question..are you wearing your nike free’s? Thought I spotted them I was wondering how you’re finding them with all the hiking and walking?
Machu Picchu just moved up even higher on my travel bucket list! Those hikes look like a ton of fun. Thanks for the tip about going first thing in the morning. Where did you guys find your awesome tour guide? Would be great to know for a future trip – thanks!