Machu Picchu is located at 112.5 km. northeast of the city of Cusco, Urubamba Province, Macchupicchu District in Peru. It sits 7,970 feet above sea level on the eastern slope of Andes and overlooks the Urubamba River hundreds of feet below.

The mountains of Machu Picchu are included in a bigger formation referred to as orographic Vilcabamba Batholith. This formation is located in the Central Cordillera of the Peruvian Andes. The Inca archaeological site or the Sacred Valley is located between the tops of Machu Picchu and another mountain.

Travel to this place and be one with nature. There are fit travel activities that await anyone who is in search of an adventure.

Sacred Valley

The sacred valley in Peru is where the beautiful Inca ruins are located. It was the key settlement of the Inca Empire providing a rare farming land which was rare in the Andes. You will see what the Incas built when you travel to the Sacred Valley. They built stone temples, palaces, fortresses, and agricultural terraces. This is considered as one of the most popular archaeological sites in the world because of its architecture and the way it has been preserved. It was built by the Incas in 1438 until 1533 until the Spanish conquerors destroyed the civilization.

The Trek

If you are an active person in search of an adventure, then travel to Peru and trek the Machu Picchu through the Sacred Valley. This path is usually less traversed so you will encounter fewer mountaineers along the way.

The trek begins in the high-altitude city of Cusco which is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Then you would go through the sacred Urubamba Valley to the age-old burial sites that were built on steep cliffs. If you travel to Machu Picchu via this way, you will have the opportunity to mingle with the local families.

You can then visit the Andean markets and explore the 900-year old Maras salt mines. This trek is not for the faint-hearted for you will head deeper into a land of peaks covered with snow, lush forests, and valley vistas where the ancient Incan ruins are located and marvel at their architecture.

Then it is time for you to experience the greatness of the Machu Picchu which you will visit at off-peak hours and take the paths that are less traveled to be away from the crowd. This guided tour takes a total of 8 days and 7 nights, where you will walk an average of 4-7 miles daily. It is a challenging trip so be sure that you are physically-capable in engaging in strenuous activities.

This tour is a mix of adventure, history, and local interaction. The best time to travel is around May to September.

Machu Picchu Highlights

You can appreciate the temple of the sun which displays the stonework of the Incas and the three-windowed temple where you can see a view of the mountains of the Urubamba river valley. You will also see the Huayna Picchu, and lastly climb the summit for a marvelous view of the ruins and its surrounding mountains.