Of course you know it’s one of the Seven Wonders of the World. You probably also know it was likely a sacred religious site for the Inca leaders of Peru and that it lay hidden to the outside world until the American archaeologist Hiram Bingham stumbled upon it in 1911. Here are some interesting facts you may not have known about Machu Picchu

1. The westerner credited with unveiling Machu Picchu to the outside world was Hiram Bingham, an Iniana-Jones type law professor from Yale. He was led to the site by a local boy and was stunned by the beauty and grandeur of the abandoned site.
2. It was never supposed to be discovered. The Incas worried (for good reason) that the Spanish would discover and loot Machu PIcchu. To prevent this from happening, the Incas abandoned it, burning the forest on the way out so the re-growth would hide the trails up the mountains. The plan worked. It was never discovered by the Spanish and was hidden until Bingham visited it.
3. Bingham was really looking for Vilcabamba the ‘Lost City of the Incas’ when he was first led up the slopes to the overgrown ruins. It was proven that the real lost city of the Incas was Espiritu Pampa, west of Machu Picchu.
4. According to a group of archaeologists, Machu Picchu was built in 1532 as a retreat for the royal family. The Inca ruler who built it may have envisioned the city as a peaceful place to get away from the hustle and bustle of ‘the city’ – Cusco.
5. Incredibly, the stones of Machu Picchu were carried to the site by hand (the Incas never discovered the wheel). The quality of the stone masonry is legendary. The Incas cut each stone by hand and wedged them together so closely that the blade of a knife could not be inserted between them.
6. There’s a lot you can’t see at Machu Picchu – as much as 60% of it. The Incas constructed a network of foundation walls and and drainage systems that wind beneath the citadel.
7. The big mountain you see is not Machu Pichhu. It’s Huayna Picchu, “young peak”. You can climb this peak but only 400 people are allowed up per day, split in two time slots. Our guide will tell us more about the hiking trail options. For those who want to take on this climb, our group will have a permit to do so.
8. The best time to visit is early in the morning. If you arrive before 7am, you will beat the crowds. However, you may be walking in the clouds until the sun comes out. The hours of 12:00-3:00 are peak hours. We will spend the first day at Machu Picchu with a guide who will take us on a tour detailing the history and background of the site. We are then staying on the next day for a return unguided visit. There are many hiking trails to choose from at all levels.
9. We still don’t know, without a shadow of a doubt, what Machu Picchu really was. Bingham theorized that it was the last fortress of the Incas. The results showed that remains found on the premises were mostly female, leading experts to believe these could be ‘Sacred Virgins of the Sun’. Later, this was refuted as skeletons were exhumed, re-examined and found to be 50% male/50% female. Most agree it was some sort of citadel built for a ruler. Others suggest that it is nearly impossible to understand Machu PIcchu as a separate entity and that by connecting it with other sections of the Inca Trail, this could have been some form of a pilgrimage.
10. You can get a Machu Picchu stamp on your passport!

The Temple of the Sun, Machu Picchu

The Sacred Valley of the Incas is a long, fertile valley that lies between Cusco and Machu Picchu, Peru. The Sacred Valley has been the center of agriculture since Inca times. The Incas inhabited this valley over 500 years ago and the remaining archaeological sites are a testament to the their rich and busy lives. They built fortresses, agricultural terraces, temples, palaces and citadels – all of which can be experienced today.

Join us and the guides to learn about the the history and culture of these iconic Inca landmarks during our tour:

Culinary Peru & Machu Picchu
April 26 – May 4, 2017

Ollantaytambo Ruins
Ollaytaytambo is both a village and a spectacular Inca archeological site in the Sacred Valley. Built by the Incas as a fortress/temple/palace (no one really knows the reason), it is made of steep terraces guarding a ceremonial platform at the top. The terraces were thought to have been used for agriculture and protection. At the top, lies the ‘Temple of the Sun’, an unfinished construction in front of a wall of enormous boulders. The rock work from both the cut stones (some over 20 feet high) and the field stones is amazing as well as the question of how the Incas were able to transport and build this on a hillside.

Moray Agricultural Terraces
The ampitheater-like arrangement of Moray’s concentric terraces may appear as an elegant display of architectural simplicity, but according to some theories, their range of widths and depths within the earth resulted in each terrace having a unique agricultural microclimate. These distinctive microclimates allowed ancient farmers to test crops and determine optimal growing conditions. With a 15 degree Celsius (59 degree Fahrenheit) difference from top to bottom, a range of crops were grown on the terraces to determine what and how to grow best.

Salt Pans of Maras
Maras is a small town the Sacred Valley well-known for its salt evaporation ponds in use since Inca times. A natural spring feeds a salt-rich stream that flows down a hillside into several thousand ‘pans’. Salt was harvested by the Incas and is still harvested today. The light pink hue of the water in the pans is alluring as is the site itself.

Machu Picchu
The breathtaking Inca citadel of Machu Picchu is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Machu Picchu is believed to have been a royal estate or sacred religious site for Inca leaders. The site stretches over 5 miles and features more than 3,000 stone steps that link its many different levels. its giant walls, terraces and ramps seems as if they have been cut naturally in the continuous rock escarpments. Located on the eastern slopes of the Andes, it is South America’s most famed creation of the Inca Empire.

Peru has one of the most exciting culinary scenes in the world. Often referred to as ‘Fusion Cuisine’, it draws from Spanish, French, Italian, Asian, Arab and African cuisine to combine with local meats, produce, grains and seafood. Peru’s culinary world also incorporates the foods and traditional preparations from the three major regions of Peru – the Andes, the Amazon and the coast.

Peruvian food food is marked by complexities dating back to the 15the century Spanish conquerers and immigrants. Before the Spanish arrived, the Peruvian diet was comprised of mainly maize, potatoes and beans. Afterward, the other cultures combined their culinary tastes with the native Inca culinary traditions. These ingredients and techniques of varied cultures left a clear mark for time. The result is a vast and colorful range of dishes hailing from a complexity of origins.

Lima, in particular, has experienced a gastronomic explosion. It was named the world’s leading culinary destination by the World of Travel Awards. Lima has emerged as South America’s food capital for creative, delicious, fusion-inspired dishes. 

During our time in Lima (Culinary Peru & Machu Picchu Tour, April 26-May 4, 2017), we will experience four of Lima’s most highly-regarded restaurants. Our first stop will to learn about and taste Peru’s National Drink – the Pisco Sour – while gazing over the ocean. The second stop will be to participate in making a traditional Amazonian appetizer – hands-on, in the restaurant.  The third stop will be for the main course at Huaca Pucllana, a restaurant where visitors gaze out at the ruins of a pre-Inca temple lit up at night.  The fourth stop will be dessert in the Bohemian Barranco district of Peru.

We can’t think of a better way to experience Lima than through its exceptional fusion cuisine!