Trekking to Machu Picchu and Other Related Information

Sam Travel Peru holds the prize for the grand design of unique trekking routes to the Inca Citadel ruins of Machu Picchu. Many enter via trekking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu or take one of the alternative trails to the citadel.

Machu Picchu citadel was built in the 1450s, during the reign of Inca emperor Pachucutec. The exact purpose of these masterful ruins carries to this day an unknown mystery. A variety of stories and legends lay dormant. Still to this day, it stands alone with its air of grandeur. Urban and agricultural sectors surround the plateau of Machu Picchu. Clear structures that show areas of important religious purpose. Layered agricultural terraces surround much of the city, producing food that sustained around 1,000 inhabitants. The terraces also played an important role in providing efficient drainage to lessen the impact of earthquakes and landslides.

The site was constructed with architectural genius using the method of placing stone on stone without mortar. Today with our current technologies, we do not have understanding on how the Incas managed to move and lay stones of such size with ultimate precision. 

Strategically placed between two mountains – Machu Picchu Mountain to the south and Huayna Picchu to the north. The city is guarded by access points of Inti Punku (the Sun Gate) and the Inca bridge.  After Bingham’s discovery, the site gained international prominence as the Lost City of the Incas.

Machu Picchu Trek – Trails and Routes

The Inca Trail or an alternate trek will forge a friendship with nature. The combination of the wildest, remote and pristine landscapes and typical Peruvian awe-inspiring mountain ranges. The area is nature in its purest form.
Its popularity have caused concerns over the impact of so many visitors to the Sanctuary of Machu Picchu. The trail has now a limited number of 500 people per day (only about 200 for trekkers). It is essential to book early, particularly during peak season May-September.