Machu Picchu by train

Soak up colonial and Inca history on this 4 day trip to Machu Picchu. This short tour takes the famous train ride from Cuzco to the frontier town of Aguas Calientes for an exploration of Machu Picchu, the lost city of the Incas.

This is an easy tour for anyone interested in visiting Machu Picchu and Cuzco. Your journey to Machu Picchu will be by train so no hiking is necessary, however the altitude of Cuzco can be tiring for some travellers. Accommodation is simple but comfortable. The Peruvian Andes are some of the most beautiful and accessible on the continent.

Peru is frequently referred to as the 'Land of the Incas'. It is true that the Incas formed the greatest empire on the continent and left mysterious cities such as Machu Picchu, the magnificent ruins of which can be visited today. The Incas were the last in a long series of Peruvian civilizations spanning several thousand years and the ruins of many of these earlier civilizations can also be visited. Peru is made up of three main geographical areas: the Andes, the Amazon and the desert coastal area. We’ll concentrate on the Andes region of south-central Peru and the ancient Inca capital of Cuzco.

Cuzco is the hub of the South American travel network and in this respect, is reminiscent of Kathmandu in Nepal. Both cities attract thousands of travellers who come not just to visit a unique destination but also to experience an age-old culture that is very different from their 21st century way of life. One could easily spend a week just in and around this area. Cuzco is the continent’s oldest continuously inhabited city. Inca built stone walls line most of the central streets and you don't have to go far to see other Inca ruins as it is a city steeped in history, tradition and legend.

Cuzco’s numerous colonial churches are one of the most common sights, the main one being the Cathedral. It was started in 1559 and took 100 years to build. It is also one of the city’s greatest repositories of colonial art. Immediately in front of the entrance is a vault containing the remains of the famous Inca historian, Garcilaso de la Vega. Also worth visiting are the churches of La Compañía, La Merced and San Francisco.

While most ruins are just outside of the city, the main ruin within is that of the Coricancha, once the Inca Empire's richest temple. This ruin forms the base of the colonial church of Santo Domingo. During Inca times this temple was literally covered with gold, but within months of the arrival of the first conquistadors this incredible wealth had all been melted down. It is left to the individual imagination to envision the magnificence of the original structure. There are several good museums in Cuzco, including the Archaeological Museum, which also houses a small art museum, the Regional History Museum and the Religious Art Museum.

Machu Picchu is both the best and the least known of the Inca ruins. It is not mentioned in any of the chronicles of the Spanish conquistadors and archaeologists today can do no more than speculate on its function. Although Machu Picchu was known by a handful of Quechua farmers in the area, it was not until the American historian Hiram Bingham stumbled on it, almost by accident, on July 24, 1911, that the rest of the world became aware of its existence. At that time it was covered in thick vegetation. Bingham and his team returned in 1912 and 1915 to clear the growth. Over the years, a lot of work has been done on excavating and studying the site. Despite these efforts, many unanswered questions remain. You have the better part of the day to explore the site before returning by train, to Cuzco for the night. Discover and try to solve some of the mystery of Machu Picchu!