Machu Picchu, Peru

The mystical citadel is perched 2592 metres high on Machu Picchu mountain, set against a vast backdrop of steep lush mountains that spike up from the deep valleys of the Urubamba and its tributaries below. Having never been discovered by Spanish conquerors, it was found relatively intact by US explorer Hiram Bingham on July 24th, 1911, making Machu Picchu a prime example of Inca architecture.

The name Machu Picchu is thought to mean Old or Ancient Mountain and most archaeologists agree that Emperor Pachacuti chose the site in the mid-fifteenth century due to its sacred geography and position for astronomy. Many archaeologists speculate that Machu Picchu’s fine stonework and temple precincts indicate its importance as an agricultural centre and the layout and quantity of the temples indicate that it was a religious centre. It boggles the mind to think exactly how the Incas managed to transport the stones up Machu Picchu mountain, but it the site’s mysterious origins that are central to its enduring appeal.

It’s easy to spend a whole day wandering the citadel, with numerous flights of steep stone steps interconnecting its palaces, temples, storehouses and terraces. The highlights are the elegant Sun Temple, the surreal Royal Mausoleum, the monolithic shrines of the Sacred Plaza and the mysteriously carved Intihuatana stone.

More energetic guests should try to get their hands on one of the 400 daily tickets to climb to the summit of Huayna Picchu, the peak which sits 2720 metres above sea level. The steep, sometimes nearly vertical climb is not for the faint-hearted, but those who do make it may be rewarded with exclusive birds-eye views of the Machu Picchu citadel which make all the sweating and puffing worthwhile.

On your tour of Machu Picchu, make sure to visit Inti Punku. Inti Punku is perched at the top of a mountain peak, elevated above Machu Picchu. Only a frame of a doorway remains – the surrounding walls have crumbled away in the centuries since the Inca abandoned it.

Now Inti Punku serves to frame the view of the sky, the mountains, and the ruins below.This was the gate that controlled the entrance to Machu Picchu. We can surmise the importance of the gateway based on its name alone. In the ancient Peruvian language of Quechua, Inti Punku means “Sun Door.” Inti was the Inca sun god, one of the most prominent deities in the Inca pantheon. Some scholars interpret Inti as a representative of the Inca nation.

Walking uphill from Machu Picchu, it’s about a 1-hour hike to Inti Punku. As you mount the steep path to the Sun Door, stop to admire delicate orchids that grow along the path. During the last 165 feet (50 m), you’ll mount a stone staircase that leads the rest of the way to the summit.

At Inti Punku, you’ll have one of the best views of Machu Picchu, spread out at the bottom of the incline. Looking through the gateway, you can survey all the other mountains that surround the site. Seeing Machu Picchu from a distance is a great way to appreciate its size and importance. Viewing the ruins from Inti Punku allows you to imagine what arriving at Machu Picchu must have felt like when the Inca were at the height of their power.