The Republic of Peru (May 2023)

Machu Picchu and the Lost Inca Empire

By Marla Laine Brown:

The oncoming coach could barely squeeze by as our own bus pulled closer to the edge. My thoughts of plunging down the ravine on this narrow unpaved road were undeniable. Latter I confirmed there had been fatal accidents on this stretch of the road.

As the bus continued to transverse up the numerous switchbacks, I thought of how the early explorers must have felt in their quest for this Lost Inca Empire. Thick foliage would have overtaken this abandoned city making it virtually impossible to see. Perhaps only a few indigenous people knew of its location. Or, maybe they thought its existence was only a legend.

After about 30 minutes we arrived at Machu Picchu, gratefully unscathed and ready to begin our trek. Before beginning our hike we were divided into smaller groups of 10, the importance of which became quickly apparent as we ascended up the narrow staired pathway. Occasionally our guide would pull us to the side to discuss interesting factoids while allowing other groups to pass. Then we would pass them in turn, almost creating a hopscotch pattern. The challenge for some was taking pictures while walking without tripping, of which we were sternly warned not to do.

The altitude of Machu Picchu is approximately 7,900 feet making it literally “Breath Taking” or “Difficult to Breathe”. Unfortunately altitude sickness is not uncommon here making the hike even more challenging. Symptoms can vary from fatigue to nausea and shortness of breath. Allan and I had proactively been drinking the coca tea, eating coca candies and swallowing coca capsules to help with the altitude. Was this a psychological or actual medical benefit? Not sure, but we felt good. Others in our group had prescriptions for Diomox and they also fared well.

After about 45 minutes of hiking stone stairs, we made it to a large grassy plateau with incredible panoramas . The area was perfect for taking pictures without tripping or falling off a cliff. We were also fortunate because the sky was relatively clear of low clouds that often obscure the ruins.

After our photo shoot we rested a bit while sharing our level ground with a couple of alpacas and an assortment of tourists including student groups and hikers who’d been walking the Inca trail.

We then regrouped with our travel mates to continue through Machu Picchu’s site. It was less crowded now which made it easier to maneuver on the paths and around structures.

We also checked out a clearing where parts of the new ‘Transformers, Rise of the Beast” was recently filmed.

In total we spent about 3 hours exploring while shedding layers of clothing. Layering is essential in Peru’s mountainous regions because of the unpredictable weather. So, it was nice to learn that todays expected rain had preceded our visit allowing us a dry sanctuary.

The ruins of Machu Picchu are amazing, but the hike can be strenuous with thousands of steps of varying height and width. Our newly purchased hiking poles came in handy and really helped with my balance and stability. They were also a godsend for Allan’s lame foot. A fellow traveler had recommended we visit this site while we were still physically fit. I completely understood this now.