The sunrise over Machu Picchu is an unforgetable experience
Many tourists that come to Machu Picchu say that the most amazing moment while visiting this place is when the sun rises over the land of the ancient Incas and it takes your breath away. What can be more fascinating than standing on the top of the mountain range and be able to witness one of the world’s most ancient cities being slowly illuminated by the sun’s rays and revealing an abundance of colour and contrast. This is the time when Machu Picchu looks most peaceful. It can indeed become very crowded closer to noon and may remind you of a hectic Manhattan rather than a secluded, ruined city. Needless to say that Peru overall is an extremely attractive place to visit as it combines jungle, rainforest, cities, mountains and the ocean all in one country.
With Machu Picchu being one of the major attractions, this spot has been recognised not only by Peru by also by UNESCO and is now part of World Cultural and Natural Heritage sites which can be compared to the world’s most admired wonders. The attraction is the natural beauty of the site and the touch of the ancient civilisation of the Incas and those prior to them. It is indeed a real heritage of ancient civilisations. Westerners discovered Machu Picchu only at the beginning of 20th century, which is amazing in itself. However, Machu Picchu is not unique in its beauty as there are similar sites in the area which are as impressive and alike in terms of historical impact. For instance, the city of Caral is another great archaeological and historical site which is a little underestimated. Somehow Machu Picchu has stolen all the attention from tourists. The downside of Machu Picchu and other archaeological destinations in Peru is the lack of modern facilities and amenities for visitors but the experience of visiting such an amazing site outweighs any of these slight inconveniences.
There is a limit of only 200 tourists allowed to hike the Inca Trail per day. Booking in advance is recommended if you do not want to miss out on this experience while in Peru. However, if you decide to travel by train, this is not as highly restricted and means there is not the pressure of having to pre-book a long way in advance. Some planning is still recommended though, especially if you would like to see the most amazing sun rise over Machu Picchu!