Machupicchu
Machu Picchu
Machu Picchu is Located 120 km northwest of Cusco, discovered in 1911. This 'Lost City' is one of the world's archeological monument of South America. The well preserved citadel of Machu Picchu lies on top of a steep hillside, surrounded by towering green mountains overlooking the Vilcanota River Valley.
In the 15 century during the Pachacuteq Inca period, Machupicchu was the most important ceremonial center of the Inca´s empire. Before to visit Machupicchu, you must arrive to Aguas Calientes, pretty small town where you can stay, is a very commercial place.
Classic Inca Trail to Machu Picchu
Trekking to Inca Trail is an unforgettable experience, because along of the trail u can find archeological rest and beauty of landscape, making a wonderful combination, Mountains, jungle cloud forest, and inca´s archeological rests. Starting at Kilometer 82 (82 kilometers from Cusco along the railway to Aguas Calientes), is a 45 kilometers through mountain scenery, and takes 4 days to complete, arriving at Machu Picchu for sunrise of the 4th day. The maximum altitude along the trail is 4200m so you need to be acclimatized and fairly fit before you begin.
Short Inca Trail to Machu Picchu
Optionally you can take the short 2 day Inca Trail. The 2 day trail misses out on the best of the mountain scenery and starts further along the Vilcanota Valley, closer to Machu Picchu. It's a relatively easy pleasant trek, spending the night at Wiñay Wayna before arriving at Machu Picchu for sunrise on the 2nd day.
Aguas Calientes
Aguas calientes is small town located on mountainside of Machu Picchu, the main economical activity is based around tourism, providing all the necessary services such as hotels and restaurants, as well as its fair share of souvenir shops and stalls. Of course it's Machu Picchu that people have came to visit and Aguas Calientes itself has little to offer the tourist apart from its thermal springs believed to possess curative powers.