If you have been to Machu Picchu what was your experience?

Question

I am thinking about going to Machu Picchu and I would like to know peoples experiences after going there. What did you feel when you were there and what did you come back with from the visit (not material things)? Did it change your life, recharge you? Whatever was your experience I would love to know.

Answer 1

I did the 4-day trek (well, 3 and a bit days) to MP. I'm not a hill walker by any means, not fit, but not a slob either. I won't deny that it was hard work. But this affected my experience of MP: because finishing the trek was so exhilerating, getting to MP was kind of a less exhilerating feeling, because you're exhilerated already, if you see what I mean!

Having said that, doing the 4-day trek is a FAR more spectacular arrival to MP than by rail. On the trek your first sighting of MP is at the top of a mountain pass, called the Sun Gate if I remember correctly. You climb a steep stone staircase and there is MP laid out before you. Arrive by train and you'll arrive in the valley below, gradually seeing bits of MP as you climb the mountain by bus. There's also an advantage in that you arrive before the first trainload of passengers.

But MP is spectacular. One wonders how, why, what. Just the sheer scale of it is something to behold. Yet I only spent a few hours there - that was enough. Perhaps without the trek I would have stayed longer, as you see smaller but equally important ruins along the way. Aguas Calientes, at the foot of MP, is worth staying in overnight but not more than a couple of nights.

Not life changing, but well worth the 24 hours of flying and 4 days of walking it took me to get there. And as the previous poster said, Cusco is worth staying in for a few days because of the town and its surrounding sights. I'd take my new wife there even though I've seen it before.

Answer 2

We took a train from Cusco to the base of Machu Picchu, then a bus took us halfway up and we climbed the rest of the way.

When we reached the top, we were "rewarded" by beautiful views of the mountains. I like this best. I love mountains and mountain-top views. We got to see the ruins of the ancient city built by Emperor Pachacutec of Peru. That's a piece of History, for you. But I like the views around, best.

I returned home with good memories of the views I saw . No it did not change my life. No it did not recharge me.

But I am glad I saw it and survived the climb.

Answer 3

I visited MP about nine years ago, and was there two days.  MP is beautiful, mysterious and charming.  My first impression was that it looked just like all the pictures I had seen of it, and so was a little disappointing.  But after the tourist train left and the next morning before the train arrived, I was able to explore and get to know it a little better.

The main things I remember is being so close to the stars at night with very little ambient light, and the sun rising over the "Observatory" the next morning.

I wouldn't say it changed my life, although my total trip to Peru resulted in a change to my life.

One other thing--I've been back to to Cuzco and did not go back to MP, as I did to some of the other places near Cuzco.  It's a once in a lifetime thing, and I did not feel that another visit would add anything.

You should go if you have the chance, and you should stay overnight.  The train takes a very long time to get there and leaves early in the afternoon, and being there overnight is well worth the cost in money and time.  Cuzco is much more than a jumping-off point to MP, and is well worth about a week (including MP).