I've been to Macchu Picchu a few times. Peru and Bolivia are nearly my favourite countries after visiting 120 nations.

The ONLY place to stay is Las Ruinas Hotel .... right on top of the mountain, not down with the 50,000 tourist plebs down in Aguas Calientes. Much more detail here.

www.GlenStephens.com/travel.html

And for a pertinent section when I was there for Christmas morning. I am not religious but to stand up at the Watchman's hut at dawn looking down and seeing the eerie mists shroud and dreamily swirl around the buildings was an absolutely religious and moving experience I will NEVER forget.

Cuzco is a very historic city - once capital of the vast Inca empire until cunningly conquered by Pizzaro and a handful of 179 Spanish Conquistadors in the 1530s. Inca stonework is still intact all over town. Even back streets have stunning 500 y.o. Inca walls. Mud brick Lima was flattened by earthquake in 1746 and only 20 buildings survived.

The Inca stonework in Cuzco to this day will not allow even a credit card into the gaps. We are talking here superbly finished granite stones over 100 tons each in places, each with up to 12 angles. All superbly interlocked together WITHOUT any form of cement. Seeing truly IS believing. The stonework around Cuzco and nearby Ollantaytambo and Sacsayhuamán ("Sexy Woman"!) is one of the TRUE wonders of this world, and really justifies a visit on its own.

Took the 3 hour train ride via numerous "switch backs" down the Urabamba Valley from Cuzco to "The Lost City Of TheIncas"in Macchu Picchu, and spent Christmas Day there in the one tiny 33 room hotel permitted up in the mists named rather alarmingly "Hotel Las RUINAS". Being on that eerie sacred site for sunset and sunrise, totally devoid of the 1000s of daytime tourists is quite a memorable experience.

Even took a few mile hike on Christmas morning up the famous Inca Trail to the magic "Gate Of The Sun" between two mountains and found wild Llamas blocking the path! What a sensational place. Then a few days in the Sacred Valley and the wonderful Indian Market at Pisac. Bought a superb downy soft Alpaca wool sweater for $US15. Would be $200 - $300 in Myer menswear Dept!

Avoid Lima like the plague .... a dry, treeless, dusty, dangerous, dump.

Get into the Peru Amazon if you have time, and go to Ecuador too if you can.

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~ Glen ~

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