Honeymoon Highlight #1: Machu Picchu (Day 1/2)

It’s been almost a year since my husband and I went on our honeymoon adventure to the other side of the world. Boy, are we thankful that we were given that opportunity to take a month-long vacation and experience South America! For me it was a lifelong dream (since high school) to visit Machu Picchu!

To witness the rich, preserved culture of Cusco, to breathe the thin air in the Andes mountains, to hear the native Quechua language spoken, and taste the culinary gastronomy in Peru, were simply unimaginable and beyond explanation.

Perhaps the pictures won’t do justice to the fascination we have, but I hope it’s enough (for now) to take you with me as I go down memory lane and walk you through our highlight #1: Machu Picchu.

Getting There

After a long and tiring 48 hours of being in transit, taking long flights and layovers, traversing Manila, Korea, New York then Lima, we finally got to Cusco on the 2nd of June 2019. By the 4th of June we took the vistadome train from Sacred Valley (jump off point) to Aguas Calientes (literally means ‘hot springs’), to live our bucket list dream and step foot, once and for all, on the city of the Incas.

Machu Picchu Pueblo (locally known as Aguas Calientes) is a small town nestled in a gorge and serves as the main access point (and probably the only one?) to Machu Picchu ruins.

Lines for the bus to go up the mountains can get long easily (sometimes even snake around the streets). Good thing it was just the two of us plus our tour guide, and all our tickets were pre-booked so we got to ride the bus 5 to 10 minutes! If in case you need to queue up, don’t worry because there are a number of nearby cafes to grab a sandwich or bottled water from. Once in the bus, just sit back, relax, and enjoy the (slightly) bumpy and zigzag path up to Machu Picchu! This took us roughly 20 minutes.

How’s the Weather?

It wasn’t crowded when we went and the weather actually worked in our favor. It was nearing winter solstice (June 21, 2019) and early morning and evening temperatures went as low as -1 degrees Celsius! If you must know, dry season in Cusco, Peru usually starts in May and rainy season in November.

By midday it was super sunny (no clouds) and temperature rose to 15-20˚C. If it wasn’t for the wind, we’d probably be covered in sweat. I would advise you to dress in layers!

Moreover, exposure to sunlight gets pretty intense up in the mountains. It wouldn’t hurt to be prepared with sunscreen, cap for head protection, and a cute pair of sunglasses.

---

What To Wear

For the city guided tour

I wore a breezy cotton boho top, stretchy leggings, with Uniqlo heattech tank top underneath, and my old hiking shoes. In my opinion you can just wear regular clothes and any comfortable walking shoes here because it’s a leisurely walk around the city sites and the terrain was manageable. We also carried a light backpack for water and personal belongings, which came in handy during the uphill and downhill hikes. Take note though that there’s no toilet inside the ancient city, so you have to freshen up before entry.

For the Huayna Picchu hike

Of course we had to gear up for day 2– the hike! We didn’t know what to expect but since our entry ticket was for 10am, I knew it was going to be warm. I wore sports bra top underneath a plain white tee and comfy, buttery yoga leggings. I also brought a light jacket with me just in case! It’s best to bring a small backpack here for water, snacks, and camera — also so your valuables are securely stored while you’re busy panting and scrambling for air for that memorable vertical climb. (More about this on my Day 2 post) — still a WIP!

• 

• 

Inside Machu Picchu City

Tip: Get a local guide to gain a full understanding of the ancient civilization and science (or mystery?) behind the land of the Incas. Promise, it’ll be worth it!

We were welcomed by terraced slopes, (each one as high as 4 ft!) and old crops storage houses when we first entered Machu Picchu. The entire city was very well preserved and we also saw, even from a distance, how this city is known to be earthquake-proof even when it’s just made of rocks. Amazing architecture and precision engineering! Each temple window and wall follow a certain trapezoidal shape to make it more stable.

Imagine, even without the use of technology or strong adhesives, the Incas were ingenious enough at that time to build this entire city on top of a mountain. And, more than that, it withstood the test of time!

Klentz and I were in awe as we walked around the mountains, imagining how liveable it actually was before, with farming and irrigation on one side, watch towers, and the houses for communities and royalties on the other side.

From all the stories and history we’ve learned, we witnessed how the Incas were and still are, very akin to mother nature. They respect the elements — heck, they have temples for the sun, moon, water, and earth! These are the 4 cosmological Quechua (indigenous people of South America) principles and it’s vital to understand this for anyone who goes to Peru! Peruvians revere Pacha Mama, also known as Mother Earth, but for those who live on the Andes mountains she is a goddess who nourishes the people and provides vitality on earth.

I can go on and on about their beliefs and architectural prowess, but I don’t want to make this post too lengthy, so let me try to show you our adventure with this short video compiled from our GoPro outtakes.

---

Plan Ahead

Lastly, I want to leave you with this remark: Plan Ahead!

• Plane tickets, train tickets and hotels easily sell out. More importantly, the limited number of tickets to enter Machu Picchu must be reserved on a specific day and specific times, and they sell out early.
• Book and secure your tickets at least 6 months in advance.
• There are only various types of tickets to enter Machu Picchu. More info here
  • Ticket Machu Picchu Only.
  • Ticket Machu Picchu + Huayna Picchu.
  • Ticket Machu Picchu + Mountain.
  • Ticket Machu Picchu + Museum
• Best time of day to enter is early in the morning between 6am-8am, or mid-afternoon, starting at 12pm.
• A lot of tour companies offer all-inclusive services to help you with the train ticket, bus, tour guide, pickup, transfers, and entrance to the Inca city.

xoxo