
Machu Picchu is one of the most iconic tourist destinations of them all.
The sacred city is also one of the new Seven Wonders of the World. It literally towers over any other popular spot you can choose.
In fact, being so remote and inaccessible, Machu Picchu was only rediscovered in 1911.
The truth is words can hardly do justice to it, but we’re certainly going to try. Here are five reasons why visiting Machu Picchu should top your bucket list.
1. Steeped in History
Tourists flock to Machu Picchu to get a taste of its rich and vivid history.
Perched on a mountaintop and surrounded by peaks and valleys, this place captivates right away. It was a remote sanctuary for Incan royalty and upper echelons of society. Archeologists argue it also served as a pilgrimage site for Incans across a vast empire.
Today, you can retrace the steps of highland rulers and find out why they revered the clouded realm.
2. Hiking Trails Galore
Climbing steep mountains can be a daunting challenge.
Namely, hiking the difficult terrain is the only way to navigate some valleys and peaks. It’s an integral part of the Machu Picchu experience.
Various available trails allow you to choose your own adventure. They vary in difficulty and length. Some take only two days, while others require up to five.
So, the takeaway is you need to pick your Machu Picchu hike wisely.
3. The Draw of Natural Wonders
Machu Picchu is a place of unique geography.
It features breathtaking highlands and “cloud forests” that enthrall with sheer beauty. There’s a surprising amount of greenery adorning the crude landscape.
It’s not uncommon to see some wildlife, agricultural terraces, and endemic plant species along the way.
The ultimate reward comes in the form of a jaw-dropping scenic view at almost 8,000 feet. A sense of accomplishment overcomes you as timeless Andean mountains beckon.
4. The City of Gods Itself
The majestic stone city is a spectacle to behold.
Its location and magnitude still intrigue us to this day. Ruins occupy a relatively small stretch of land look as if they hug the eternal sky.
Blocks of stone are cut so perfectly that they blend seamlessly without mortar. Their structural integrity has defied many centuries and bashing of the weather.
The final test to the site is enduring the avalanche of tourist crowds that hit every year.
5. The Gateway to Various Escapades
Machu Picchu can be a crown jewel of a longer Peruvian adventure.
The surrounding area is teeming with cultural, natural, and other marvels.
Cusco, for instance, oozes Peruvian and Andean traditions and heritage. People dress in picturesque clothes and speak both Spanish and Quechua. They are quite friendly and helpful to tourists as well.
Beyond that, you can explore the Amazon rainforest, The Colca Canyon, and other landmarks. Peru is bound to leave you with plenty of memories to cherish a lifetime.
Unparalleled Bliss of Visiting Machu Picchu
Visiting Machu Picchu is a once-in-a-lifetime kind of experience.
It’s an adventure unlike any other you can find under the sun. The site includes an incredible natural environment, exotic ruins, and old structures that puzzle us even today.
There’s no shortage of great trails for those seeking an active vacation either. So, it’s time to step onto the holy grounds and have your moments of bliss.
Check out our stories from the road for more vacation ideas. Awaken that explorer within you!
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We were lucky enough to participate in a trial run through the Greek Isles and can happily report that this is an amazing way to experience this part of the world. The Odyssey is small enough to get into some places that we never could have seen on a giant cruise ship, yet big enough to have all of the comforts.
Not that we really needed to because the daily scheduled excursions were nothing short of incredible. Each group leader had studied Greek history, mythology, and civilization and all were native to the country so they had first-hand knowledge of the places we visited.
Beginning and ending in Athens, the home of Athena, gave us a look at this phenomenon because temples were dedicated here to almost every god and demi-god. It also afforded us the extra time to not only see the Parthenon, but to investigate deeper by visiting the Acropolis Museum where many of the artifacts unearthed from the archaeological site of the Acropolis are displayed.
From the capital city we sailed off for ports of call on a half a dozen beautiful islands across the Aegean Sea including Crete, Rhodes, Kos, and the iconic Santorini. Perhaps nothing epitomizes the Greek Isles like the white washed houses and blue domed churches of Santorini.
The explosion is thought to possibly be the inspiration for the legend of Atlantis and also left behind a buried city much like 
At the end of the day the volcanic dust that still lingers in the air treated us to one of the vivid sunsets that Santorini is also so famous for. It seemed only right to offer a toast to Helios and Apollo while we watched from the deck above the pool on the Odyssey.
High above the port we climbed up to the ruins of the Asclepeion where the father of modern medicine is thought to have received his medical training. The sanctuary was dedicated to Asclepius the demi-god of medicine, healing, rejuvenation, and physicians who was believed to be an ancestor of Hippocrates.
All through the islands the style of traveling with experts to guide us during the day and researchers to lecture on the art, history, and mythology in the evenings brought the culture and land to life for all of us onboard.



