Machu Picchu - verdens nye vidunder

The day starts early in Aqua Calientes. At 03:30 the first people line up. There is a battle to get on the first buses up to Machu Picchu. Only 400 people a day are allowed to climb Wayna Picchu. There are 500 people arriving from the Inca Trail, plus the tourists from Agua Calientes and all the other tourists who have hiked routes other than the Inca Trail, all arriving early in the morning, so there is a lot of competition for the 400 tickets. In fact, people who have hiked the Inca Trail arrive later than people who have spent the night down in Agua Calientes - it's a bit of a cheat. The people who have worked the hardest to get there are the ones who may not be able to access Wayna Picchu. At 4am we joined the queue down in Agua Calientes. It was dark and it was raining - imagine volunteering to get up so early in your vacation... We stood behind an American couple who were quite entertaining. They made the time pass quickly. They were gay with a capital H - especially one of them :o) We were lucky - we got a stamp on our ticket, which is the entry pass to Wayna Picchu. We also managed to get pictures of Machu Picchu before it was overrun with visitors. Machu Picchu is even more beautiful than in pictures. The area is stunningly beautiful - absolutely indescribably beautiful nestled between the mountains. The hike to the top of Wayna Picchu is steep, hard and hot - even in the morning before the sun is high. The ascent is estimated to take about 45 minutes. We were a little tough and made the climb in 32 minutes. We overtook Kilroy Travel Agency who were on a study tour in Peru. They were off to investigate new destinations in Peru, including a new trekking route up to Machu Picchu, as the Inca Trail is becoming too crowded. The view from the top of Wayna Picchu was totally overcast. So we sat down on the top rock to wait for a clearing. After 30 min. the clouds started to break. What a view that revealed! It is highly recommended to get up early to secure a ticket to Wayna Picchu. Too little sleep is completely compensated by the great view. Absolutely indescribably beautiful. We would have liked to hike the Inca Trail, but after hearing other people's stories, we're not quite so disappointed anymore. The nature is not beautiful all 4 days. It is only on the 3rd day that you have beautiful views while hiking. The trail and especially the tent camp are overcrowded. The toilet conditions are said to be terrible and the cause of many bad stomachs along the way. There is a bar set up, so the 3rd tent camp is very restless and a bit like a festival. The idea of the Inca Trail is to follow in the footsteps of the ancient Incas to beautiful, beautiful Machu Picchu. However, keep in mind that the Incas also used other routes to get there, so you could consider using a route other than the Inca Trail. It will also be cheaper and you don't have to book a trip in advance, you can just show up and say: "I want to hike tomorrow." Alternative routes could be the Lares Valley or Salkantay trek. Some people compare Machu Picchu to Angkor Wat in Cambodia. I don't really think you can do that. Machu Picchu is gathered in a relatively small area with steep mountain slopes on either side, while Angkor Wat is scattered in a dense jungle. Both attractions are stunning and you can't dismiss one because you've seen the other. After seeing Machu Picchu, it's easy to understand why it has been named one of the new 7 Wonders of the World. All we can say is: "Wow".