When thinking about travel destinations and bucket lists I sometimes think to myself, “What makes a place a wonder of the world? Who thinks they are powerful enough to decide such a narrow list for something so global?” And then when I’m in the presence of one, there are no more questions. We all make that decision, everyone who has ever been there and felt so in awe, so menial compared to what lies before us.
I don’t know how it is for everyone else, but when I’m at places like this it feels as though a huge picture book is open in front of me. After seeing images of something for so long, whether it be on TV, books, postcards, etc. it is hard for me to get a grasp on reality when I’m actually there looking at it with my own eyes. But I was there! Here’s the proof:
Thanks to the wonders of the web, I randomly stumbled across our hotel, The Sanctuary Lodge, in a travel article. Pricey? Yes! Worth it? Without a doubt! It is all about location, and for anyone who ever plans to visit Machu Picchu, I insist this is the way to do it. All entrance tickets to Machu Picchu give you in and out privileges, but the site is so remote you can’t really take advantage of it. Unless you stay at this hotel. We rolled out of bed at 5:00am, stopped by the dining room to get something in our stomachs, stepped out the front door and were part of the first hundred in line waiting for the gate to open at 6am. Busses unloaded from their trip up the long winding road and then went back down to do it all over, hikers arrived glistening with sweat and visibly groggy from having to wake up at 4am, and the line grew longer rapidly.
We spent a few hours exploring and taking photos, but once it started to become impossible to get a shot without someone in it, we headed back to the hotel for a real breakfast. We relaxed in our room and talked over our plan of attack for the afternoon before going back into the site. Being able to go back and forth like that, with good food that was already paid for in the all-inclusive rate and a cozy bed and hot shower, not having to stress about catching the last bus back to town… I can’t imagine doing it any other way. Don’t get me wrong, I like adventure and don’t mind getting my hands dirty, but there are some vacations that are special and you merely want to get to your destination and enjoy your time there. Especially when that destination is monumental and your time is limited.
I could go on with more details about the trip… the train rides, the hotel, the food/restaurants, Machu Picchu itself… but I’ve decided to keep this post on the shorter side. If you’re thinking about a trip of your own and have any questions, feel free to leave a comment or email me directly. I found blogs quite useful when planning this vacation and am happy to return the favor!

























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