First stop is Machu Picchu, Peru!

How? This is a common question when trying to travel far and wide. How will I get there? How do I plan for this trip? How will I make this possible?

Today I will be answering some of your ‘How questions’ on attaining a successful trip. I will also be open for tips, comments, and questions at the end of the post.

This is my dream destination! Voyage to the Inca ruins that sits hill top in Peru! However, getting there will not be and easy task. Many variables will have to be taken into consideration before making this voyage like cost, language barriers, and health risks. While travel is fun and exciting a lot of planning and research must go into it.

The little background first on Machu Picchu before we get to the nitty gritty. Machu Picchu is located in South Americas, Peru. Machu Picchu is Located on the hill top in the Andes Mountains. There are many ways to get to this hilltop, by a bus or by a nice strenuous 90 minute free hike. Machu Picchu is an Inca ruins crafted back in the 15th century out of nothing but rock. It is also one of the seven wonders of the world. A breath taking sanctuary built by the Incas. While the sanctuary is a beautifully crafted the site also has designs to better understand the world. For instances, The Incas built a structure called the sun temple which during the summer solstice the sun will set perfectly in this rock cut out. Amazing engineering done by hand and so many artifacts that still stand today. Again its one of the seven wonders, why wouldn’t this be on your hit list?

How will I get there? Lets begin with cost. When you initially get to Peru you would have to do a currency exchange due to Peru’s currency being the Sol. So, average airline fair from the United States to Peru is around a solid $1,200.00 a little steep but expected. This flight would also consists of a day of traveling due to the flight being 16+ hours with connecting flights and lay overs.

How will I rest? Next, we can look at living conditions. Personally if I’m going to Machu Picchu, I planned on doing the back packing hike and living in a tent during time. However, I understand that life style is not for everyone. Hotels in Machu Picchu range significantly. There is a super authentic super close hotel to the mountain which comes with a nice price tag of $845… But you are very much paying for the experience. There are other farther hotels off site for a normal price tag of $100-$250. Therefore, the price can very due to the buyer.

How will I communicate? Peruvians speak Spanish, Quechua, and Aymara. A vast diversity of languages depending on what part of Peru you attend. Around Machu Picchu you are more likely to come in contact with Quechua, which happens to be the language Incas spoke. Since Machu Picchu are Ancient Inca ruins it only makes sense. So before you travel it would be smart to get a basic understanding of the language in order to get more out f your trip. Machu Picchu is a tourist spot so I believe there would be translations but to get the best experience, to communicate with the culture you are around would be the most fulfilling.

How will I stay safe? health risk are always a very important variable to take into considerations before traveling out of the country. Make sure no diseases are heavily impacting the community you attend on traveling to. Learn about the cleanliness of the water and animals to watch out for. Also, get vaccinated if it is suggested. Better safe then sorry. When traveling to Peru you must watch out for altitude sickness, cutaneous leishmaniasis in some jungle areas, malaria, and yellow fever.

If you have ever been to Peru and you have travel tips feel free to leave them below. If you have any comments or questions drop them below as well.

‘How’ questions are only an excuse that stops us from straying from our comfort zone. Don’t let it stop you, let it fuel you. Traveling is an eye opening and educational experience, the only way to learn is to go. There is no master plan or set rules or guide lines to traveling. You just  do your research and plan accordingly. So, where will you go? What will you learn? What’s stopping you?