Mystical, timeless, and full of adventure: embark on the trip of a lifetime to the jewel of Peru with Moon Machu Picchu. Inside you'll find: Strategic trekking guides, including two to four days on the Inca Trail, five days on the Salcantay, and an Inca Jungle Trail itinerary, plus focused coverage of Cusco, the Sacred Valley, and Lima Unique experiences beyond the beaten path: Explore seldom-seen ruins like the Ollantaytambo Temple and visit remote Quechua-speaking villages. Go horseback riding on a caballo de paso in the Sacred Valley, mountain biking to the hilltop fortress of Sacsayhuamán, or set up camp on the riverbank after a day of rafting on the Río Apurímac. Sample coca tea and authentic local delicacies, or shop for handmade Peruvian weavings, pottery, and jewelry Essential planning information on agencies, tour guides, and porters, food and accommodations, packing suggestions, finding the best airfares, and getting around by bus, train, taxi, car, or motorcycle rental How to visit Machu Picchu respectfully, with tips from Lima local Ryan Dubé on and helping the local economy, minimizing your impact, and avoiding over-tourism A guide to hazards, precautions, and gear, including how to avoid altitude sickness Full-color photos and easy-to-use maps throughout, plus a convenient foldout map Thorough background information on the landscape, wildlife, plants, culture, history, and local customs Handy tools including a Spanish phrasebook, visa information, volunteer and study opportunities, and tips for seniors, families, visitors with disabilities, women traveling alone, and LGBTQ+ travelers With Moon Machu Picchu's practical advice and insider know-how, you can forge your own path. Doing a tour of South America? Try Moon Cartagena & Colombia's Caribbean Coast, Moon Ecuador & the Galápagos Islands, or Moon Chile.

Moon Travel Guides: The Trip of a Lifetime This jewel of Peru and heart of the lost Inca empire makes for a once-in-a-lifetime trip. Moon Machu Picchu is a comprehensive, honest guide to making the most out of your adventure. What You'll Discover in Moon Machu Picchu: Strategic trekking guides, including two or four days on the Inca Trail, five days on the Salcantay trek, and the Inca Jungle Trail Essential information on agencies, tour guides, porters, dining, accommodations, deciding when and where to go, and making reservations A guide to hazards, precautions, and gear, and tips for avoiding altitude sickness Focused coverage of stopovers in Cusco, the Sacred Valley, and Lima Unique ideas beyond the beaten path: Explore seldom-seen ruins like the Ollantaytambo Temple, and visit remote Quechua-speaking villages. Go horseback riding on a caballo de paso in the Sacred Valley, mountain biking to the hilltop fortress of Sacsayhuamán, or set up camp on the wild river banks after a day of rafting on the Río Apurímac Transportation advice: tips on finding the best airfares and getting around by bus, train, taxi, car or motorcycle rental, and even hitchhiking Thorough background information on the landscape, wildlife, plants, culture, history, and customs Handy tools including a Spanish phrasebook, visa information, volunteer opportunities, and tips for seniors, families with children, women traveling alone, and LGBTQ+ travelers Expert perspective from Lima resident Ryan Dubé A full-color foldout map of the region, with vibrant photos and additional maps throughout With Moon Machu Picchu's expert insight, practical advice, and insider tips, you can forge your own path. Exploring the rest of the country? Try Moon Lima or Moon Peru. Doing a tour of South America? Try Moon Colombia or Moon Patagonia.

Mystical, timeless, and full of adventure: embark on the trip of a lifetime to the jewel of Peru with Moon Machu Picchu. Inside you'll find: Strategic trekking guides, including two to four days on the Inca Trail, five days on the Salcantay, and an Inca Jungle Trail itinerary, plus focused coverage of Cusco, the Sacred Valley, and Lima Unique experiences beyond the beaten path: Explore seldom-seen ruins like the Ollantaytambo Temple and visit remote Quechua-speaking villages. Go horseback riding on a caballo de paso in the Sacred Valley, mountain biking to the hilltop fortress of Sacsayhuamán, or set up camp on the riverbank after a day of rafting on the Río Apurímac. Sample coca tea and authentic local delicacies, or shop for handmade Peruvian weavings, pottery, and jewelry Essential planning information on agencies, tour guides, and porters, food and accommodations, packing suggestions, finding the best airfares, and getting around by bus, train, taxi, car, or motorcycle rental How to visit Machu Picchu respectfully, with tips on sustainability and helping the local economy, minimizing your impact, and avoiding over-tourism, with insight from Lima resident Ryan Dubé A guide to hazards, precautions, and gear, including how to avoid altitude sickness Full-color photos and detailed maps throughout Thorough background information on the landscape, wildlife, plants, culture, history, and local customs Handy tools including a Spanish phrasebook, visa information, volunteer and study opportunities, and tips for seniors, families with children, visitors with disabilities, women traveling alone, and LGBTQ+ travelers With Moon Machu Picchu's practical advice and insider know-how, you can forge your own path. Exploring the rest of the country? Try Moon Peru. Doing a tour of South America? Try Moon Colombia or Moon Patagonia. Special ebook features: Easily navigate listings with quick searches, plus website links and zoom-in maps and images Personalize your guide by adding notes and bookmarks

This full-color guide to Machu Picchu includes vibrant photos and helpful planning maps. Dawn reveals ancient stonework backed by the towering Andes-the fusion of natural and manmade beauty, built in perfect harmony with the earth and skies. This is Machu Picchu, center of the lost Inca empire. And it's yours to explore. This is the trip of a lifetime. It will leave you with a new sense of wonder-and some great stories to share. In this book, expert traveler Ryan DubE tells you everything you need to know to make this trip possible: How to choose guides, tours, and means of transportation How to plan a trek in the Andes-including deciding which of the Inca trails is right for you How to get there, how long it will take, and where to stop along the way-including information on Cusco, the Sacred Valley, and stopping over in Lima.

Caldecott Honor-winner Ted Lewin takes readers on a thrilling journey to the wilds of Peru in this story of Hiram Bingham, who, in 1911, carved a treacherous path through snake-filled jungles and across perilous mountains in search of Vilcapampa, the lost city of the Incas. Guided the last steps by a young Quechua boy, however, he discovered not the rumored lost city, but the ruins of Machu Picchu, a city totally unknown to the outside world, and one of the wonders of the world.

Machu Picchu, recently voted one of the New Wonders of the World, is one of the world's most famous archaeological sites, yet it remains a mystery. Even the most basic questions are still unanswered: What was its meaning and why was it built in such a difficult location? Renowned explorer Johan Reinhard attempts to answer such elusive questions from the perspectives of sacred landscape and archaeoastronomy. Using information gathered from historical, archaeological, and ethnographical sources, Reinhard demonstrates how the site is situated in the center of sacred mountains and associated with a sacred river, which is in turn symbolically linked with the sun's passage. Taken together, these features meant that Machu Picchu formed a cosmological, hydrological, and sacred geological center for a vast region.