| If you have ever taken a history class, you have | | | | today. Perhaps one of the most fascinating things |
| probably learned a few things about the ancient Seven | | | | about this ancient city; however, is the way in which |
| Wonders of the World. In the last few years there has | | | | the landscape and existing stone formations were |
| been a tremendous amount of debate regarding the | | | | carefully integrated into the formation of the city. |
| naming of seven new Wonders of the World. | | | | Temples sit carefully perched on precipices while |
| Certainly, everyone has their opinion of which sites in | | | | sculptures were painstakingly carved into rock |
| the world should top the list, but popular opinion does | | | | formations. |
| seem to concur that the following sites are among | | | | Machu Picchu remained hidden and forgotten by the |
| some of the most wondrous: | | | | outside world following the influx of the Spanish |
| The Great Wall of China | | | | conquistadors. It was not until 1911 that the ancient city |
| The Colosseum in Rome | | | | was rediscovered by a professor from Yale. |
| The Taj Mahal | | | | Today Machu Picchu has been carefully preserved so |
| Petra in Jordan | | | | that modern generations can learn more about the |
| The statue of Christ the Redeemer in Brazil | | | | ancient culture that took so much care to construct |
| Chichen Itza pyramin in Mexico | | | | such an expansive and fascinating city. Although |
| Machu Picchu in Peru | | | | Machu Picchu remains a difficult site to access, one of |
| Each of these sites has something to recommend it, | | | | the reasons that it was able to survive in such good |
| whether it is the sheer size of it, as is the case with | | | | condition throughout the last several centuries, no visit |
| the Great Wall and the statue of Christ the Redeemer, | | | | to Peru would be complete without experiencing the |
| or it is the grandeur, such as with the Taj Mahal. Other | | | | beauty and majesty of Machu Picchu. |
| sites are revered for their historical significance while | | | | Visitors who plan to travel to Machu Picchu will need |
| others are astounding for a combination of factors. | | | | to access it from nearby Cusco. From there, visitors |
| Machu Picchu, in Peru, is one of those sites. Situated in | | | | have four options for reaching the ancient city; by train, |
| the Andes, Machu Picchu is believed to have served | | | | by foot, by bus or by helicopter. Most visitors opt to |
| as a religious retreat and royal estate. Historians have | | | | take the train to the ruins in the morning, allowing them |
| estimated that it was constructed sometime between | | | | plenty of opportunity for exploration, before returning to |
| 1460 and 1470 by an Incan ruler. This ancient city | | | | Cusco by train in the afternoon. If you are feeling |
| contains about 200 buildings, most of which are | | | | adventurous, hiking the Inca Trail is another option that |
| residences, although there are also some public | | | | allows you to reach the city via the Sun Gate. Visitors |
| buildings, including temples. The majority of the buildings | | | | who choose this option sleep in tents and can opt for |
| in Machu Picchu were constructed using granite blocks | | | | either a two day or a four day hike. There are also |
| that were fit together without using any mortar. This is | | | | frequent bus runs as well as direct helicopter flights |
| quite surprising, given the tight fit of the blocks, even | | | | that will take visitors into Machu Picchu. |