My first trip to Machu Picchu.

We spent the first night near Lima, at a friend’s house close to the beach in the La Perla area.

We walked to the beach and ate barbecued beef hearts and stuffed mashed potatoes on a street corner. Sounds tasty, right? Well, it really was. They didn't tell me what I was eating until I mentioned that it was a different barbecue than we get at home. I was then told it was beef hearts marinated in chili, lime and sauces, sliced thin and then barbecued. Delicious.

The following day we took a flight to Cusco and then a train to Machu Picchu. The train was an exceptional experience. They served a drink called a pisco sour, made with lime juice, whipped egg whites and pisco, a Peruvian grape brandy. Everyone — tourists and all — was so friendly (probably because everyone was drinking the happy drink).

After the train ride to the top of Machu Picchu, we took a half-hour tour-bus ride up a narrow road with an amazing view of the small city below. When we arrived, we saw children in their native dress and llamas roaming and eating the green grass. It was an amazing sight.

Flights are relatively cheap if you buy three to four months in advance, and Cusco and Machu Picchu are safe to travel to — so be spontaneous and go! The Peruvian people are so friendly, the shopping is fantastic, the food delicious, and the dollar goes a long, long way. You'll want to return for more food, fun and hospitality. Winter is an ideal time to visit, when it's Peru’s summer.

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Along to Machu Picchu, Peru promotes eight tourist destinations.

Peru's tourism minister announced a new campaign to promote eight new tourist destinations besides the famous Inca sanctuary of Machu Picchu, Perú21 reports. The new sites were selected to help visitors discover the country’s culture and biodiversity.

What we are looking for are destinations that complement Machu Picchu, not substitute for it,” Ferreyros explained in an international press conference in Lima.

The destinations at that the ministry for tourism seeks to promote are “Ruta Moche,” cradle of the ancient civilizations of the northern coast; Paracas and Nazca, on the southern coast; Lima as a culinary capital; the northern beaches; the Amazon river; the Colca Canyon in Arequipa; the department of Cusco; and Lake Titicaca.

But the minister explained that promoting these sites will involve work on the part of many different sectors, and expected results will be long term. He said that it will be necessary to improve transportation, utilities and hotel services in the target destinations.

Machu Picchu, which celebrates the centennial anniversary of its discovery this year, does not need further promotion according to the minister, as it receives some 2,500 daily visitors. Studies to determine an appropriate number of tourists who can visit the site without causing adverse effects are currently ongoing, and will conclude this April.

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MACHU-PICCHU - among the new wonders.

If we want to travel and know the history of the world, Machu Picchu could be our alternative tourist destination. Machu Picchu is one evidence of amazing ancient human civilization. Machu Picchu is located in the mountains with altitude 2450 meters above sea level, precisely in the Urumamba Valley, 80 km north of Cusco, Peru State.

Machu Picchu means Old Mountain in Quechua language, which is sometimes called the Lost City of the Inca. Machu Picchu is the most famous symbol of Inca Empire that ever existed in the ancient South America. Location of Machu Picchu was a secret and remote, in the mountains near the precipice, as a form of natural defense.

Construction of buildings in Machu Picchu proves that ancient human civilization has advanced. Machu Picchu was built by the ancient Inca architectural style with walls of polished stone. The main building is Intihuatana, Temple of the Sun and Three Window Room. These places are sacred area of Machu Picchu. There are thousands of very high value artifacts that found there. The central building of Machu Picchu has the classical architectural style with stone wall which is neatly arranged.

Incas were recognized in the world as the best in terms of buildings, including irrigation. Irrigation system was built to bring water from the holy spring to each house in turn. Because the structure of state land in Peru earthquake prone, then the construction of buildings in Machu Picchu built without mortar. The stones were arranged till they can move a little but did not collapse. Design of doors and windows are trapezium-shaped with a certain slope so that spared from the earthquake. How the Inca people can put a large stone blocks on top of the mountain remains a mystery until now.
Now some of the artifacts used for research in order to know more about the history of the Inca tribe. Machu Picchu is estimated to include the generation of the 9th Inca who ruled in the mid-15th century.

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Entrance tickets for Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu (taken from chimuadventures.com.au)