Beholding the ancient Incan ruins of Machu Picchu as they rise from the
Peruvian jungle is a joy that deserves to be on everyone’s travel wish list. But
did you know that there is more than one way to arrive at this World Heritage
Site? How you approach Machu Picchu is going to affect your experience of it,
so consider the options carefully before you embark on this once-in-a-lifetime
experience. The quickest and easiest way is, as you would expect, to follow the
crowd by taking a four-hour train from Cuzco to a small town of Aguas
Calientes. From there, a 20-minute bus journey transports them to the famous
ruins. The hardest way, on the other hand, involves joining a guided trek of the
long Inca Trail. However, our favorite approach is the short Inca Trail. For this,
guides are necessary, and you will be paying upwards of $250. How is that
for a sense of arrival? ____________________.