Machu Picchu

Crowing loudly, the rooster alerted us that we must force ourselves to arise. It was 4:45 a.m. This brought the second consecutive pre-dawn morning for me. Having bonded over our life-endangering bus ride the previous morning, Niall, Martin, Ben, and Nadia also rolled out of bed to prepare for the coming day. We were off to see one of earth’s greatest man-made spectacles – Machu Picchu!

Arriving to the bus pickup location in Aguas Calientes, we were met by nearly 30 other eager, restless souls. We would be one of the first to see this wonder of the world on this day. After the one-hour ride, we slowly walked to the entrance and into the mystical setting that the Andes Mountains portrayed. As the sun had yet to show itself, several clouds crept around us in the presence of the low light. Climbing step after step, my breath was running thinner, but my anticipation was building faster.

Turning around, I became overwhelmed. Machu Picchu was before me! A surreal moment followed. Such an awe-inspiring feeling within me has been brought forth in my life very few times. Set amongst a lush and dramatic topography, these Incan ruins are simply a remarkable marvel that brings inspiration. The ability to build such a remote site in the mid 1400s is incredible alone. The intricate design and the setting in which it was built is what draws forth feelings of amazement.

We spent the full day discovering Machu Picchu. It still had a slight feel that it could be “explored” as very few parts were cordoned off and there were few park officials placing restrictions on visitors. Hiking for an hour, Niall, Martin, Ben, and I ascended Huayna Picchu, which overlooks the ruins. The views were phenomenal as we were able to truly take it all in.

If you have the opportunity, I strongly encourage you to travel to Peru and journey to Machu Picchu! Thankfully, for most of you, this can be done in luxury. As you know by my experiences, it can also be done on a shoestring budget. Either way, you must visit this mystical and inspiring place. Machu Picchu marks the sixth of the “Seven New Wonders of the Worlds” that I’ve been to. It ranks at the top of the list in my mind!

- Tyler