Destination Machu Picchu, Peru

The midday sun peering out of the swirling clouds acted like a spotlight bathing Machu Picchu in a golden glow. It was a tiny glimpse into the world of the Incas who ruled the largest pre-Colombian empire in the Americas. I was delighted that my expectations of this renowned sight were exceeded. 

Nestled between two Andean peaks, Machu Picchu (Old Peak) and Huayna Picchu (New Peak), this 15^th-century city was rediscovered in 1911 by the American archaeologist, Hiram Bingham who arrived in Peru looking for a lost city of the Inca empire. 

Bingham is said to have a met a local who knew of a spot that could be just what he was looking for. He took the American to a place which was abandoned when the Spaniards conquistadors arrived in the 16^th century and since had been enveloped with vegetation: Machu Picchu.

What the Incas used  this city built 2,400 meters above sea level for remains a mystery. It is thought that as well as being residential, there was a religious connection. But, its importance to the Incas is likely to remain an enigma forever.

Constructed in the mist of tropical mountain forest and crisscrossed by steep stone steps this city blends effortlessly into the rock. Built without iron and steel or without wheels to carry equipment or animals they could ride, what the Incas achieved can only be described as remarkable. 

Getting used to the high altitude and the arduous climbing up and down craggy paths and steps to see the ruins of temples, palaces and storage rooms was well rewarded. The llamas darting about on the terraces brought a sense of reality to it all. You should allow at least four to five hours there and try to go early in the morning so you can avoid the crowds.

Even taking the Machu Picchu train operated by Inca Rail from Ollantaytambo in the Sacred Valley which weaved through the mountains covered in green jungle to Machu Picchu Pueblo (formerly Aguas Calientes), the closest town, was magical. Yes, it was geared for tourists but somehow it helped make the journey special and increased levels of anticipation for the main event.

One of the three laws the Incas tried to live by was: don’t be lazy. They made the seemingly impossible possible. Maybe this amazing vista should be a lesson for us all.

By Daralyn Danns

Getting there

Last Frontiers (www.lastfrontiers.com) arranges tailor-made holidays to Peru

I stayed at the Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo hotel (www.inkaterra.com) What makes this hotel outstanding is not only its pretty casitas (small bungalows) with cosy fireplaces to help keep you warm during the cold evenings  but also the cloud forest surrounding it 

Destination Lake Titicaca, Peru

Collecting reeds at Lake Titicaca

Snuggled in the Andes on the border with Bolivia, Lake Titicaca, remote tranquil and magical, has a noble serenity and beauty that would melt the hardest of hearts. Peru is studded with gems, but the Incas’ most sacred lake is the diamond that will always sparkle in my memory.

I arrived at the dark, blue shimmering water and saw women collecting reeds, from which they make boats and construct islands on which they live. This was no show for the tourists, it was real life for these Andeans.

Our guide, Julio, who grew up on the Uros, the name of these floating islands, took us to visit his family. Until a few years ago, he too had worked, lived and slept on the ever-moving creaking strands. I felt so incongruous carrying a Prada handbag.  

The wedding

Later that evening, back on land, we stopped at a village, not too far from our hotel, to have a drink with the locals. Somehow, through Julio, we ended up being invited to a wedding. It was an-out- of- this world experience which you won’t find in any travel brochure. They welcomed us as if we were old friends. Before long, we were dancing with a couple of the guests going round in circles, stopping for the occasional twirl, to music that never seemed to stop. Around us men, worse for wear, fell like flies on to the dusty ground, and still the band played on.

Due to a lack of oxygen, we Brits weren’t able to keep up the pace. We said good-bye and headed to Pachamama, a mountain peak home to Inca and Tiwanaku ruins.

Lake Titicaca staring back at me in the cold night

From there I could see Lake Titicaca staring back at me in the cold night. In the distance, the snow-clad mountain tops of Bolivia glittered like gold as the sun left the sky. Pictures of the wedding flashed before me. There are times when getting up close and personal with the locals is what makes the difference between going to a place and an experience that leaves an indelible mark.

By Daralyn Danns

Getting there

Flights to Peru with Lan (www.lan.com)
I stayed at Titilaka, (www.titilaka.com)