There are many places to see and explore in Machu Picchu and the way to do that is on foot and just take a walk around the site and enjoy the ancient ruins and marvel at the jaw dropping beauty of the surrounding landscape. You can also take a guided tour to provide a deeper insight and learn more about the ancient city.
Here’s a list of Five Must Visit Spots in Machu Picchu, Peru:
1. Sun Gate (Inti Punku) – if you‘ve taken the Inka Trail this is ruin will be the first one you’ll experience. The Sun Gate is one of the most important archaeological structures that connects with Machu Picchu and was dedicated also to the cult of the INTI’s Sun god.
2. Intihuatana – It is a carved stone so that on certain days, at dawn, the sun makes a certain shadow, thus working as a sun dial. Some archaeologists believe that the stone was used for making astronomical observations and calculating the passing of time.
3. Temple of the Condor – The temple is a breathtaking example of the Inca’s craftsmanship. It is a natural rock formation and the Inca shaped the rock into outspread wings of a condor in flight.
4. Temple of the Sun – The temple is located near the summit of the main city and the stonework on the temple is very amazing and if you take a close look you will see that there are a variety of stone walls throughout the ancient city. The Temple was used to honor Inti, the Sun an important Incan deity.
5. Temple of the Moon – The temple is an Incan ceremonial temple on Huayna Picchu. The purpose of the temple is not exactly known yet but it is still a must see because of the beauty of the place.
Have you been to Machu Picchu? Feel free to share your tips and recommendations.
Photo Credits (Flickr Creative Commons): Machu Picchu by quinet