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Train to Machu Picchu – Take the tourist lines from Cusco
(the local line is not an experience for anyone with children). The narrow
gauge train winds through gorgeous territory – high and wide valleys
dotted with farms and fields, the Urubamba River rushing through narrow
gorges, and spectacular views of snow covered peaks.
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Inca Trail to Machu Picchu – Take the same route
the Incas took five hundred years ago. Not for small children, but it's
a great adventure for hearty teens and fit parents. Both locals and tourists
take this three or four day hike to the ruins in good weather. The trail
passes by hillsides covered in orchids, through Andean villages, over high
mountain passes, where you'll see hidden waterfalls and Inca ruins. |
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The ruins – 500 years ago, Machu Picchu was an
Inca settlement perched on the mountain ridge, surrounded by steep terraces
for agriculture, linked to other Inca outposts by a network of trails through
the mountains. The city was deserted before the arrival of the Spanish in
the 16th century, and dense jungle vegetation covered the ruins. In 1911,
the ruins were discovered and excavated by Hiram Bingham. Today, the superb
stonework of the Incas endures, but the whole story of Machu Picchu remains
a mystery. |
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 Machu
Picchu is a wonderful maze – Let your kids explore the myriad
of granite passageways and rooms, peering into corners and hiding behind
stone walls. Kids can run off a little energy going up and down the steps – there are over 100 staircases! |
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Look
for plants and animals – Keep your eyes peeled for the elusive
Andean viscacha, a small rodent that looks like a rabbit, and likes to hide
in the dark among the rocks. You'll see lizards basking in the sun, llamas
roaming the ruins and many kinds of birds, (if you're lucky, you'll see
Cock-of-the-rock, the national bird of Peru). Look for orchids and bromeliads
growing in crevices in the ruins. |
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Inspect
the waterworks – Machu Picchu has a wonderful series of square
fountains and stone channels that carry water through the ruins. If the
water is running (the spring that feeds the fountains is sometimes diverted),
start at the top at the Fountain Caretaker's hut. Trace the source of the
water across the terrace as it flows into the first fountain, then follow
the water as it cascades down the hill. |
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Short hikes – |
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If
you have older kids, hike up the trail to Intipunku, the Sun Gate.
From Intipunku, there is a spectacular overlook of the ruins and surrounding
mountains, and Urubamba River below. It takes about an hour and a half round
trip. The trail is well maintained, with a couple of vertigo-inducing spots
(not recommended for little kids). |
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Rather
than take the bus, hike down the hill to the Urubamba River. (The
trail starts from the ruins and is well marked all the way.) This is a chance
to see the "cloud forest" vegetation that surrounds Machu Picchu – dripping vines, bamboo, big ferns, tropical flowers. You may
be passed by local kids (dressed in Inca costumes) who run down the path
to beat the bus to the bottom of the hill. Depending how often you stop
to admire the vegetation, it takes about an hour. Little kids who are good
hikers will enjoy the hike down. |
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Tips for enjoying Machu
Picchu |
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Spend more than one day – We spent
two and a half days exploring the ruins, and each day was a different experience.
The first day was an overview, the second we saw things we'd missed. On
the third day, the boys kicked back and played, my husband snoozed on the
grass, I contemplated the mists swirling down the mountains (a true luxury
...) |
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Toddlers at Machu Picchu – If you
have an active toddler in tow, you will want to keep an eye on them. There
are places where a small child could tumble off the walls. |
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Cameras – This
is a place to have plenty of cameras, for the Intihuatana (hitching post
of the sun) at the Temple of the Sun, the Temple of the Three Windows, and
wild llamas who roam the ruins (think of them as small, arrogant camels). Your kids will want to take shots of their favorite things too. |
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Sun screen – Bring suntan lotion and wear hats. The ruins
are largely outdoors, and you'll be out all day in the bright sunlight.
At higher altitudes, the risk of sunburn is greater. (Drink a lot of water
too. Bottled water is available at the cafe outside the ruins, but you
might want to bring your own along.) |
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Hot springs in Aguas Calientes – Tired of the ruins? Take a break in the hot springs at Aguas Calientes.
It has a resort atmosphere, with a snack bar and shallow pools for smaller
kids. |
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Clearly written
story of the Inca empire, with a special focus on Machu Picchu.
A stunning two page foldout and wonderful illustrations bring Machu
Picchu to life – you feel as if you're there, 500 years
ago. (Picture book)
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Pictorial
history of the Inca – rulers, clothing and jewelry, food and homes, roads and bridges,
Inca gods, goddesses, and rituals, with excellent maps of Inca sites. (Picture book)
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July,
1911. Walk in the footsteps of Hiram Bingham as he tramps through
the Urubamba River canyon, beats his way through the tangled jungle,
and scales the slippery slopes to discover Machu Picchu, overgrown
with vines, but "a city lost in time." Marvelous watercolors
capture the breathtaking scenery of Machu Picchu. (Picture book)
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(More children's
books on other Peru pages) |
