The Lost City

Archaeologists believe that Machu Picchu, that Inca mega-structure high up in the Andes Mountains, was a royal estate of Inca nobility, built in the mid-15th Century. But what they cannot explain is why it was abandoned approximately 100 years after its construction. Some theories point to a smallpox epidemic, which killed hundreds of its residents, as the reason. They even go further by saying that none of those who fled the area to escape the epidemic ever came back for fear of being infected by the then-deadly disease. The site was not known to the Spanish conquistadores nor to the outside world.

It was only in 1911, that’s five centuries later, when an American archaeologist from Yale University, Hiram Bingham, together with his team of explorers stumbled upon the mountain city on their way to search for Vilcabamba, the last of the Inca strongholds conquered by the Spaniards.  

Bingham was quick to declare Machu Picchu as “The Lost City of the Incas,” but experts argue with this because local peasants knew about the existence of the site. In fact, there is substantial evidence that shows missionaries and some Cuzco explorers reached the site much earlier but kept the discovery to themselves.

Almost 8,000 feet above sea level, Machu Picchu is surrounded by the Urubamba River on its three sides and, almost every morning, is covered with cool mist rising from the river. This settlement is between two mountains, with a breathtaking view of two valleys and another mountain behind it. 

It has water springs and enough ground to grow food, more than enough for the tribes who lived there. Its hillsides are terraced, used as farmland and as protection from invaders. These terraces also reduce soil erosion, thus protecting the homes therein from landslides.

What makes Machu Picchu awesome is not only its location but also its architecture and the engineering processes that were used in its construction, a craft mastered by the Incas.  Houses used mined stones from a nearby quarry.  These were lined up, polished and cut to fit together perfectly, so perfect that not even a blade of grass can go through the joined stones.

This type of architecture was designed by the Incas specifically for this mountain city as it has always been threatened by two natural disasters – earthquake and torrential rain. Two fault lines are found nearby, so the sturdy walls were made to withstand any type of seismic activity. As protection from heavy rainfall, the Incas carved terraces on the mountainsides, layered them with stone chips, sand and soil to soak water in, protecting the city from floods.

 Since Bingham’s reported “discovery,” tourists have been trooping to Machu Picchu. In 1981, it was declared a Peruvian Historical Sanctuary, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983. But what increased its popularity immensely was when it was voted one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World in 2007, an online project of the New7Wonders Foundation.

Although it continues to be Peru’s most visited tourist attraction and the country’s important source of revenue, the site has been hounded by concerns from potential tourists, one of which is their safety. There have been reports of tourist deaths caused by altitude sickness and hiking accidents. In fact, the local government and UNESCO have been criticized for continuing to allow tourists’ entry, in spite of the risk of earthquakes, landslides, and injury from unstable, decaying structures.

Notwithstanding these concerns, this Wonder of the Modern World is still a tourist magnet because it is awe-inspiring and makes for a perfect antidote for the stress that we, constantly harassed city dwellers, are plagued with.  

To get to Machu Picchu, you may choose any of the daily Transpacific flights from Manila to the US, then connect on any daily flight to Lima, the capital of Peru. After a good rest, take any of the more-than-a-dozen daily flights to Cuzco, then connect to a 3.5-hour train ride to Aguas Calientes, the town at the foot of the “Lost City” where you may rest for the night.  Explore Machu Picchu the following day so you can fully soak in the splendor of this Inca “wonder.”

The reason why it is advisable to just transit Cuzco and go straight to Aguas Calientes is that the former is 11,000 feet above sea level and this high altitude may cause lowlanders like us to experience headache, nausea, vomiting, upset stomach, shortness of breath, etc. Aguas Calientes is only 8,000 feet above sea level, and such altitude is easier to adapt to.  Of course, the natives were quick to offer us coca tea, which is known to be the perfect remedy for any form of altitude sickness. But then again, even without the high altitude and if you are of the squeamish type, your stomach might still do quarter-turns if you are offered the native delicacy, Cuy, which is roasted guinea pig, shown on this page.

So, if you’ve been wanting to lose your worldly cares and the physical stress that have burdened you all this time, lose yourself in a “lost city” that’s exciting, extraordinary, exotic and exhilarating!  Hop on to your Chattanooga Choo Choo to Machu Picchu!

YOUR MONDAY CHUCKLE:

A shopkeeper was dismayed when a store opened next door with a huge sign that said, BEST DEALS!” To make things worse, another store opened on the other side with a huge sign reading “LOWEST PRICES!” He panicked until he thought of a solution – he put up his own sign, bigger that the other two, that read, “MAIN ENTRANCE.”

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