The Machu Picchu city that we know is on the top of the mountain with the same name (which means “Old Mountain”). But there’s also Machu Picchu village (or Machu Picchu Pueblo), popular knowing as Aguas Calientes.
When you arrive on the top of the mountain and see that city of rocks so perfect, you probably will have two reactions:
- Breathtaking due to the altitude and for all that beauty around you. The contemplation will be longer than usual;
- You’ll spend some time trying to understand how so the natives climbed that mountain with all those huge rocks and built the entire city. Trust me: this is unbelievable.
Some people call Machu Picchu the lost city of the Inca Empire, others reduce its importance saying that during the Inca Empire there was a bunch of cities strategically located, whatever, the point is that there is several stories about Machu Picchu. My favorite, and the cutest, it the following:
The Inca Empire had two capitals: Cusco, the economic and political, and Machu Picchu, the spiritual one. This last was a holy city and to get into, the visitors needed purify their mind.
Then the Inca people created the Inca Trail – the walk path from Cusco to Machu Picchu. The walker should cross three mountains before arriving in the holy city and this journey used to bring purification due to the challenge, concentration and physical efforts needed. The natives believed that this was the best way to clean the mind. So, arriving with an empty mind in the city the visitor was considered pure and ready to enjoy the whole energy available in that place.
I heard this “travel tale” from an aborigine during my Inca Trail’s journey. If this is true or not, I can’t tell. But I can tell you that physical efforts help to purify our mind because it happened with me 🙂
Another curiosity about Machu Picchu, now the Village – Aguas Calientes, is that there’s a volcanic font that emerges thermal water between 100ºF and 115ºF. The water is kind of yellow because of the sulfur. OMG be ready to relax. It’s amazing! And of course, they will tell you that the water is holy, has the power of cure, etc. You know, let’s give them a credit, why not?
The thing is: doesn’t matter the way you choose to arrive in Machu Picchu (train, bus, by foot or helicopter), for sure it will be an special trip. That place is magical and will affect you from a very positive standpoint.
That’s it from my side. As you know, you can use this space to share your experience about Machu Picchu as well. I’d love to hear from you 😉
xoxo