Forget roughing it with backpacks and hostels to visit the Inca ruins in Machu Picchu. You can enjoy this destination hotspot with every bit of luxury you would expect from a European vacation while taking in all that Peru has to offer.
What to do in Machu Picchu
You can stroll around the small town, visit shops or take a dip in hot springs, but what you're really there for is what thousands come to Peru see every year -- the ancient ruins at the top of Machu Picchu. You can hike to the top, but seeing how we're on a luxury trip, you can also arrange with the SUMAQ Machu Picchu Hotel to have a bus and guide take you there via twisting, winding, narrow roads. And when you get to the see the ruins for the first time, you will realize that pictures just don't do it justice. Between the altitude, the view, and the magnitude of what your eyes are taking in, it truly does take your breath away. Stroll around the grounds, sit and relax on the lush green grass, visit the llamas, or if you're tempted to veer outside the world of luxury, you can hike up the adjacent mountain, Wayna Picchu (meaning “younger mountain”; Machu Picchu means “older mountain”). It offers a unique view of Machu Picchu from about 2,720 metres (8,900 feet) above sea level. It's strenuous and takes about an hour and a half of climbing up steep, narrow stairs originally constructed by the Incas. It's not for the faint of heart but is a worthy sacrifice, especially if you visit the Sumaq spa afterward for a massage.
Other activities in Machu Picchu
Mandor Waterfall: You can also take a less intense, hour-long hike to a waterfall just outside of the town of Machu Picchu.
The SUMAQ Machu Picchu Hotel offers bird watching tours through local trails. With 300-400 species of birds in the area you're bound to see a brightly coloured flock and, at the very least, exotic plants along the path.
Cooking lessons
One memento you'll leave the SUMAQ with is a sense of how delicious Peruvian food can be. The food is so divine at the Qunuq restaurant it seems unfair to have only memories on your taste buds. Sign yourself up for a cooking lesson and learn how to make the signature Sumaq ceviche (thinly sliced fish marinated in lemon or lime and spices) and the traditional Peruvian drink, a Pisco Sour. That way, when you have to return home you can have a little bit of Peru still with you.
Spend a day (or more!) in Cusco on the next page ...
Image courtesy of the SUMAQ Machu PIcchu Hotel
Looking for a taste of Peru in Toronto? Check out the Babaluu Supper Club in Yorkville for their authentic South American fare.
