Machu Picchu: A Spiritual Journey

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Ecotravel. It’s about honoring local peoples and places. It’s about walking lightly on the land. It’s a far cry from the packaged cruises or theme-park experiences of the past decade, and it’s catching on with adventurers of all ages.

One of the most compelling destinations for ecotravelers today is the ancient Inca city of Machu Picchu. Nothing prepares you for your first view of this magnificent silent metropolis high in the cloud forests of central Peru. Not the guide books, not the National Geo­graphic specials. There’s a sense of power, of other-worldliness, of timeless mystery that transcends description. You simply must be there. Here’s one way to go.

Fly to Cuzco. It’s a lovely little city—quiet, picturesque, colonial, with red tile roofs and massive stone buildings, many of them rising from Inca-built foundations. Check into your hotel, where you’ll be offered a steaming cup of herbal tea, brewed from the dried leaves of the coca plant. It has a bitter, “green” taste, but it soothes the altitude head­aches many suffer here at 12,000 feet, and it provides a real energy boost. Stroll around the historic square, marvel at the massive seventeenth-century cathedral, take snapshots of grinning children holding baby llamas. Promise yourself that you’ll come back with plenty of time to visit the museums, the galleries of colonial art, the shops whose shelves are stacked high with lovely alpaca knitwear. But for now, make it a quiet afternoon and evening—no more than one pisco sour, the local festive drink—for the altitude must be respected. You’ll want to be well rested for tomorrow.