PERU & MACHU PICHU

From Ecuador and the Galápagos, we finally arrived in Lima, the last stretch of our long South American journey. By then, South America no longer felt unfamiliar—it felt lived in. The rhythm of travel had settled into us,  and yet Peru brought a different kind of anticipation. It carried the weight of history.

Peru is a country in western South America, known for its diverse geography including the Andes mountains, Amazon rainforest, and Pacific coast; its rich history as the home of the Inca Empire; and its vibrant culture, with Lima as the capital and a major culinary destination. It borders several nations, including Ecuador, Colombia, Brazil, Bolivia, and Chile, and boasts significant cultural sites like Machu Picchu. 

Peruvian territory was home to several cultures during the ancient and medieval periods, and has one of the longest histories of civilization of any country, tracing its heritage back to the 10th millennium BCE Caral–Supe civilisation, the earliest civilisation in the Americas and considered one of the cradles of civilisation. Notable succeeding cultures and civilisations include the Nazca culture.  the Kingdom of Cusco, and the Inca Empire, the largest known state in the pre-Columbian Americas.

The Spanish Empire conquered the region in the 16th century and Charles V established a viceroyalty with the official name of the Kingdom of Peru that encompassed most of its South American territories, with its capital in Lima. Peru formally proclaimed independence from Spain in 1821, and years, the country first suffered from political instability until a period of relative economic and political stability began due to the exploitation of guano (Seabird droppings) that ended with the War of the Pacific (1879–1884).

Major Attractions are

• Machu Picchu: An ancient Inca city in the Andes.

• Cusco: A historic city in the Sacred Valley.

• Lima: The capital, known for colonial architecture and gastronomy. 

From Lima, we moved inland, leaving the coast behind and entering a landscape that changed steadily—first subtly, then dramatically. The air grew thinner, the mountains more commanding, and there was a quiet sense that we were approaching something extraordinary.

Machu Picchu

The name Machu Picchu means 'Old Peak' in the Incan language. Machu Picchu was not just another place on our itinerary. Reaching it felt like a gradual unveiling rather than an arrival. Surrounded by mist and mountains, the site appeared almost shy, as if it had chosen to remain hidden for centuries. There was no grandeur in the usual sense—no excess, no display—only stone, silence, and an astonishing harmony with nature.

What stayed with me most was not a single structure or viewpoint, but the feeling that the people who built this place understood the land deeply and respected it. Machu Picchu did not dominate the mountains; it belonged to them. Standing there, one felt small, but also peaceful—as if being reminded of humanity’s place within the natural world.

Looking back now, Peru felt like a culmination of our South American journey. After Brazil, Argentina, Ecuador, and the Galápagos—with all their richness, wildlife, and movement—Machu Picchu offered stillness.Machu Picchu revealed itself slowly. Even after all one had heard and read, nothing quite prepared me for the way it felt. It was not dramatic in the way monuments often are. Instead, it was restrained—almost modest—despite its setting among towering mountains.

The first impression was silence. Not absolute silence, but a deep, enveloping quiet broken only by wind and distant voices that never seemed to intrude. The stones, carefully placed centuries ago, appeared timeless, as if they had grown out of the mountains rather than been built upon them.

What struck me most was the sense of balance. Every terrace, every wall, seemed to follow the natural contours of the land. There was no attempt to dominate nature, only to live within it.

What struck me most was the sense of balance. Every terrace, every wall, seemed to follow the natural contours of the land. There was no attempt to dominate nature, only to live within it. Standing there, I felt that the people who created Machu Picchu understood something essential—that human presence could be gentle. One did not feel rushed, even while walking through it. I remember pausing often, not to take photographs, but simply to look—to let the place settle into me. It was one of those rare moments when the mind grows quiet on its own.

On our way to Machu Picchu we stopped at Cusco. I had not heard about this place earlier.

Cusco – more than just a stop before Machu Picchu

Cusco was the capital of the Inca Empire, called Tawantinsuyu—“the land of four quarters.” From here, the Incas ruled an empire that stretched from southern Colombia to central Chile. That alone tells you how important Cusco was.

Location & setting

• Cusco lies at about 3,400 m (11,200 ft) above sea level

• It sits in a high Andean valley, surrounded by mountains

• The altitude is why many people feel breathless or tired there

Inca city beneath a Spanish city

One of Cusco’s most fascinating aspects is that:

• Inca stone foundations are still intact

• The Spanish built churches and houses on top of them

You can actually see:

• Perfectly fitted Inca stone walls

• Spanish colonial buildings above—often damaged by earthquakes while the Inca stones remain unmoved. This tells you how advanced Inca engineering was.

Cultural & spiritual importance:

Cusco wasn’t only political—it was also spiritual.

• The city was shaped like a puma, a sacred animal

• Sites like Sacsayhuamán, Qorikancha (Temple of the Sun), and Tambomachay formed ritual networks.

• The Incas believed Cusco was the navel of the world.