The beauty of Machu Picchu is the shear height at which these ruins are carved into the mountains. At 8,000-plus feet one has to wonder how the Inca’s hauled up the stones, carved out stairs, and produced an aqueduct system to receive water.

Getting up there isn’t easy regardless of if you decide to hike for many days or take the train and then a 30-minute bus to the top. My group opted for the train and the bus. The train is a truly amazing visual experience (and for about $100-plus roundtrip it should be). The modern and comfortable cabins offer panoramic views of the Andean Mountain Range, the Urubamba River, and villages leading up to the Inca Trail. The cost of my train and bus tickets were included in my Friendly Planet package but I’ve read that train tickets sellout fast, so plan to book well in advance.

The bus…