The most frequently asked question we get is about the best time to visit Machu Picchu and/or to hike the inca trail - keeping in mind the weather and the crowds (if you want to try to visit when there are fewer people). Start planning your trip to Peru with our month-by-month guide...including our recommendations based on our extensive 15+ years’ experience.
Big news—we’re offering virtual experiences through Amazon Explore! Pursue your passions from the comfort of your home, as one of our hosts leads you through an interactive new experience. #AmazonExplore #ExploreMore
The most frequently asked question we get is about the best time to visit Machu Picchu and/or to hike the inca trail - keeping in mind the weather and the crowds (if you want to try to visit when there are fewer people). Start planning your trip to Peru with our month-by-month guide...including our recommendations based on our extensive 15+ years’ experience.
History is typically written by the conquerors, and up until now historians have mainly used Spanish historical accounts for dates and data. Based on this information, Machu Picchu had been reported to be built after 1440, maybe even 1450. However, a new scientific study by a team of researchers led by Richard Burger, a professor of anthropology at Yale University, has proven what many of us already suspected: Machu Picchu is much older than we thought!
In 2021, the Inca Trail remained closed for several months due to the COVID-19 pandemic, though the Short Inca Trail has been available for longer, since 15 July 2021 it has re-opened the Classic 4-Day Ica Trail hike at a 50% limited capacity. There was little notice, but now we have a better idea of how to book the Inca Trail right now.
What's it like to hike the Inca Trail, why is it so special, how do you get there, and how to prepare?
Join our founder Mike, with his over 20 years experience and having hiked the trail over 500 times, on this seminar (using slides, images and videos) to explore the foundations and history of the Inca Trail. We’ll discover what it is like on each hiking day on the trail today, as well as what fauna and flora can be encountered in the cloud jungle.
We are incredibly excited to be able to offer a virtual tour of Machu Picchu on the winter solstice (June 21, 2021), the most important day of the year. Together we’ll witness what happens when the first light of the sunrise hits the Temple of the Sun on the shortest day of the year in the Southern Hemisphere. It’s an incredibly unique experience that has never before been offered, so we hope you’ll be able to join us! It’s completely free, and tip supported.
The Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu is the guardian of not only one of the best preserved archaeological remains in the world, but also of incredible species of flora and fauna. Really exciting wildlife sightings have happened during this last month at the Machu Picchu sanctuary, and were announced coinciding with the International Biodiversity Day, as decreed by the United Nations Organization (UN) on the 22nd May 2021!
We are very grateful to be featured in a new travel article on FORBES today - “Here Are The Best Places To Travel After COVID-19” by Christopher Elliott.
Many people are itching to get traveling again and this article features not only your next best potential travel destinations (including Peru!) but lots of helpful advice and tips for traveling safely as lockdowns are lifting and more and more people have the vaccine.
Named as one of the seven New Wonders of the World in 2007, Machu Picchu might be high on your travel bucket list to visit. You will be happy to hear that once you reach this stunning UNESCO World Heritage site, either by train or by hiking the famous Inca Trail, it does not disappoint!
It is an exceptional example of Inca perfectionist construction, and stonework craftmanship. Built at the height of the Inca civilization’s power in the 15th century, it is beautifully and mysteriously set deep within the majestic Andes mountain range at 7,000ft above sea level (which is actually at a lower altitude than Cusco city). Yet as famous as it is, it is also still one of the least understood archaeological sites in the world.
Here are 10 fascinating facts we do know!
Super excited to now also be working with Context Travel and hosting virtual tours and seminar sessions!
Walking the Inca Trail with Michael Lazo Gamarra
What is it like to hike the Inca Trail?
Who better than our founder Mike Lazo Gamarra (having accomplished it over 500 times!) to take you on a virtual journey through stunning varying landscapes to Machu Picchu. You will learn about the Inca Trail history, the Inca culture, and the unique cross-section of biodiverse microclimates and beautiful flora and fauna typical of the Andes and the cloud forest along the trail with plenty of personal experience stories.
Hosted by Context Travel this session will be 60min + 30min Q&A. For a 15% discount you can use our code: CONTEXTFAMILY15.
Besides this slide based semiar, we also have several virtual tours planned with Context, find them all here, including Lake Titicaca, Cuzco, Machu Picchu and more.
