Conquering Machu Picchu, The Cheap And Quick Way

"Was it worth it?" That's the most common question I've fielded since I visited Machu Picchu, the ruins of a 15th-century Incan estate that sit almost 8,000 feet above sea level. Thrust back into prominence when the American explorer Hiram Bingham "discovered" it in 1911, it was used, by some accounts, as a palace, a retreat for the wealthy, a religious sanctuary or all three. Today, the photo-friendly ruins (popular with tourists and Obamas alike) receive thousands of visitors daily and are the engine that drives Peru's tourism industry.

But the question is understandable: The trip is not a simple one, and can quickly become expensive and time-consuming. Hiking the Inca Trail, the classic journey from Piskacucho to the Sun Gate at Machu Picchu, is popular with students and backpackers (there are many tour operators, including SAS Travel, PeruTreks and Llama Path). It costs about $700 before incidentals and gratuities and sells out months ahead of time. What's more, it's a four-day journey — a chunk of time I wasn't able to set aside during my visit to Peru.

And yet, my response: It's absolutely worth it, provided you're prepared to do a bit of planning. Below, I've outlined how to make your visit to Machu Picchu a day trip from Cuzco. It requires a little extra forethought, but you can do it, unrushed, in a day — saving you both time and money.

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