Within hours of arriving in Cusco, I threw up. My general malaise had turned to a pounding headache which had turned into me standing in the bathroom at our lunch spot staring at the toilet. Cusco, the ancient capital of the Incas, sits in the Andes at 11,000 ft above sea level. I was experiencing altitude sickness, which can be alleviated by drinking coco leaf tea like the locals do, staying hydrated, taking it slow, and by simply moving to a lower elevation as fast as possible. I had never been up this high above sea level, and my body was protesting. My parents and I spent the previous three days in Lima, established by Conquistadores as the present day capital of Peru, which sits just above sea level. Fortunately, our schedule allowed us multiple days to acclimate to the altitude before our true destination: Machu Picchu.
Machu Picchu as seen (by me) from Inti Punku, the Sun Gate, along the Inca trail. Taken May 19 at 3:42 PM
One of the seven wonders of the world, Machu Picchu sits 7,000 ft above sea level. A few years ago, a friend mentioned to me that the number of entries into Machu Picchu would be restricted soon, and I told my parents who had apparently been wanting to visit for 15 years. My reasons were not as serious; I like photography, hiking, and architecture. I studied Spanish in school for many years. More than anything, I supposed seeing Machu Picchu was just something I should do. Cross it off the bucket list. From May 12 to 23, 2025, my parents and I spent 11 days traveling across Peru. My visit ended up more engaging and thought provoking than I ever thought it would be.
