At last, Machu Picchu!

There are few places in the world that are as photographed or as hyped as Machu Picchu is, which can make this day feel both exhilarating and also potentially nerve-racking to someone like myself who loves everything about traveling - besides the crowds. However, what little anxiety I had was quickly replaced by awe. Not even a few minutes into the train ride from

Ollantaytambo, we were completely transfixed by how quickly the landscape changed to a lush green as we got closer and closer to this famous cloud forest.

Once arriving in Aguas Calientes (also known as Machu Picchu Pueblo) we were again struck by how beautiful the city is, with shockingly green mountains that seem to rise right out of the town. Every peak seemed to hint at the famous ruins just above us, and by the time we got here we were absolutely giddy with anticipation.

The bus ride from Aguas Calientes to the gate of Machu Picchu is only about 15 minutes, but you gain quite a bit of elevation in that short ride as the bus climbs higher and higher up the switchbacked road. Once arriving at the top there is certainly a line of other people also about to enter, but seeing Machu Picchu in person definitely makes it worth braving the crowds.

The most famous peak of Machu Picchu is Huayna Picchu, which is the mountain rising above the citadel that pretty much everyone thinks of when conjuring up an image of the ruins. It is this mountain that practically hypnotized us, beckoning to take in one last glimpse, and snap one more photo, even though we had already taken a few hundred (only slightly hyperbolic). Just seeing Huayna Picchu in person is alone enough to make it worth the journey, but when you add in the incredible citadel itself and the almost mythical landscape that was its backdrop - well, you have a bucket list location that certainly lives up to the hype.