The Realm

“The road to Machu Picchu, the ancient sanctuary in the Andes mountains, is a journey in itself.

In Cuzco, the ancient Inca capital where you land from Lima, the multicolored swirl of Quechua, market and llamas gives way to the vertigo of the soroche. We find ourselves leaning against the marvellous basalt walls, chewing coca leaves, to resist altitude sickness.

But that’s just the beginning. In the veneered wooden carriage, we sip tea while gazing out of the panoramic windows at the green, bubbling river and precipices. Nestled in the sacred valley of the Incas, Machu Picchu has to be earned…

At the end of the tracks, the gates to a magical place open: time is suspended, the mountains and clouds flicker, the soul is won over by a mystical peace.”

Machu Picchu, Peru