For the who/what/where/when/how, check out The NY Times Travel – June article on Machu Picchu.
Like the Taj Mahal, Machu Picchu did not disappoint, despite grand expectations. In addition to the ruins itself, there are a few hiking trails, ranging from very easy to fairly difficult, each providing a different view of the ruins and the vast mountains range among which the ruins are nestled (these pictures are from the trail to the sun gate). We decided to forgo the first bus at 4 am, and “slept in” until 6:30 am. We had taken the train through the sacred valley the night before (as opposed to the multi day Inca trail trek), and weren’t all that keen for a dawn start, but boy was it worth it. For the first two-three hours of our morning, we had the place all to ourselves. By about 10 am, the other tourists crowded out the trails like ants at a picnic.
Add this one to the bucket list.