Machu Picchu is a city in Peru meaning “old peak” in the Quechua language. It is a 15th century Inca citadel believed to have been built for the emperor Pachacuti. It’s exhilarating and beautiful scenery, as well as its incredible building style, has made it become one of the most visited places by tourists from all over the world. In 2007, it was voted into the category of the seven new wonders of the world making it more famous.

Going to Machu Picchu is a wonderful experience, as you get to meet the wonderful and warm-spirited people of Peru, know their history, learn a bit of their culture and tradition, go on a tour of the city, try their lovely dishes and every other thing the city has to offer.

The most  suitable time to take a tour to Machu Picchu  his from July-august as there is less rain enabling you to hike and enjoy the tour.

Going to Machu Picchu from Cusco, you have the options of going to a shuttle bus, a train or hiking. Either way, I do advise that you book your tickets down. Booking a tour to the city saves you a lot of stress as the tour company includes all the fees required as you book. The train is the best option for the tour as you get to see more and get better views as you go. The train stations offer you three types of cabins:

– Expedition

– Vistadome

– Luxurious Hiram Bingham

So depending on your budget and how much comfort you want, you can choose from any of the three types. However, I advise you go for the vista dome because it offers you nice views from the huge windows and the ceiling windows. Although the fee might be more expensive, it is worth it especially if you want to take pictures. Do remember to Sit on the left side if you’re facing forward in the train, the views are much better. The train stops you at a bustling tourist town of Aguas Calientes, which is the base for the Machu Picchu tourism and shuttle buses leave from here to the city daily.

The best period to visit Machu Picchu also falls into the summer vacation in a lot of countries and It being the summer season, there is usually a lot of people around to hike the Inca trails so do ensure to come out early so as to get a ticket and access to the beautiful city.

On beginning your tour in the city, I advise you go along with water and snacks as hiking the trails will get you exhausted, hungry and dehydrated due to long distance.

Other necessary items you should come along with are:

– Bug spray

– Passport

– Coins for using the bathroom

– Sunglasses

– Camera

Have a blissful time as you enjoy the wonders and architectural beauty of Machu Picchu.

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The Christmas Eve or Noche Buena

The Spanish introduced people to Christianity sometime around the 1500s. Unlike in other parts of the world Christmas is celebrated with pomp and pageantry on the 24th of December, known as Noche Buena or the Good Night. Evening is the time when the celebrations start with the ritual Mass at the local church. The mass is known as the Rooster Mass and begins at 10 PM. After Mass people return to their homes to open gifts and this is followed by champagne for adults and hot chocolate for the children. Dinner is usually turkey, Paneton and other local foods including tamales. Cake with a fruit center known as the Paneton is the specialty of Christmas. Children then enjoy bursting of fireworks. This done, the adults start celebrations with dances that last till the early hours of Christmas.

Image Credits to Wikipedia

Nativity

While western homes emphasize Christmas trees and their decoration you will find that Peruvians place importance on the Nativity scene. Known as pesebre, this recreation of the scene of the birth of the Christ is done in painstaking detail with the use of local pottery, stone and grass manger. One member of the family formally places a figurine of the Christ known as Nino Manuelito or baby Jesus in the manger. However, trees are now making their presence felt in the Christmas decorations. Peruvians go out of their way to set up the Nativity scene in their living room. It is intricate and includes a statue of the child Jesus and three wise men in addition to animals. In Peru, they use Llamas and Alpacas instead of donkeys, camels and oxen. Some people may create a detailed nativity scene while others can buy retablos, a box in which the scene is set up. You just place it in your living room.

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Highlights

While gifts are traditionally exchanged on the 24^th night, it is a ritual in the Andean regions to let the gifts be until the 6^th of January, the Epiphany day of the arrival of the three wise men who symbolically brought gifts for the child Christ.

Drinking chocolate known as chocolatada and distributing it to the poor and needy who line the streets is another important ritual. Rich men and churches organize chocolatadas and distribute hot chocolate with biscocho, a sweet bread with fruits to people.  Chocolatadas symbolizes the Christmas spirit of giving of gifts to the poor.

Santa Claus is not a prominent figure in Peruvian Christmas celebrations since the government banned him on various grounds. However, it is up to the people. Some believe and presents are opened on Christmas eve. For those who do not believe, the day for opening the gifts is 6^th January.

While people in other parts of the world wake up early on Christmas day to open gifts and go to Church, people in Peru are sleeping late because of the previous night’s revelry.

Since Christmas coincides with the summer break children and adults alike are free to devote time and energy to celebrate it with gusto.

It is common to find children forming choirs and walking around singing Christmas carols. The group has a shepherd and the three Kings or Magi.

Girls dress up in a skirt and blouse with spangles and ribbons as well as a handkerchief on the front. This is topped with a hat with ribbons.

Food

For most people Christmas means roast turkey with tamales, salads and sauces. Some might opt for chicken instead while some even have a roast suckling pig. The traditional cake is Paneton, a bread with raisins and candied fruit. The paneton is usually accompanied with hot chocolate flavored with cinnamon and cloves. Tamales for Christmas are special with fillings of meat, cheese and chilli. Rosca de Reyes or the King’s Ring is a round sweet bread served on Epiphany day, 6th January, marking end of celebrations. The Rosca de Reyes usually has a tiny figure of Christ hidden inside. Whoever gets it is considered to be lucky. The midnight Christmas meal is known as Cena de Navidad.

Image Credits to Wikipedia

Christmas in the Andes

Christians in Cusco in the Andes celebrate Christmas, endowing it with Incan flavor of dances and plays. A special market known as the Santurantikuy (buying of saints) springs up and farm people gather to sell plants and mosses used in nativity scenes. Epiphany day on 6th January has special significance since the day coincides with the taking of power of the varayoc. People gather and take out a procession headed by the image of the Christ Child and San Isidro.

Image Credits to Wikipedia

Worthy of special mention is the Christmas celebration of Takanakuy. While people dance, put on costumes and celebrate as is usual in the Andean regions and in the plains, the Takanakuy is a special event in Cusco. The world beans “when the blood is boiling”.  It is a way to get rid of social tensions and stress. Fights are organized and there are referees supervising matches. Fights usually last only about a minute or so. Anyone can participate, even teenagers and women. People settle grievances against neighbors or family members in an amicable way during the short fight.

Image Credits to Wikipedia

Christmas in Peru has a festive, carnival air and one cannot but help become immersed on the Eve. You are likely to stay awake all night, dancing, eating and roaming the streets. Enjoy Christmas in the most exotic way you never imagined before.

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