Machu Picchu, one of the new seven wonders of the world, right up there with the Great Wall, the Colosseum, Pompeii, and nothing can prepare you for the heady sensation of actually standing in the ruins, situated on a steep hillside, far above the semi-tropical jungle below. Traveling to Machu Picchu with kids is an unforgettable experience for everyone in the family.
   
    Train to Machu Picchu – This is an amazing train ride that winds through gorgeous territory – high and wide valleys dotted with farms and fields, the Urubamba River rushing through narrow gorges, and spectacular views of snow covered peaks.

    
    Inca Trail to Machu Picchu – Take the same route the Incas took five hundred years ago. Not for small children, but it’s a great adventure for hearty teens and fit parents. Both locals and tourists take this three or four day hike to the ruins in good weather. The trail passes by hillsides covered in orchids, through Andean villages, over high mountain passes, where you’ll see hidden waterfalls and Inca ruins. 
   
    The ruins – 500 years ago, Machu Picchu was an Inca settlement perched on the mountain ridge, surrounded by steep terraces for agriculture, linked to other Inca outposts by a network of trails through the mountains. The city was deserted before the arrival of the Spanish in the 16th century, and dense jungle vegetation covered the ruins. In 1911, the ruins were discovered and excavated by Hiram Bingham. Today, the superb stonework of the Incas endures, but the whole story of Machu Picchu remains a mystery.
   
     Machu Picchu is a wonderful maze – Let your kids explore the myriad of granite passageways and rooms, peering into corners and hiding behind stone walls. Kids can run off a little energy going up and down the steps – there are over 100 staircases! 
  
      Look for plants and animals – Keep your eyes peeled for the elusive Andean viscacha, a small rodent that looks like a rabbit, and likes to hide in the dark among the rocks. You’ll see lizards basking in the sun, llamas roaming the ruins and many kinds of birds, (if you’re lucky, you’ll see Cock-of-the-rock, the national bird of Peru). Look for orchids and bromeliads growing in crevices in the ruins. 
   
     Inspect the waterworks – Machu Picchu has a wonderful series of square fountains and stone channels that carry water through the ruins. If the water is running (the spring that feeds the fountains is sometimes diverted), start at the top at the Fountain Caretaker’s hut. Trace the source of the water across the terrace as it flows into the first fountain, then follow the water as it cascades down the hill.