Equinox & Altitude
At 8,000 feet, the Andes hold time differently. On the autumn equinox, sunlight balances across carved stone and ancient terraces, calling the awakened heart to remember. This isn't a climb—it's a Starseed Adventure. Peru is waiting.
When I visited in 2012, you could wander as far as your stamina and feet were willing to carry you. The site’s 80,500 acres encompass not only the iconic citadel but also the surrounding mountain slopes, valleys, and diverse ecosystems.
There are 172 structures, including the Temple of the Sun, the Intihuatana stone, and the Temple of the Three Windows. I’ve had girlfriends climb the steep and narrow “Stairs of Death” on Huayna Picchu—elevation 8,924 feet—and live to tell the tale.
Not long ago, the Peruvian government introduced a phased ticketing system with designated routes and timed entry. The goals? Crowd control, site preservation, and—let’s be real—revenue. They’re estimated to make around $30 million USD annually from ticket sales alone. And your personalized ticket? It’s linked to your passport. Yes—they know where you are, or at least where you’re supposed to be.
Over time, additional routes have been added or reopened, especially during high tourist seasons or when safe enough to manage the upper terraces.
First-time visitors and most tourists opt for the scenic path, known as Circuit 1, with its various combinations—A, B, C, D. This is where you’ll snap the iconic selfie with Machu Picchu Mountain rising behind you. It’s a relatively easy walk, and yes, you’ll survive.
But we’re not doing that. Nay, I’ll have you walking toward the sun, not climbing the mountain to the moon cave. We are heading to the solar alignment—after all, it’s the autumn equinox.
At Machu Picchu, the fall equinox (around September 22–23) marks a moment of cosmic balance—almost equal day and night. The Intihuatana stone, carved with sacred precision, casts no shadow at noon, signaling the sun’s perfect perch above the equator. Priests once used this alignment to honor Inti, the sun god, and to mark the transition into the harvest season. The eastern windows of the Temple of the Sun catch the rising light, while the Sacred Plaza becomes a solar stage—its stones casting symmetrical shadows that echo the balance of the cosmos. Our tickets are secured, and with our starseeds quickly assembling, consider this your invitation to remember: there is still space for you.
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