Machu Picchu
Most travelers have Machu Picchu on their bucket list, it seems. The mystery of a lost city in the Andes, clinging to the sides of mountains, high up in the clouds, is hard to resist. It's a trip we seriously discussed making a full ten years before we actually did – a move to DC in 2010 pushed back plans for that trip, which would have also included Easter Island (which we ventured to in 2015). We finally made it to Machu Picchu in 2019, and lucked out with a beautiful day to tour the site. I'd also heard horror stories of the site being overcrowded with tourists, but we lucked out with that, too. Crowds were very manageable on the day of our visit. Machu Picchu is worthy of the hype. The natural setting is gorgeous, and the terraces and stone architecture are brilliant in their design. Our day spent at Machu Picchu ranks with visits to other ancient sites like Petra, Jerash, and Angkor, as one of the top travel experiences we've had in the world.
Read MoreMachu Picchu - Ceremonial Rock
Ceremonial rock in the argricultural terraces at Machu Picchu.