Machu Picchu, Peru

Crowd source: Machu Picchu is on almost every traveler's bucket list, from the tour-bus fanny-packers to hardcore mountain trekkers. This diverse crowd means a diverse set of annoyances all crammed into one small, wondrous, and, unfortunately, bathroom-less site. Gates open at 6 am, and eager tourists start lining up well beforehand.

The shortcut: You'll need one of two things to beat the crowds: endurance or money. Hoofing it on a two- to four-day trek lets you beat the tour bus groups to see the famous Sun Gate. Veteran Machu Picchu trekker Abbie Kozolchyk suggests arising well before dawn for the final ascent. But if that all sounds a little taxing, she suggests booking a stay at the Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge, the only accommodation adjacent to the site. Plunking down the cash for these swank digs ensures you easy early-morning access to the front of the line.

Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge
Monumento Arqueologico de Machu Picchu
Machu Picchu
Peru
Tel: 800 524 2420 (toll-free)
Tel: 51 16 10 8300
From $860 a night

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