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Machu Picchu Helicopter

by Neil Woodburn (RSS feed) on Jul 12th 2006 at 8:11AM

Okay, this disappoints me.

I've never been to Machu Picchu in Peru, but it is my understanding that the journey to the ruins is as much a part of the experience as the ruins themselves. If any of you readers have been, please chime in and let me know if this is the case.

I ask because a local company is now offering helicopter flights directly to the ruins. I just learned about this in the LA Times and shuddered upon reading it. There is nothing worse than working so very hard to get to a destination, just to find rich, overweight tourists already hogging the place without having put in any effort.

Any thoughts on this dear readers?

Filed under: Peru

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

Peter Jul 12th 2006 9:20AM

So all rich people are fat and don’t deserve to spend there money on a helicopter flight because people who have less money can’t support this?

They should be happy that they are not rich and fat (-;

Brynn Jul 12th 2006 9:36AM

Speaking from experience, it is kind of frustrating to reach Machu Picchu dirty and hurting and to see many people who got there with much less effort (either by helicoptor or by train/bus from the town below). But at the same time, you see and experience so much on the hike that these people totally miss out on, that in a way you could really just pity them for having missed it. Hard to really do at the time, I know, but I wouldn't trade my trail experience for the world.

Michael Jul 12th 2006 9:56AM

Horrible! - I made the trek with manuexpeditions.com beginning of 2001 and it was one of the most memorable vacations of my life. Nothing can compare hiking a week through the jungle, then stepping through the gate of the sun to see machu picchu lying in front of you.

jmchez Jul 12th 2006 11:39AM

The Peruvian government can ban these flights. However, I get a feeling that the rich tourists' money will speak louder than the opponents.

Kathy Jul 12th 2006 11:58AM

Awful! Whether you make the long trek or take the bus from Aguascaliente, who wants to hear and see helicopters hoving over such a quiet, sacred place! Helicopter tours over MP are totally inappropriate!

Eric Jul 12th 2006 12:13PM

For those of us that trekked there, I'm not sure how much different taking a helicopter there is from Hiking while a small army of locals carry our gear and prepare all of our meals and campsites (which is a fairly typical way of doing the trip). Plus the place if full of people who took the train and the bus, so the only real reason not to do this is the loud and annoying nature of helicopters buzzing around.

Ron Grossman Jul 12th 2006 1:24PM

There is something much worse - not getting there at all. Everyone has their own lifestyle - they probably think that there is nothing worse than getting there and having to share it with skinny, poor wanna be tourists that cann't affor the ride.

ChrisN Jul 12th 2006 2:07PM

I'm in agreement with some of the other posters, the only issue for me would be the mosquito factor. A chopper buzzing around the ruins could really kill the mood of the place. I'm not sure why one would really bother, the train ride is quite scenic.

balimargo Jul 12th 2006 3:34PM

I completely disagree. While some people may not be fit enough to make the journey, hiking the Inca Trail is an incredible part of the experience.

The ruins are something special but without having put in the hard work to get there or seeing the sunset as you make your descent on the fourth day is just not the same.

bobby Jul 13th 2006 3:22AM

It is important to keep these flights for handicap peoples; those that wish not to fly, can chose not to, but those that can't walk may need this option available to them. Keep an open mind and heart. Cheers

bobby Jul 13th 2006 3:24AM

Neil Jul 13th 2006 12:05PM

Some great comments and insights! I see both sides of the issue now.
Neil

Daryl Jul 13th 2006 6:36PM

I hiked the trail back in 1995 and actually had to have a friend airlifted out (due to what we thought may be cholera), so it's been possible to get to Aguas Caliente (the town beneath) Macchu Piccu by helicopter for some time.

And I don't get what everyone is complaining about. Even back then people were taking the train to Aguas Caliente and then coming up the mountain in mini-buses to see my sorry, mud caked, dirty and hiked over hill and dale butt.

Those people lose out on the experience by making it just another packaged piece of flotsam on their checklist.

I peronsally wouldn't trade the hike over the mountains for anything. Whiel kidna silly to say, it did change my entire outlook on travelling. I'm sure the same can't be said of the packaged tourists. And, as I recall, there is a huge luxury hotel just outside the ruins anyway so it's not like the place was untouched to being with.

Scott Jul 29th 2006 11:53PM

I travelled to Machu Picchu during my first trip to Peru and while meeting my now wife for the first time. We took the train which is fine but were hurried through our time there since we did not stay overnight at the top or at Aquascaliente. Stay the night if youever go and hike the trail of you can.

Personally, if the noise pollution created by a hellicopter would be such a distraction, they ought make sure they land far away from the ruins so as to not disrupt the serenity an awe of the experience.

Peru is beautiful and flying by hellicopter ought not disturb the experience of others visiting or living there.

Ana Aug 6th 2006 6:59PM

I haven't been to Macchu picchu since 2003 but I've visited 4 times. I don't know how close the helicopter landing pad is to the ruins themselves but I think something to consider is the fact that these ruins have been able to remain for the most part intact with the passage of time. However, as you probably know, there are areas that have had to be redone by modern man.

My point is that introducing machinery like helicopters, etc. could be just the beginning of the end of such a sacred place left to all of us as evidence of the ancient Inca civilization.

I'm not against helicopters being provided for those that really cannot get up there on their own two feet cause they do have the right to enjoy Macchu Picchu as do people rich and poor.

But before I get off my soap box I wanna ask you, is anything sacred anymore? Does everything have to be commercialized? I don't know, but do they allow helicopters to hover over King Tut's tomb or the Sphynx and the pyramid's in Egypt? I just think there should be a limit to things before we have nothing left to go look at.

Jean Aug 8th 2006 11:36PM

Perhaps they are old (like me) or have some physical reason as to why they cannot get here any other way than by helicopter. I have always wanted to visit here - but will have to wait till I retire to do so - and I am not in good enough physical health to walk or climb my way. Are you meaning to say that only those in optimum health should be allowed to visit such beautiful places?? I really think you should try to take into consideration other reasons as to why people choose this way of arriving at this destination. Just because someone LOOKS OK - doesn't mean they are in good physical health. I know from experience.........and I am neither rich - nor fat!

JOHN KACZMAREK Aug 20th 2006 4:30PM

WE VISITED MP LAST DECEMBER AND HELITOURS WERE NOT AVAILABLE; WE WOULD STILL HAVE TAKEN THE TRAIN BUS APPROACH BUT WOULD ALSO HAVE DONE AN AIR OVERVIEW IF AVAILABLE. WE ARE NOT RICH NOR FAT, BUT HAVE HAD THE GOOD FORTUNE TO VISIT ALL 7 CONTINENTS. AFTER DOING ANY SURFACE VISITS WE TRY TO AIR TOUR ALSO TO GET AN APPRECIATION FROM ANOTHER VIEWPOINT. NORMALLY THERE ARE AIR RESTRICTIONS, ALTITUDE, NEARNESS TO A GIVEN SITE, ETC. FOR EXAMPLE, ONE CANNOT FLY OVER AYERS ROCK IN AUSTRALIA OR NOT EVEN ALL THE WAY AROUND IT. I WOULD HOPE THAT MP WOULD BE GIVEN THE SAME RESPECT; THERE CAN BE A BALANCE SO AS TO ACHIEVE MAXIMAL APPRECIATION WITHOUT INTRUSION!

Melody Smith Aug 28th 2006 11:07PM

I don't do the Machu Picchu Cuzco jaunt anymore. There are many other beautiful places that are disappearing in Peru. The helicopter noise must be horrible. If you want to go somewhere new, go to the Cordillera Blanca and see the fast disappearing glaciers and the lakes that are drying up. Thank our global warming policies for that. So many people in the mountains rely on glaciers for their water sources. What a pity.

Pam Sep 3rd 2006 7:51PM

I'm Peruvian-American and have been lucky enough to visit my forefathers' Machu on two separate occasions both by taking the bus up and doing the ever so spiritual week-long trek. I personally prefer the latter. I realize not everyone has the physical capability do this and that may be why the buses are available.
I remember years ago, there was this thought going around, to visit Machu soon because it was on its way to becoming the next Disneyland thanks to Westernization. Now that I read about the helicopter tour, I guess the day is here. To each its own about traveling… but the landing and departing of helicopters on such a sacred spot makes it quite intrusive on those who opt to follow the same holy path as the mighty Incas...therefore not respecting the theology of "to each its own."