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How to Plan a Trip to Machu Picchu Before It’s Too Late

By U.S. News & World Report

Machu Picchu is the granddaddy of archeological sites. Set in the Andes Mountains, the site was once an estate for the Inca emperor, as well as a place of worship and education. When the Spanish conquered Peru, Machu Picchu was abandoned, and the colonists never learned of its existence. The site remained hidden in the Andes, shrouded by green mountains and clouds of mist, completely unknown to the outside world.

It wasn’t until Hiram Bingham III, a Yale historian and explorer (and the inspiration for the famous character Indiana Jones) uncovered the ancient site in 1911 that the world took notice.

And what notice it was. Machu Picchu’s visitor numbers grew quickly, as did its aura. It soon became Peru’s largest driver of tourism. Movies were made, books were written. Artifacts were taken, then returned. Machu Picchu was even recognized as one of the new seven wonders of the world, an honor that all but solidifies its place on the bucket lists of intrepid travelers around the world.

But all this popularity has taken a toll.

With 2,500 visitors per day wandering around the sacred stones, the temples are starting to topple. Structures that held for more than 500 years through earthquakes and landslides are coming apart. The site is under UNESCO protection, and in 2011 the Peruvian government limited the number of visitors allowed each day. Some have called for stricter rules, such as making areas off limits or requiring all visitors to stay with a guide. The future is unknown but one thing seems inevitable; it may not always be possible to visit the ancient city the way you can today. Here’s what you need to know to before visiting Machu Picchu.

Plan Ahead

The best time to visit Machu Picchu is between May and September, when the weather is dry. This is also the most popular time at the site, and tickets and trains can sell out far in advance. October through April are considered”off peak, as it’s rainy season, but crowds can be thinner.

As soon as you know when you want to go, book your tickets. You can buy tickets online through the official Machu Picchu portal. The online system can be tricky to navigate, however. Pay a little more and you can have an agency take care of tickets for you. Or you can pick up tickets in person in Cusco, but keep in mind that tickets sell out weeks in advance during peak season. Also, keep in mind, if you’re planning to hike the Inca Trail, your tour operator will take care of your tickets for you.

It’s possible to see the whole site in one (long) day; take the train in the morning, spend your day at the site and return that evening. If you want to climb one of the nearby mountains or be one of the first at the site in the morning, spend a night in Aguas Calientes, the town at the base of the mountain. The town itself has plenty of tourist kitsch, with pizza parlors, souvenir shops and bars hawking three-for-one pisco sours. It’s also a good place to recoup or get a massage after an Inca Trail hike, but otherwise, there’s little reason to linger.

Getting to Machu Picchu

Most visitors to Machu Picchu arrive by train, either from Cusco (via the nearby Poroy station) or the Sacred Valley. The train from Cusco takes nearly four hours; from Ollantaytambo, the train takes approximately two hours. You can buy tickets ahead of time online, which is highly recommended as trains tend to fill up in the busy season. Trains arrive in Aguas Calientes; from there, you’ll hop on a 20-minute bus ride that snakes up to the entrance.

But if Machu Picchu is the Holy Grail, hiking the Inca Trail is the true pilgrimage to get there. The ancient path is a challenging four-day trek. All trekkers must go with an organized group or guide; Llama Path and Alpaca Expeditions are popular, reputable options. While the trail sees about 400 hikers a day, this is not a stroll in the woods. Be prepared for the hot sun, cold nights, and lots of stair climbing at high elevations (the highest point ascends more than 13,700 feet). Also keep in mind that if you want to do the trek, you’ll need to book your spot five to six months in advance, sometimes earlier during the peak season, and note: the Inca Trail is closed in February.

Exploring Machu Picchu

Once you’ve arrived, you can hire a guide or explore on your own. You can easily spend a full day discovering the urban core, temples and agricultural zones. High above the site is Intipunku (or the Sun Gate), where hikers on the Inca Trail arrive. All others arrive via the main entrance and make their way across cultivation terraces to the urban area. At the far end of the site is the trail to Huayna Picchu, which offers striking views of Machu Picchu.

Climbing Huayna Picchu

For a different perspective over the site — and a test of your comfort with heights — climb Huayna Picchu, that iconic pyramid-shaped mountain often captured in Machu Picchu photos.

You’ll need a separate ticket to climb the peak, and entry is limited to two time slots each morning. It takes about 45 minutes to reach the top, a craggy pile of rocks overlooking the Andes, Machu Picchu and the Urubamba River. The shortest way down is also the most treacherous; you’ll traverse the panic attack-inducing Death Stairs, which lead straight down into what looks like oblivion. A less harrowing (but more physically demanding) route leads around the mountain past the Temple of the Moon, which takes about two to three hours. Either way, get ready to feel your legs burn.

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How to Plan a Trip to Machu Picchu Before It’s Too Late originally appeared on usnews.com

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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