Machu Picchu in Peru is selected Number One on the travelers "wish list"

The wonderful Machu Picchu - meaning " old peak" in the original language quechua was built around 1450 but abandoned about a hundred years later when the Spaniards invaded the Inca Empire. Not until Hiram Bingham found it again 1911 did the western world know the existence of this marvelous lost city on the Inkas. Located on 2450 meters high up on the mountain top this was a place were people lived and used their terraces as greenhouses to increase the strength of the plants to be able to grow on higher grounds. The nature around it is stunning and the view is breathtaking.
Today 2500 tourists a day are permitted entrance and you have to book your tickets in advance. It does get quite costly to visit Machu Picchu as you have to take the train here from Ollantaytambo. There are not other ways if you don't want to make the 4 days walk on the Inca Trail. The train tickets are different according to the kind of train that you take. To book a ticket you can do it by the help of a travel agency or do it by yourself over the Internet. http://www.machupicchu.gob.pe/
I would suggest you to do as I do every time I visit Machu Picchu. I take the early train from Ollantaytambo in the morning and reach there about 10.00 in the morning. Then I take the bus up to the top of the mountain and spend the full day there. I then also take a walk on the Inca Trail up to the Sun Gate were I get the most stunning view of the site. I then stay overnight in Aguascalientes and early morning I go back to the mountain before all the tourist are there. In the late afternoon I then go back to Ollantaytambo with the train and stay in the Sacred Valley.
It is really difficult to do the visit under 200 US dollar per person with train, entrance tickets, bus up to the site etc.
Remember not to use shorts even on hot days as there are a lot of mosquitos in the grass, use repellent and sun protection.