Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu is the most visited tourist attraction in Peru. It is 70 kms northwest of Cusco.
Machu Picchu was constructed around 1450, at the height of the Inca empire, and was abandoned less than 100 years later, as the empire collapsed under Spanish conquest.
The presence of numerous temples and ritual structures indicate that Machu Picchu held spiritual significance for the Inca.
Over the centuries, the surrounding jungle grew to enshroud the site, and few knew of its existence.
It wasn’t until 1911 that american historian and explorer Hiram Bingham brought the “lost” city to the world’s attention.


The space is composed of 140 constructions including temples, sanctuaries, parks and residences, houses with thatched roofs.


Machu Picchu is a UNESCO World Heritage site. It is Peru’s most visited tourist attraction (400,000 in 2003) and major revenue generator. A no-fly zone exists in the area.


Thousands of tourists hike the Inca Trail – each year,a two to four day journey on foot from the Urubamba valley up through the Andes mountain range.


They require travelers to be reasonably fit. The trip involves sleeping in tents.
How they moved and placed enormous blocks of stones is a mystery, although the general belief is that they used hundreds of men to push the stones up inclined planes.

Llamas keep the grass tidy and are capable of reaching many spots inaccessible by lawnmowers or sheep.