Machu Machu PicchuPicchu

Machu Picchu is the most visited tourist Machu Picchu is the most visited tourist attraction in Peru. It is 70 kms northwest of attraction in Peru. It is 70 kms northwest of

Cusco.Cusco.

Machu Picchu was constructed around 1450, at Machu Picchu was constructed around 1450, at the height of the Inca empire, and was the height of the Inca empire, and was

abandoned less than 100 years later, as the abandoned less than 100 years later, as the empire collapsed under Spanish conquest.empire collapsed under Spanish conquest.

The presence of numerous temples and ritual The presence of numerous temples and ritual structures indicate that Machu Picchu held structures indicate that Machu Picchu held

spiritual significance for the Inca. spiritual significance for the Inca.

Over the centuries, the surrounding jungle grew Over the centuries, the surrounding jungle grew to enshroud the site, and few knew of its to enshroud the site, and few knew of its

existence.existence.

It wasn’t until 1911 that American historian and It wasn’t until 1911 that American historian and explorer Hiram Bingham brought the “lost” city explorer Hiram Bingham brought the “lost” city

to the world’s attention.to the world’s attention.

Machu Picchu stands in the middle of a tropical Machu Picchu stands in the middle of a tropical mountain forest, in an extraordinarily beautiful mountain forest, in an extraordinarily beautiful

setting. It was an amazing urban creation of Inca setting. It was an amazing urban creation of Inca Empire at its height; its giant walls, terraces and Empire at its height; its giant walls, terraces and ramps seem as if they have been cut naturally in ramps seem as if they have been cut naturally in

the continuous rock escarpments. The natural the continuous rock escarpments. The natural setting, on the eastern slopes of the Andes, setting, on the eastern slopes of the Andes,

encompasses the upper Amazon basin with its encompasses the upper Amazon basin with its rich diversity of flora and fauna.rich diversity of flora and fauna.

The space is The space is composed of 140 composed of 140

constructions constructions including temples, including temples, sanctuaries, parks sanctuaries, parks

and residences, and residences, houses with houses with

thatched roofs.thatched roofs.

Machu Picchu Machu Picchu is a UNESCO is a UNESCO

World Heritage World Heritage site. It site. It is Peru’s most is Peru’s most visited tourist visited tourist

attraction attraction (400,000 in (400,000 in 2003) and 2003) and

major revenue major revenue generator. A generator. A no-fly zone no-fly zone

exists in the exists in the area.area.

From the top, at the From the top, at the cliff of Machu Picchu, cliff of Machu Picchu, is a vertical precipice is a vertical precipice of 600 meters ending of 600 meters ending

at the foot of the at the foot of the Urubamba RiverUrubamba River. .

Machu Picchu is located about Machu Picchu is located about 2,350 meters above sea level.2,350 meters above sea level.

All visits to Machu Picchu at some All visits to Machu Picchu at some point leave from Cusco, which can point leave from Cusco, which can be reached via a domestic flight be reached via a domestic flight from Lima, or international flight from Lima, or international flight

from La Paz, in Bolivia.from La Paz, in Bolivia.

Many tourists take morning train from Cusco (3.5 hours Many tourists take morning train from Cusco (3.5 hours journey) explore the ruins for a few hours and return to journey) explore the ruins for a few hours and return to

Cusco in the afternoon. From Puente Ruinas station Cusco in the afternoon. From Puente Ruinas station buses take tourists up the mountain to Machu Picchu.buses take tourists up the mountain to Machu Picchu.

Thousands of tourists hike the Inca Trail – each year, a two to four Thousands of tourists hike the Inca Trail – each year, a two to four day journey on footday journey on foot

from the Urubamba valley up through the Andes mountain range. from the Urubamba valley up through the Andes mountain range. They require travelers to be reasonably fit. The trip involves They require travelers to be reasonably fit. The trip involves

sleeping in tents.sleeping in tents.

Bingham and others Bingham and others hypothesized that hypothesized that the citadel was the the citadel was the

traditional birthplace traditional birthplace of the Inca people or of the Inca people or the spiritual center of the spiritual center of

the “virgins of the the “virgins of the sun,” while curators sun,” while curators of a recent exhibit of a recent exhibit

have speculated that have speculated that Machu Picchu was a Machu Picchu was a

royal retreat.royal retreat.

All of the construction in All of the construction in Machu Picchu uses the classic Machu Picchu uses the classic

Inca architectural style of Inca architectural style of polished dry-stone walls of polished dry-stone walls of

regular shape. The Incas were regular shape. The Incas were masters of this technique, masters of this technique,

called ashlar, in which blocks called ashlar, in which blocks of stone are cut to fit of stone are cut to fit

together tightly without together tightly without mortar. mortar.

How they moved and placed How they moved and placed enormous blocks of stones is a enormous blocks of stones is a mystery, although the general mystery, although the general

belief is that they used belief is that they used hundreds of men to push the hundreds of men to push the

stones up inclined planes.stones up inclined planes.

There are more than one hundred flights of There are more than one hundred flights of stone steps – often completely carved in a stone steps – often completely carved in a

single block of granite.single block of granite.

It is unknown if the It is unknown if the Incas left behind any Incas left behind any documentation about documentation about

building process building process because the writing because the writing

they employed, called they employed, called khipus, has not been khipus, has not been

translated.translated.

Llamas Llamas roam freely roam freely

over the over the entire site.entire site.

Llamas keep the Llamas keep the grass tidy and are grass tidy and are

capable of reaching capable of reaching many spots many spots

inaccessible by inaccessible by lawnmowers or lawnmowers or

sheep.sheep.

In 1913, the site In 1913, the site received significant received significant

publicity after the publicity after the National Geographic National Geographic Society devoted their Society devoted their entire April issue to entire April issue to

Machu Picchu. Machu Picchu.

The only hotel is the Machu Picchu The only hotel is the Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge.Sanctuary Lodge.

You pay US$715 (double), a hefty You pay US$715 (double), a hefty premiumpremium

because of the location, location, and because of the location, location, and location. location.

Guests of this hotel can enjoyGuests of this hotel can enjoythe magnificent isolation of the the magnificent isolation of the

sanctuary.sanctuary.