Machu Picchu

“The Lost City of the Incas”, Machu Picchu, is the most familiar symbol of the Inca Empire. In 1983 it was declared a UNESCO Heritage Site and is also considered one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.

Location and how to get to Machu Picchu

The pre-Columbian Inca site of Machu Picchu (literally meaning “Old Mountain”) is located at 2,400 m 7,875ft above the sea level, overlooking the Urubamba Valley in Peru. It stands at 80km/50miles northwest of Cusco .

It can be easily reached via Inca Trail.

If you don’t fancy trekking, you can take a train ride from Cusco and in about 4 hours you arrive at the site.

Opening hours and ticket prices

The citadel is open daily from 6 AM to 5 PM. Wayna Picchu closes at 3 PM and you need a special permit to climb it.

The ticket costs US$20 for the first visit and if you want to return to the site you’ll pay US$10 for each of the additional visits. If you arrive via the Inca Trail you don’t have to pay the entrance fee because it is charged within the fee to use the trail.

History

The citadel was built around 1450 but it was abandoned at the time of the Spanish conquest of the Inca Empire (early 16th century). It remained forgotten until in 1911, Hiram Bingham, an American historian rediscovered the site and brought it to the world’s attention. Ever since, the citadel has been a magnet for tourists all over the world.

Although the citadel was located really close to the Inca capital of Cusco, the Spanish never found it and hence didn’t plunder it.

Architecture

The Inca classical style used polished dry-stone walls of regular shape. The Incas mastered this technique although they never used the wheel in a practical manner.

The historical site comprises 140 constructions which include temples, parks, sanctuaries, residences and water fountains. There are more than one hundred flights of steps.

The most important buildings are: the Intihuatana, the Temple of the Sun and the Room of the Three Windows.

The site also contains Intihuatana Stone, one of the many ritual stones in South America. It’s said that if you’re a sensitive person and you rub your forehead against the stone you will see the spirit world. It is believed to have been built as an astronomic clock. Both at midday on March 21st and September 21st the sun stands right above the pillar creating no shadow at all.

Wayna Picchu stands across from Machu Picchu and above the citadel. It’s filled with archeological sites and it’s believed to have been built for ritual purposes. The site closes at 3 PM and you need a special permit to climb on top of this pyramidal mountain.

Best time to visit and other info

The best time to visit Machu Picchu is between May and June, when the weather is mild. Be prepared for rain and don’t forget the sunscreen. Bring bottled water and a mosquito repellant. Be prepared for cold weather and always bring comfortable boots.

Accommodation exists but the hotels charge rather high prices and you need to book well in advance. The hotels are also the only places where you can eat and drink.