Machu Picchu, also spelled Machupijchu, site of ancient Inca ruins located about 50 miles (80 km)
northwest of Cuzco, Peru, in the Cordillera de Vilcabamba of the Andes Mountains. It is perched above
the Urubamba River valley in a narrow saddle between two sharp peaks—Machu Picchu (“Old Peak”) and
Huayna Picchu (“New Peak”)—at an elevation of 7,710 feet (2,350 metres). One of the few major
pre-Columbian ruins found nearly intact, Machu Picchu was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in
1983.
Machu Picchu is located on the edge of the Peruvian Amazon, Machu Picchu is home to many beautifully
colored plants, which grow wild in the area. When first discovered in 1911 the site was covered in
jungle.
YOU DON'T WANT TO MISS THIS AN UNFORGETTABLE EXPERIENCE
The beauty of Machu Picchu is located above the clouds is the main attraction. Although only a relic of
the old buildings of the Incas, but when you get to the top of the mountain surrounded by high cliffs
and dense forest, you will feel something extraordinary.
Machu Picchu, currently one of the 7 wonders of the world, is an impressive Inca fortress with temples,
platforms and water channels, located at the top of a mountain of the Valley of Urubamba River.
It looks beautiful not only at day but at night also.Machu Picchu was lit at night for the first time
ever late on Thursday to mark the 100th anniversary of the scientific discovery of the archaeological
site.
LET US TAKE YOU ON A VIRTUAL TOUR OF THE MACHU PICCHU
Tucked away in the rocky countryside northwest of Cuzco, Peru, Machu Picchu is believed to have
been a royal estate or sacred religious site for Inca leaders, whose civilization was virtually
wiped out by Spanish invaders in the 16th century.Machu Picchu took some 30 years to construct.
More than 7,000 feet above sea level in the Andes Mountains, Machu Picchu is the most visited
tourist destination in Peru.
Picchu was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983 and was named one of the New Seven
Wonders of the World in 2007.
Machu Picchu sits in an impressive geographical area full of mountains. One of its
characteristics is its beautiful and solid architecture that has kept it in good condition after
more than 600 years. Its walls have an anti-seismic inclination that better resist telluric
movements.
Machu Picchu was built to serve as a royal retreat, although its purpose is ultimately unknown.
The reason for the site's abandonment is also unknown, but lack of water may have been a factor.
INTERESTING FACTS TO KNOW
★ To enter Machu Picchu, you must hold an entry ticket, an official ID*, and be accompanied by a
Tour Guide. Machu Picchu staff may request your ticket and/or ID at any time during your stay here.
General entry ticket permits a maximum stay of 4 hours inside Machu Picchu. Entry + Huayna Picchu ticket
permit a maximum stay of 6 hours to do the hike and take a tour.
★ Machu Picchu was used as an astronomical observatory.
★ Since the early excavations, there have been some restorations and very limited
reconstructions, but it remains one of the best preserved archaeological sites of its time at about 75%
original.
★ There is a no-fly zone above Machu Picchu.
★ Twice a year at the equinoxes, the sun sits directly above the sacred Intihuantana stone at
Machu Picchu, so there is no shadow. This is also the stone that was used by the Incas as an
astronomical clock and calendar.
★ Each stone was precisely cut to fit together so tightly that no mortar was needed to keep
the walls standing.
ADDRESS:
Countryside Northwest of Cuzco, Peru,08680
TIMINGS:
Machu Picchu National Park is open from 6 am to 5:30 pm 365 days a year. Early mornings can be
misty and foggy which may burn off by 10-11 am.You can only visit the Machu Picchu Pueblo
gardens and take the tours if you are staying in the hotel itself.
A list of hotels near the MACHU PICCHU is given below
HOTEL
LOCATION
VISITING LINK
Tierra Viva Hotel
Avenida Hermanos Ayar 401, 84 Machu Picchu, Peru
Hotel Retama Machu Picchu
Avenida Hermanos Ayar 1303, Aguas Calientes, Machu Picchu 08681 Peru
Hotel Machupicchu Inn
Urb las orquídeas Av los artesanos 203, 084 Machu Picchu, Peru
Vilas Insight Hotel Machupicchu
Calle Wiracocha N° 100 Av. Pachacutec, Machu Picchu, Peru
Sanctuary Lodge, A Belmond Hotel
Carretera Hiram Bingham Km 7.5, Cusc 01 Machu Picchu, Peru
