Machu Picchu

Cusco & Macchu Picchu

Combine the two most exciting tourist destinations in Peru: Explore Macchu Picchu and Cusco - once the hub of the greatest empire ever seen in the Americas- with its fascinating archaeological sites, colorful Indian markets and the timeless and enigmatic Macchu Picchu.

History

Macchu Picchu (Quechua: Old Peak; sometimes called the "Lost City of the Incas" is a well-preserved pre-Columbian Inca ruin located on a high mountain ridge.) north west of Cusco. Forgotten for centuries by the outside world, although not by locals, it was brought back to international attention by American archaeologist Hiram Bingham who rediscovered it in 1911.

It is thought that the site was chosen for its unique location and geological features. It is said that the silhouette of the mountain range behind Macchu Picchu represents the face of the Inca looking upward towards the sky, with the largest peak, Huayna Picchu (meaning Young Peak), representing his nose. The peak is also known as the "hitching post of the sun."

Pablo Neruda's best-known work is "The Heights of Macchu Picchu", inspired by the city:

Macchu Picchu is a trip to the serenity of the soul, to the eternal fusion with the cosmos; there we feel our own fragility. It is one of the greatest marvels of South America.

Location

Macchu Picchu is located 70 kilometers to the northwest of Cusco, on the crest of the mountain Macchu Picchu, located about 2,350 meters above sea level. It is one of the most important archaeological centers in South America and as a consequence the most visited tourist attraction in Peru.

The Macchu Picchu sanctuary

In 1981 an area of 325.92 square kilometers surrounding Macchu Picchu was declared a "Historical Sanctuary" of Peru. This area, which is not only limited to the ruins themselves, also includes the regional landscape with its flora and fauna, highlighting the abundance of orchids.