South America
Peru
Aguas Caliente
Ancient Ruins
Machu Picchu
Name:Machu Picchu
Construction began:ca. 1450
Commissioned by:Pachacútec Yupanqui (9th Inca ruler)
Number of buildings:216
Number of inhabitants:ca. 700 (at its peak)
Altitude:2,430 meters above sea level
Number of visitors:ca. 1.5 million / year
UNESCO World Heritage Site:since 1983
Machu Picchu, the famous Inca ruin city in Peru, sits dramatically on a mountain ridge.

25 fascinating facts about Machu Picchu

 

  1. Location: Machu Picchu is located in southern Peru, high in the Andes Mountains at about 2,430 meters above sea level. It sits on a narrow ridge surrounded by dense cloud forest. The subtropical mountain region has a mild climate, and the surrounding forest is home to more than 330 tree species. The nearest major city is Cusco, located about 75 kilometers away.
  2. Accessibility: Visits to Machu Picchu are carefully regulated to protect both the ruins and the natural environment. Tickets must be purchased in advance, and visitors follow fixed routes with a limited visiting time. Most travelers reach the site from Cusco by train to Aguas Calientes, then continue by bus or on foot to the entrance.
  3. World Wonder: In 2007, Machu Picchu was chosen as one of the “New Seven Wonders of the World” in a global poll organized by the New7Wonders Foundation. Millions of people from more than 200 countries took part, and out of over 100 candidates, seven landmarks were ultimately selected.
  4. Significance: Machu Picchu is the most famous landmark in Peru and attracts around 1.5 million visitors each year. The site is not only a major driver of tourism but also a symbol of Inca culture and a masterpiece of ancient architecture. Its perfect harmony between human craftsmanship and nature makes Machu Picchu one of the most fascinating places on Earth.
  5. Construction history: Machu Picchu was built around 1450 on the orders of Pachacútec Yupanqui, one of the most powerful rulers of the Inca Empire. During his reign, the empire grew from a regional power into a vast dominion that covered much of the Andes. The site was created during this period of expansion as a demonstration of Inca strength and royal prestige.
  6. Purpose of construction: Machu Picchu served as a temporary residence for the Sapa Inca, the supreme ruler of the Inca Empire, who was worshipped as the divine son of the sun god Inti. The site was used for festivals, rituals, diplomatic gatherings, and astronomical observations. The royal family also came here to rest and enjoy the mild climate and the spectacular mountain scenery.
  7. Construction technique: The walls of Machu Picchu were built from massive granite blocks that were quarried on site and fitted together with astonishing precision, without the use of mortar. This method, known as ashlar masonry, was so exact that even today a sheet of paper can hardly fit between the stones. The slightly inclined walls made the structures flexible and extremely resistant to the frequent earthquakes in the Andes. Because the Inca had no wheels or draft animals, the enormous stones were probably moved using human strength, levers, ropes, and earthen ramps.
  8. Decline: After the Spanish conquest in 1532, the Inca continued to resist for several decades in a remote part of the Urubamba Valley. This so-called Neo-Inca State became their final refuge and seat of power. When it was eventually conquered by the Spanish in 1572, Machu Picchu lost its function as a royal residence. Since the site depended on supplies from the surrounding region and could not sustain itself, it was gradually abandoned. Unlike many other Inca sites, Machu Picchu remained hidden from the Spanish. Protected by its remote location, it escaped destruction and survived almost completely intact.
  9. Rediscovery: In 1911, Hiram Bingham set out from Cusco after local villagers told him about Machu Picchu. Guided by the farmer Melchor Arteaga, he reached the ruins, which were overgrown with vegetation, and met families who were already cultivating the terraces. For the local people, the site had never been lost, but Bingham understood its exceptional significance. His photographs and publications made Machu Picchu famous around the world, even though he mistakenly portrayed it as a forgotten city.
  10. Hiram Bingham: Hiram Bingham was born in 1875 in Honolulu to a family of missionaries. After studying at Yale, he became a historian specializing in South America. He faced criticism for removing artifacts to the United States and for describing Machu Picchu as a “lost city.” Despite this, he is still remembered as the person who brought the site to international attention. Shortly before his death, he was invited to visit Machu Picchu once again, an event often regarded as a moment of reconciliation.
  11. New findings: In 2008, historian Paolo Greer found documents in the National Archives of Peru that reshaped the history of Machu Picchu. They revealed that a German explorer named Augusto Berns had reached the site in the 1860s and even created detailed maps of it. Additional maps from the 1870s confirmed his work, showing that Berns had indeed discovered the site decades before Hiram Bingham. While Bingham made Machu Picchu famous around the world, Berns was the first to document it.
  12. Augusto Berns: Augusto Berns was born in 1840 in Uerdingen near Krefeld, Germany, and lived a remarkably adventurous life in Peru. He worked on the construction of the railways, served in the army, and pursued archaeology with great passion. Near the Urubamba River, he built a mill whose remains are still visible today and discovered the route leading to Machu Picchu, which he recorded on his maps. To raise money, he founded the company Huacas del Inca, promising investors that he would recover hidden Inca treasures. Instead, he kept the funds and vanished without a trace. Hiram Bingham’s diary mentions a German man in tattered clothes, and several clues suggest that the two men may indeed have met.
  13. The myth of the women’s monastery: For many years, scholars believed that Machu Picchu was a “Temple of the Virgins,” since many of the skeletons found appeared to belong to small and delicate individuals. Excavations uncovered more than 100 skeletons buried in different parts of the site. Remarkably, they showed signs of good overall health. The only common problem was tooth decay, most likely caused by the frequent consumption of starchy maize.
  14. Current state: Machu Picchu consists of around 200 buildings, including about 100 houses as well as temples, workshops, and storage facilities. Thanks to the precision of Inca stone masonry, the walls have survived in excellent condition, even though the original wooden and thatched roofs have long disappeared and were only reconstructed in a few areas. Overall, the architecture remains impressively stable and remarkably well preserved.
  15. Urban layout: Machu Picchu was divided into two main sectors: the agricultural area with its terraces and the urban area with temples, palaces, and residential buildings. The most significant structures include the Temple of the Sun, the Royal Mausoleum, and the Temple of the Three Windows. At the center stands the Intihuatana stone, a sacred rock that likely served as a solar calendar. This clear layout reflects the close relationship between religion, daily life, and nature in Inca society.
  16. Terraces: The Inca built more than 700 terraces that stabilized the steep slopes of the mountain and at the same time served as farmland. They grew maize, potatoes, and quinoa, which were their most important food sources. Each terrace was carefully layered with stones, gravel, and soil to ensure proper drainage. An ingenious network of channels and outlets diverted the heavy rain and prevented flooding. Thanks to this advanced engineering, Machu Picchu has remained remarkably stable over the centuries.
  17. Water supply: A sophisticated hydraulic system directed spring water into the city through a canal roughly 750 meters long. Along the way, 16 stone fountains were built in a cascading sequence. The first fountain was reserved for the Inca ruler, while the others provided water for priests and residents.
  18. Temple of the Sun: The Temple of the Sun in Machu Picchu is a semicircular structure made of finely carved granite blocks, dedicated to the sun god Inti. During the summer solstice, sunlight passed through a precisely aligned window and illuminated an altar stone inside the temple. Beneath the building lies a small cave that most likely served as a royal mausoleum.
  19. Temple of the Three Windows: The Temple of the Three Windows is one of the most impressive structures in the Sacred District of Machu Picchu. Its three trapezoidal windows are believed to represent the three realms of the Inca universe: the heavens, the earth, and the underworld. The temple was the site of important ceremonies, probably held in honor of the sun god Inti.
  20. Royal Palace: The Royal Palace was the residence of the Inca ruler and the political heart of Machu Picchu. It consisted of several rooms arranged around a central courtyard and was separated from the rest of the city by walls. The exceptionally fine stonework and the exclusive access to the first fountain of the water system highlighted the ruler’s privileged position.
  21. Intihuatana stone: The Intihuatana stone, meaning “the place where the sun is tied,” was a sacred ritual object of the Inca. It probably served as a solar calendar used to track the equinoxes and solstices in order to plan important agricultural events. The monolithic granite stone is precisely shaped and remains one of the few Inca ritual monuments that survived completely intact.
  22. Temple of the Condor: The Temple of the Condor is an extraordinary structure in which natural rock formations form what looks like the spread wings of a condor, while a carved head and neck complete the image. In Inca mythology, the condor was a sacred bird believed to carry messages between the underworld, the earth, and the heavens. Beneath the temple are small chambers that may have been used as tombs, although their exact purpose is still unknown.
  23. The llamas of Machu Picchu: Llamas wander freely around Machu Picchu and are considered the only permanent residents of the site. They keep the grass short, are accustomed to people, and often pose for perfect photos. For the Inca, llamas were vital animals that provided transport, wool, and meat, and they also played an important role in religious rituals.
  24. Origin of the name: The name Machu Picchu comes from the Quechua language, which is still spoken in the Andes today. The word machu means “old” or “wise,” and picchu means “peak” or “mountain.” The literal translation, “Old Mountain,” refers to the prominent ridge on which the city was built.
  25. UNESCO World Heritage Site: Machu Picchu was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1983. The organization recognized it as a unique masterpiece of Inca civilization and as an outstanding example of architecture, engineering, and harmony between human creativity and nature.
  • Vue aérienne de Machu Picchu au Pérou, avec les ruines incas sur la crête montagneuse.
  • Machu Picchu, the famous Inca ruin city in Peru, sits dramatically on a mountain ridge.
  • View of the Inca citadel Machu Picchu in the Peruvian Andes.
  • The Inca citadel of Machu Picchu in Peru sits dramatically on a narrow Andean ridge high above the valley.
  • Machu Picchu is a remarkably well preserved Inca ruin city in the Peruvian Andes.
  • The Inca citadel of Machu Picchu sits high on an Andean ridge in Peru.