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MACHU PICCHU | When I travel, I always try and explore off-the-beaten-path spots but I don’t exclusively do so. To shun anywhere that’s considered “touristy” is to miss out on seeing some of the most amazing places and things that this planet has to offer. Case in point, the UNESCO World Heritage listed Machu Picchu.
The ancient Inca citadel a bucket list item for so many travellers, one of the new seven wonders of the world, and you know what? It still exceeds expectations. As you approach the site through mist and lush vegetation, the sense of anticipation grows. And then, you walk through the gates and see the sprawling ruins in all of their glory, feeling as if you’re literally on top of the world. For the best experience, get there first thing in the morning when the entrance opens for the morning session in order to get a bit of time before the crowds come rushing in soon after.
Machu Picchu has always been known locally, but was kept hidden from the conquering Spanish. It only became known to the outside world when American historian Hiram Bingham “discovered” it in 1911.
The citadel was built in around 1450 in the classical Inca style as an estate for the Inca emperor Pachacuti. The site is roughly divided into an urban sector and an agricultural sector, and into an upper town and a lower town. There are three primary structures – the Intihuatana, the Temple of the Sun, and the Room of the Three Windows, as well as royal residences, common folk residences, warehouses and fortifications. Machu Picchu was largely in ruins by 1911, and is being painstakingly restored – a process which continues to this day.
Huayna Picchu, which rises above Machu Picchu, is also part of the site, and well worth visiting if you make the journey to this amazing destination. For information about visiting, check out my essential tips for those visiting the site. Also check out my article on catching the train From Olantaytambo/Cusco To Machu Picchu.
Machu Picchu
Machu Picchu
Urubamba 08680
Peru
Telephone: +51 84 582030
E-mail: n/a
Website
Open
Mon – Sun: 6:00am to 5:30pm