At 2,430 m in Peru’s Andes, Machu Picchu integrates terraces, temples, and waterworks into a mountain saddle above the Urubamba. Likely an estate of Pachacuti, it survived conquest through isolation. UNESCO listing, strict ticketing, and conservation of trails, terraces, and lichen‑laden stone aim to protect a site of remarkable engineering and landscape design.
Upper ceremonial precincts (Temple of the Sun, Intihuatana) contrast with lower agricultural terraces and workshops. Dry‑stone ashlar masonry locks blocks with seismic tolerance; drainage underlies plazas and steps.
Publicized in 1911 by Hiram Bingham (with local guidance), the site has since seen extensive archaeology, clarifying chronology and functions beyond romantic “lost city” labels.
Daily quotas, timed circuits, and mandatory guides on certain routes control wear. Conservation tackles stone detachment, biological growth, and slope stability amid intense visitation and heavy rainfall.
Arrive early from Aguas Calientes; consider the adjacent hikes (Huayna Picchu or Montaña) for broader vistas. Respect altitude, weather shifts, and fragile stonework.
