Machu Picchu

Often referred to as the “Lost City of the Incas”, Machu Picchu is located in the Cusco region of Peru. One of the most impressive ancient sites in the world, Machu Picchu is an icon of the Inca civilization and, on a Peru vacation, remains the country's most popular tourist destination.

Machu Picchu was built around 1450 AD, at the height of the Incan Empire. It is believed that the area was constructed as an estate for Pachacuti, an emperor who ruled from 1438-1472. The site was abandoned just over 100 years later at the time of the Spanish conquest in 1572. 

Despite settling in nearby Cusco, the Spanish never discovered Machu Picchu and the site eventually became overrun by the surrounding jungle. American historian Hiram Bingham discovered the site in 1911 and made it known to the outside world.

In 1981, Peru declared the area a Historical Sanctuary and in 1983, UNESCO named it a World Heritage Site because it served “as a unique testimony to the Inca civilization”. In order to conserve the area, entrance restrictions were put in place in 2011, but this has done nothing to diminish Machu Picchu’s immense popularity. People come from around the world to hike the famous Inca Trail on Peru tours and to come face to face with the past in this magical and iconic site.

Machu Picchu is one of the world's most famous landmarks. Book one of our Machu Picchu tours today and be awed by this spectacular site. You won't be disappointed.