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Facts about Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu

Nearby, the Main Temple of Machu Picchu stands with its fine polygonal stonework.

Machu Picchu

The inhabitants left the city around the time of the Spanish invasion of Peru, but there are differing opinions as to whether or not the Spanish ever set foot in Machu Picchu.

Machu Picchu

Some visit to see the impressive and beautiful ruins, and others are attracted by Machu Picchu's purported connection to sources of spiritual energy.

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Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu (Quechua language: Old Mountain; sometimes called the "Lost City of the Incas") is one of the most well known sites of the Inca Empire.

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Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu is divided into two main zones: the agricultural sector and the urban sector.

Machu Picchu

Modern engineers have examined Machu Picchu's drainage system, and have found that the city was expertly designed to handle waste water as well as rainfall runoff.

Machu Picchu

Regardless of its actual purpose, Machu Picchu remains an incredible combination of natural beauty and human creativity.

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Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu has become one of Peru's most famous attractions, attracting hundreds of thousands of tourists every year.

Machu Picchu

Others argued that the lack of valuable gold artifacts, the inoccupation of all the elegant tombs, and evidence of severe fires indicate that the Spanish did, in fact, discover Machu Picchu.

Machu Picchu

Archaeological evidence put forth by Burger and Salazar, and research on early colonial documents, indicate that Machu Picchu was more likely a country retreat town for Inca nobility.

Machu Picchu

The forests surrounding Machu Picchu have been declared a "sanctuary," and are protected along with the city itself.

Machu Picchu

The fact that the Intihuatana stone is intact led some to believe that the Spanish were never at Machu Picchu, as they destroyed most similar stones in other Inca cities.

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The citadel is important, because it has a great archaeological value and a variety of ecosystems. Machu Picchu symbolizes the excellent technical skill, and productivity of the Inca Empire in its apogee.

Machu Picchu was an Incan retreat for its emperor. Machu Picchu is a 15th-century Inca site located on a ridge between the Huayna Picchu and Machu Picchu mountains in Peru. It sits 7,970 feet (2,430 meters) above sea level on the eastern slope of the Andes and overlooks the Urubamba River hundreds of feet below.Aug 31, 2012

In a This Day in History video, learn that on July 24, 1911 an American explorer, Hiram Bingham, time-traveled to the lost culture of the fabled Inca empire, which disappeared with the Spanish conquests. Bingham was exploring Peru when a local farmer told him about ruins which he called Machu Picchu, or Old Mountain.

When the explorer Hiram Bingham III encountered Machu Picchu in 1911, he was looking for a different city, known as Vilcabamba. This was a hidden capital to which the Inca had escaped after the Spanish conquistadors arrived in 1532. Over time it became famous as the legendary Lost City of the Inca.Jun 15, 2011

Most archaeologists believe that Machu Picchu was constructed as an estate for the Inca emperor Pachacuti (1438–1472). Often mistakenly referred to as the "Lost City of the Incas" (a title more accurately applied to Vilcabamba), it is the most familiar icon of Inca civilization.

But despite its distinction as one of the most iconic and important archeological sites in the world, the origins of Machu Picchu remain a mystery. The Inca left no record of why they built the site or how they used it before it was abandoned in the early 16th century.Oct 1, 2015

Generally, all historians agree when said that Machu Picchu was used as housing for the Inca aristocracy after the Spanish conquest of in 1532. It was an important agricultural center, away from the main roads. Still, Machu Picchu remains the great unknown, reason why was not destroyed by the ancient conquerors.

How Much Does a Trip to Machu Picchu Cost?Trip ItemCostEntrance ticket to Machu Picchu$44Roundtrip bus ticket from Aguas Calientes up to Machu Picchu site$19Two-day private tour guide$140Private taxi from Ollantaytambo to Cusco$23.214 more rows

Poroy is about 25 minutes by road from historical Cusco, and can be reached by local taxi or colectivo. The journey time by train is 3 hours and 20 minutes, and the train stops just once at Ollantaytambo Station before terminating at Aguas Calientes Once in Aguas Calientes you can take the shuttle bus to Machu Picchu.

3. The One-Day Inca Trail. The standard Inca Trail trip takes four days, though it's probably better to do it in five. Travelers who want to see two of the greatest hits of the famous hike but who are short on time can opt for this truncated version, which begins at KM 104 of the Machu Picchu train line.Jun 15, 2011

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