Articles of category "Machu Picchu"

Hidden high in the clouds, Machu Picchu is a pre-Columbian Inca ruin that was forgotten for many centuries by the outside world, until it was brought back to the international attention in 1911. Regarded as the most recognizable symbol of the Inca Empire, the city was established by the Sapa Inca Pachacuti around 1440 and inhabited until 1532, when the Spaniards conquered Peru. Archeological evidence shows that the place is far from being a conventional city, serving as a country retreat town for Inca. When you enjoy any of the Machu Picchu tours; you can reach your own conclusions.

Nestled on a high mountain ridge at the elevation of more than 7,700 square feet, Machu Picchu is a wonderfully-preserved pre-Columbian Inca ruin situated above Peru's Urubamba Valley, some 44 miles northwest of Cusco. Overlooked for centuries by the outside world, it was rediscovered in 1911 by Yale archeologists Hiram Bingham, who brought it back to the international attention. Since 1983 the Machu Picchu attractions have been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.