Machu Picchu
Travel brochure by Zara Webb
Location
Machu Picchu is Located 112 km north east of the city of Cusco at 2350 metes within the Machu Picchu Archaeological Park South America.
Why should you visit Machu Picchu?
The site’s excellent preservation, the quality of its architecture, and the breathtaking mountain vista it occupies has made Machu Picchu one of the most famous archaeological sites in the world today. The site covers 80,000 acres (32,500 hectares). Terraced fields on the edge of the site were once used for growing crops, likely maize and potatoes.
History
Tucked away in the rocky countryside northwest of Cuzco, Peru, Machu Picchu is believed to have been a royal estate or sacred religious site for Inca leaders, whose civilization was virtually wiped out by Spanish invaders in the 16th century. For hundreds of years, until the American archaeologist Hiram Bingham stumbled upon it in 1911, the abandoned citadel’s existence was a secret known only to peasants living in the region. The site stretches over an impressive 5-mile distance, featuring more than 3,000 stone steps that link its many different levels.
Extra Intresting facts
*Since re-discovery over 30% of Machu Picchu has been reconstructed to give a better idea of how the original structures looked, restoration continues today.
*As Peru's most visited tourist attraction Machu Picchu is continually threatened by commercial forces. In the 1990s, the construction of a cable car, luxury hotel, and restaurants was allowed nearby. The Peruvian government has since set limits of a max of 2,500 visitors per day and only 400 visitors per day into the site.
*The Incas built a road to the Machu Picchu region and today thousands of tourists trek the 2-5 day high-altitude Inca Trail to visit Machu Picchu.
* There are lots of Llamas!
*As Peru's most visited tourist attraction Machu Picchu is continually threatened by commercial forces. In the 1990s, the construction of a cable car, luxury hotel, and restaurants was allowed nearby. The Peruvian government has since set limits of a max of 2,500 visitors per day and only 400 visitors per day into the site.
*The Incas built a road to the Machu Picchu region and today thousands of tourists trek the 2-5 day high-altitude Inca Trail to visit Machu Picchu.
* There are lots of Llamas!