Machu Picchu
The Lost City of the Incas
What is Machu Picchu?
Machu Picchu is an ancient city from the 15th century that was built on the Andes Mountains in Peru by the Inca.The name Machu Picchu itself means 'Aged Mountain' or 'Old Peak'!The whole city is at least 2,340 meters above sea level, and was built without the use of the wheel.
The Inca
The Inca were a people who lived mostly in the Andes mountains.They believed in many gods and human sacrifice, and had an emperor as ruler.
Buildings
Almost all the buildings in Machu Picchu are made of stone, and the stone is so greatly placed that even without anything to seal the stone together they have lasted centuries.
Location
The Inca empire at its greatest stretched from the top of Peru to the middle of Chile, although Machu Pichu is near Cuzco in Peru.
Location and how to get there
Machu Picchu is northeast of Cusco, but is a little tricky to get to. First you must take a plane to Lima, Peru's capital. From there you take another flight to Cusco, and then you get to choose how to go to Machu Picchu itself. The two most popular ways is getting on one of the 20 buses going between Machu Picchu and Aguas calientes (a town near Cusco), or hiking 45 km. You can only hike if you have an official guide and a permit.