Perched high in the Andes Mountains of Peru, Machu Picchu remains one of the best-preserved and most enigmatic sites of the Inca Empire.
Built by the Inca
Machu Picchu was built in the mid-15th century, during the reign of the Inca emperor Pachacuti, who is widely credited with transforming the Inca state into a major empire through both conquest and construction projects across the Andes. Most historians believe Machu Picchu served as a royal estate or religious retreat for Pachacuti and Inca nobility, rather than a conventional city.
Remarkable Engineering
The site sits on a mountain ridge roughly 2,430 meters (7,970 feet) above sea level, between two peaks, Machu Picchu and Huayna Picchu. Its buildings, agricultural terraces, and temples were constructed using a dry-stone technique, where precisely cut stones are fitted together without mortar, an approach that has helped the structures withstand centuries of earthquakes in the seismically active region.
Abandonment
Machu Picchu was abandoned roughly a century after its construction, likely around the time of the Spanish conquest of the Inca Empire in the 1530s. Unlike many other Inca sites, it was never discovered or destroyed by the Spanish, largely due to its remote, hidden location high in the mountains.
Rediscovery in 1911
While local farmers in the region were aware of the ruins, Machu Picchu was brought to international attention in 1911 by American historian Hiram Bingham, who was led to the site by a local guide while searching for the lost Inca city of Vilcabamba. Bingham’s expedition, and the subsequent publicity through National Geographic, launched Machu Picchu into global fame.
Preservation and Recognition
Machu Picchu was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983 and voted one of the New7Wonders of the World in 2007. Today, access is carefully regulated through timed entry tickets to help preserve the site amid heavy tourist demand.
Machu Picchu Today
Most visitors reach the site via train to the town of Aguas Calientes, followed by a bus ride up the mountain, or by hiking the multi-day Inca Trail. Either way, arriving at the ridge to see the terraced ruins framed by mountain peaks remains one of the most striking sights in South America.
Visiting Machu Picchu? Stay Connected in Peru
Between train transfers, mountain treks, and remote lodging, staying connected in the Andes can be tricky. A travel eSIM gives you instant data coverage in Peru from the moment you land, so you can navigate logistics and share the view without searching for a local SIM card.