Machu Picchu

The ancient city of Machu Picchu is  often referred to as the ‘lost city of the Incas’ situated on a mountain ridge some 8,000ft above sea level. Built around AD 1430 the site was abandoned by the Incas due to the Spanish conquest 100years later. In 1983 Machu Picchu also became a World Heritage Site.

Machu Picchu, one of the new 7 wonders and the royal retreat of the Incan emperos Pachacuti, sits atop the Urubamba Valley in Peru. Meaning “Old Mountain” in the Quenchua Indian language, the complex was constructed in the 15th century as a place for the emperor and his retinue to relax, hunt or entertain foreign dignitaries. The site also boasts Huayna Picchu Mountain, which looms nearly 1000 feet above terraces, plazas, and stone ruins as mists swirl up from the Urubamba river.

After the Spanish conquest in 1532, jungle growth enveloped the structures and temples. In 1911, Yale historian Hiram Bingham stumble upon the “lost city of the Incas.” Since then , its magnificent setting and detailed stonework have captivated countless visitors. There is never a wrong time to visit Machu Picchu: the symbol of community and dedication, but the ideal moment to experience the vista is during the rise of the Inca’s most powerful deity, the sun.

The best view is from the guardhouse, where visitors can anticipate the sun with nothing more than a llama grazing in the distance.”As the golden rays slip down Huayna Picchu, the buildings on the ridge below start to emerge from the shadows until Machu Picchu is presented in all its glory.