Historical sanctuary and the lost city of the Incas, Machu Picchu is a top Peruvian tourist attraction, drawing hundreds of thousands of visitors annually to its host city, Cusco, a lively Andean city with interesting historical and cultural attractions of its own. The magnetism of these two Peruvian destinations is made even bigger by the popular hiking route Inca Trail that links Cusco to the ruined city of Machu Picchu.
Panoramic destination. Located on one of the many mountain ridges of the Andes in Peru, Macchu Picchu offers not only unique view to architectural masterpieces built by our ancestors, but also a stunning view over the Sacred Valley. Standing at the top of this monumental hill, you are facing a 600 m vertical drop ending at the foot of the Sacred Valley. Another interesting thing with Machu Picchu is that the most popular hiking route of Peru, the Inca Trail ends here. Trekking to Machu Picchu from Cusco is a popular attraction.
Famous constructions. Machu Picchu consists of 140 constructions including temples and houses inhabited by ordinary people. The most famous building of Machu Picchu is called the Temple of the Sun. All old constructions of Machu Picchu consist of stonewalls built with traditional Inca style, in which the stones are fitted together tightly without mortar. This building technique marks the architecture of the Incas.
Isolated by mountains. Macchu Picchu is a separate sight surrounded by mountains. When travelling to Machu Picchu and for hotel reservations, you can use the services of Cusco (also spelled Cuzco), the city located 70 km away from Macchu Picchu. Travelling to Machu Picchu from Cusco is possible also by train. There are also regular sightseeing tours to Macchu Picchu available from Cusco.
Machu Picchu- Showing the traditional culture of the Incas
Visited by 400,000 tourists every year, Machu Picchu is arguably one of the most famous touristic sights in South America. This human-built monument is also known as the lost city of the Incas. The historic sanctuary of Macchu Picchu was built by the Incas around year 1450 and experienced the rise and fall of the empire of this famous Amerindian civilization.Panoramic destination. Located on one of the many mountain ridges of the Andes in Peru, Macchu Picchu offers not only unique view to architectural masterpieces built by our ancestors, but also a stunning view over the Sacred Valley. Standing at the top of this monumental hill, you are facing a 600 m vertical drop ending at the foot of the Sacred Valley. Another interesting thing with Machu Picchu is that the most popular hiking route of Peru, the Inca Trail ends here. Trekking to Machu Picchu from Cusco is a popular attraction.
Famous constructions. Machu Picchu consists of 140 constructions including temples and houses inhabited by ordinary people. The most famous building of Machu Picchu is called the Temple of the Sun. All old constructions of Machu Picchu consist of stonewalls built with traditional Inca style, in which the stones are fitted together tightly without mortar. This building technique marks the architecture of the Incas.
Isolated by mountains. Macchu Picchu is a separate sight surrounded by mountains. When travelling to Machu Picchu and for hotel reservations, you can use the services of Cusco (also spelled Cuzco), the city located 70 km away from Macchu Picchu. Travelling to Machu Picchu from Cusco is possible also by train. There are also regular sightseeing tours to Macchu Picchu available from Cusco.
Cusco, the capital of the Inca Empire
The city of Cusco is the place to visit if you want to admire Inca art or buy traditional Peruvian goods. This ancient capital of the Inca Empire is today inhabited by 300,000 people. Cuzco is a UNESCO World Heritage site of its own, hosting several interesting museums, colorful local festivals and colonial architecture.
Photo: Einalem, used under Creative Commons License (By SA 2.0)
The city's warm climate makes it a popular all-year-round destination. However, as Cusco is located in a high altitude, nights here are often chilly.
Getting there. Travelling to Cusco is possible by plane, train and bus from elsewhere in Peru. There is an airport in Cusco offering several daily flight connections to Lima, and flights to Puno are also available. Local transportation in Cusco is offered by taxis and minibuses called Kombis. To see the sights around the city, such as the impressive Sacred Valley of the Incas or the nearby market towns, you can take a bus tour from Cusco or rent a car.
Visitor services. There is a variable and wide amount of restaurants in Cusco, offering both local and international cuisine. The large variety of hotels in Cusco are also easy to find, offering accommodation for all styles and budgets. The city also has some nightlife options for visitors. Car rental in Cusco is offered by many international firms, whose representatives can be found for instance at the airport. Cusco and Macchu Picchu are relatively safe destinations, but as crime such as theft and robberies do occur, it is best to take a good care of your belongings and never wander out alone after dark. English is spoken in the area mainly by those locals who work for tourism industry.
hint See also these nearby destinations: Arequipa
