7 Inca Places to Know Peru 7 Inca Places to Know The Inca civilization arose in the mountainous regions of Peru in the early 13th century and was eventually based in its capital city of Cuzco. From 1438 to 1533, the Inca assimilated a large part of western South America into a state comparable to the historic empires of Eurasia. The Inca Empire was impressive not only for its size but for its stunning architectural structures built across steep peaks and overlooking verdant river valleys throughout the Andes. Visitors marvel at the historical significance of the sites as well as the engineering prowess of the Incas on the vertical landscapes. By Trisha Creekmore Machu Picchu Thinkstock Machu Picchu is probably one of the top international bucket list destinations. Unknown to the outside world until 1911, its mystique and stunning location on a mountain ridge have been drawing adventurous visitors ever since. In 2007, this stone citadel in the sky was voted one of the New Seven Wonders of the World in an internet poll in which more than 100 million votes were cast.

Twelve acres of terraces, gardens, staircases, temples and aqueducts sprawl along a jungle ridge above the Urubamba River at 7,970 feet above sea level. Most archaeologists believe the 15th-century site was built as an estate for the emperor Pachacuti, then abandoned and “lost” after the Spanish conquest. In 2011, the Peruvian government began limiting visitors to 2,500 per day, so it is vital to get tickets well in advance of your visit through an online ticketing site . An English site explains the process . Wayna Picchu Thinkstock Towering above the north end of Machu Picchu is a steep mountain. A temple is heart-stoppingly perched on the edge of the peak at 9,000 feet. Some say priests climbed up the mountain each day to welcome the morning sun. The climb is narrow, steep and treacherous, taking anywhere from 45 to 90 minutes one way. The stone stair path built by the Incas is less than a foot wide in spots and only occasionally includes hand rails. Off to either side, the mountain falls nearly straight down a deadly quarter-mile or more.

So why make the trek? The view of Machu Picchu and the surrounding jungle-covered peaks and valleys is probably one of the most spectacular scenes on Earth. Only 400 people per day are allowed up the mountain in 2 shifts. Buy tickets in advance at the government site . Moray Thinkstock At Moray in the Sacred Valley, the Incas built a series of concentric circular terraces, speculated to have been an agricultural laboratory. Each terrace is a little hotter and less windy, allowing for the simulation of micro-climates. Presumably the Incas could learn by experimentation and duplicate the results elsewhere in the Sacred Valley, increasing agricultural yield. The site, at 11,500 feet above sea level, has a mystical vibe to it, possibly due to the breathless, dizzying feeling of being at high altitude. Pisac Alex Proimos, Flickr The Peruvian village of Pisac, overlooking the Urubamba River less than an hour northeast of Cuzco, is notable for its Inca waterworks and curving agricultural terraces. The site features one of Peru’s only remaining intihuatanas, carved rocks that were used for astronomical observation.

As was an Inca specialty, it is brilliantly situated amid sweeping views of the Sacred Valley. Since the site sits at about 11,000 feet above sea level, visitors need to take it slow and stay hydrated to keep altitude sickness at bay. Ollantaytambo David Berkowitz, Flickr Today, the Inca archaeological site of Ollantaytambo in southern Peru is best known for its train station, which is the closest by bus to Cuzco and by train to Machu Picchu. But visitors who take the time to stop here will be rewarded with one of the only towns in Peru that retains its original Inca walls and street grid. In 1536, Ollantaytambo was the site of the Inca's greatest military victory over the invading Spanish, and the ruins above town are still considered some of the most impressive. An imposing set of stone terraces (from which the Inca assaulted their Spanish invaders with slingshots and arrows) capped by 6 slabs of pink granite loom above the town.

Kuelap Mihai, Flickr The monumental fortress at Kuelap, near the city of Chachapoyas, consists of massive exterior stone walls and contains more than 400 buildings. The structure, built on a ridge overlooking the Utcubamba Valley in northern Peru, is almost 7 football fields long with walls that rise to more than 60 feet. Kuelap was ignored by the outside world until 1843, when a Chachapoyas judge made a survey of the area and, guided by villagers who had known of the site for generations, brought the site to the attention of explorers, historians and archaeologists. Visitors can access the ruin through the town of El Tingo near the banks of the Utcubamba River. Sacsayhuaman Chris Palmer, Flickr Sacsayhuaman (pronounced “sexy human” by children under 12) is an Incan-walled complex overlooking Cuzco. It is believed to have been a royal retreat or a fortress. Most experts say the walls were built for fortification, though some believe they form the head of the Puma, a sacred Incan animal whose shape can be seen from the air.

The site is known for its chincanas, underground passages that connect the complex with the city of Cuzco. Just as impressive are the site’s zigzag walls built with enormous stones weighing up to 300 pounds that fit together as tightly as the pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. The precision is such that the thin blade of a knife cannot slip between the stones. Visitors from Cuzco can take a taxi or hike to the site in less than an hour. The Hot List 10 Most Impressive Ancient Inca Ruins – Touropia Travel Experts Last updated on November 10, 2016 in History , Peru 6 Comments The Inca civilization arose from the highlands of Peru in the early 13th century. Starting from 1438, they began conquering lands surrounding the Inca heartland of Cuzco, creating the largest empire in pre-Columbian America. The coming of the Spanish conquistadors in 1532 marked an end to the short-lived Inca Empire. What remains of their civilization is limited as the conquistadors plundered what they could.

But visitors can still gain an appreciation of how advanced the Inca were from the amazing ancient Inca ruins found in the highlands of South America. See Also Where to Stay in Lima 10Moray Moray is an Incan agricultural laboratory that was likely used to cultivate resistant and hearty varieties of plants high in the Andes. The site contains several circular terraces, that could be used to study the effects of different climatic conditions on crops as the lower terraces have lower temperatures. The deepest crater is about 150 meters (492 feet) deep with a temperature difference of up to 15° C between the top and the bottom level. 9Winay Wayna flickr/ nathangibbs The Inca site of Winay Wayna is built into a hillside overlooking the Urubamba River. It is located on on the Inca Trail and, like today, may have served as a rest stop for weary travelers on their way to the famous Machu Picchu. The Inca ruins of Winay Wayna consists of upper and lower house complexes connected by a staircase and fountain structures. Beside the houses lies an area of agricultural terraces.

8Coricancha The Coricancha in Cuzco , originally named Inti Kancha (‘Temple of the Sun’) was the most important temple in the Inca Empire. The walls and floors were once covered in sheets of solid gold, and the courtyard was filled with golden statues. Like so many other Inca monuments it was severely devastated by the conquistadors, who built a Christian church, Santo Domingo, on top of the ruins. Major earthquakes have severely damaged the church, but the Inca stone walls, built out of huge, tightly-interlocking blocks of stone, still stand thanks to the sophisticated stone masonry of the Incas. 7Llactapata flickr/ Traveling Lao Located at 2,840 meters (9,318 feet) above sea level along the Inca trail, Llactapata means “High Town” in Quechua. It was probably used for crop production and storage. Llactapata was burned by Manco Inca Yupanqui, during his retreat to discourage Spanish pursuit. In part due to these efforts, the Spanish never discovered the Inca trail or any of its Inca settlements.

6Isla del Sol flickr/ jimmyharris Isla del Sol (Island of the Sun) is a rocky, hilly island located in the southern part of Lake Titicaca. According to the Inca religion, it was the first land that appeared after the waters of a great flood began to recede and the Sun emerged from the island to illuminate the sky once again. As the birthplace of the Sun God, the Incas built several sacred sites on the island. Among these Inca ruins are the Sacred Rock and a labyrinth-like building called Chicana. 5Sacsayhuaman flickr/ dachalan Sacsayhuamán is an Inca walled complex high above the city of Cusco. The imperial city Cusco, was laid out in the form of a puma, the animal that symbolized the Inca dynasty. The belly of the puma was the main plaza, the river Tullumayo formed its spine, and the hill of Sacsayhuamán its head. There are three parallel walls built in different levels with lime stones of enormous sizes. It is suggested that the zigzagging walls represent the teeth of the puma’s head.

The Inca wall is built in such a way that a single piece of paper will not fit between many of the stones. 4Inca Pisac Pisac, a word of Quechua origins, means “partridge”. Inca tradition dictated building cities in the shape of birds and animals, and as such, Pisac is partridge shaped. The Inca ruins included a military citadel, religious temples, and individual dwellings, and overlooks the Sacred Valley, between the Salkantay Mountains. It is thought that Písac defended the southern entrance to the Sacred Valley and controlled a route which connected the Inca Empire with the border of the rain forest. Popular Tours in Peru Nazca Lines and Ballestas Islands Tour from Lima 3Choquequirao Seated on the border of Cuzco and Apurimac, Choquequirao (meaning Cradle of Gold), is located 3085 meter (10,120 feet) above sea level. The Inca ruins contains a staircase configuration, made up of 180 terraces. Built in a completely different style than Machu Picchu, Choquequirao is much larger in area.

One can only travel to Choquequirao by foot or horseback, and as such, is visited much less often than Machu Picchu. Without benefit of wheels, the trek to Choquequirao from Cachora can take up to four days! 2Ollantaytambo flickr/ Carlos Vieira During the Inca Empire, Ollantaytambo was the royal estate of Emperor Pachacuti who conquered the region, built the town and a ceremonial center. At the time of the Spanish conquest of Peru it served as a stronghold for the Inca resistance. Nowadays the Inca ruins of Ollantaytambo is an important tourist attraction and one of the most common starting points for hike known as the Inca Trail. 1Machu Picchu flickr/ Pedro Szekely The most beautiful and impressive ancient Inca ruins in the world, Machu Pichu was rediscovered in 1911 by Hawaiian historian Hiram after it lay hidden for centuries above the Urubamba Valley. The “Lost City of the Incas” is invisible from below and completely self-contained, surrounded by agricultural terraces and watered by natural springs.

Although known locally, it was largely unknown to the outside world before being rediscovered in 1911. Since then, Machu Picchu has become the most important tourist attraction in Peru . See Also Incredible Incan Ruins to Visit in Peru- NextStopLatinAmerica Incredible Incan Ruins to Visit in Peru July 14, 2016 / The Aussie Flashpacker / Peru / add comment In 2007 the incredible archaeological site of Machu Picchu was voted as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. This was unsurprising for anyone who has ever experienced the wonders of this magical site or for anyone who has long dreamed of visiting and ticking it off their bucket list. A lot of visitors to Peru aren’t aware of the countless other incredible Incan Ruins in Peru, many of which can be combined with a visit to Machu Picchu and most of which are within a few hours of Cusco! Peru is brimming with ancient ruins which detail the lives of the incredible Incan civilisation which thrived for over a century and are well worth visiting on your travels around Peru.

Sacsayhuaman Located just outside of Cusco is the ruins of the massive fortress of Sacsayhuaman. The original city of Cusco was said to have been built in the shape of a jaguar and the three large terraced walls of Sacsayhuaman are believed to have represented the jaguar’s teeth. This magnificent Inca fortress overlooks the city of Cusco and visitors are impressed with its beauty and the immense scale of this Incan site. The fortress consists of multiple layered walls which saw many major battles during its time. Sacsayhuaman was constructed with huge stone blocks and is famous for the exceptional architectural and engineering skills that would have been required for its creation. Intipata Intipata is another Incan ruin which you will see on the third day of the Inca Trail hike. Intipata is one of the newest discovered sites in the region and the name translates to ‘Sunny Slope’. The absence of buildings, fortifications and plazas leads to the conclusion that Intipata was primarily an agricultural settlement. The extensive terraces are incredible and some of the largest we saw in all of Peru! The site also offers breathtaking views down to the Urubamba river and valley below.

Our guide advised us that in addition to its archaeological uses it was likely the site was also used as for strategic reasons due to its lookout position across the whole valley. Winay Wayna The Winay Wayna Inca ruins are some of the best preserved Incan ruins in Peru and can only be seen if you are hiking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. For those undertaking the pilgrimage to Machu Picchu you will be rewarded with the incredible site of Winay Wayna at the end of the third and last full day of hiking the trail. They are only a short distance from the campsite and as tempting as it may be to rest your tired legs, it is well worth making the effort to visit Winay Wayna as they are not only some of the most well-preserved ruins in Peru but also the most extensive. Winay Wayna is built into a steep hillside and consists of upper and lower houses and extensive agricultural terraces which overlook the Urubamba River and beautiful scenery of the Andean Mountains. Ollantaytambo Ollantaytambo is both a town and an Incan archaeological site in the Sacred Valley.

The town is located at the foot of spectacular Inca ruins which provided strategic protection to the lower part of the Urubamba Valley and served as both a temple and a fortress. In 1536 it was the site of the Inca’s greatest military victory over the invading Spaniards! Today it is one of the only towns in all of Peru which has retained its original Inca walls and street grid. Ollantaytambo is one of the most incredible Incan ruins in all of Peru and is a marvel of engineering and architecture. There are a lot of questions about how the Incas would have been able to build such a structure without modern tools but however they did it, it truly is a marvellous site and is best visited with a guide to fully appreciate the entire site and its history. Willkarakay One of the very first Incan sites you will see on the Inca Trail is Willkarakay, which is a beautiful site and offers stunning views of both the mountains and valleys. Even though Willkarakay looks very important it was actually just used as storage for food!

As it was one of the first Incan ruins I saw in Peru, I still think of it whenever I think back to Peru, the Incas and our Inca Trail experience. Coricancha The Coricancha, also known as the Golden Enclosure was an important Inca temple located in the sacred city of Cusco. It was a very important religious complex which contained the Temple of the Sun and was considered the most sacred site in the Incan world. Today there is mostly only sections of the stone walls of the temple left which allow you to imagine just how big the site was. It is said that in its prime the site was decorated with enormous quantities of gold. Its location in central Cusco makes it an Incan site that is very easy to visit during your travels in Peru! Pisac Pisac is a bustling and fast-growing colonial village located at the base of an incredible Inca fortress which lie atop a hill. Pisac served a number of purposes which are demonstrated through its military, religious and agricultural structures and it is believed that Pisac defended the southern entrance to the Sacred Valley.

Pisac is an incredible site which incorporates stone work, the finest water ducts, religious buildings which rival those at Machu Picchu and extensive agricultural terraces which are still in use today. Moray Moray is a unique archaeological site which is known for its extreme landscaping! The Incas have constructed a number of large circular terraced pits. Researchers have been puzzled as to the reason for the construction of Moray but have theorised that these ancient amphitheatre like structures were agricultural sites where the Incas conducted experiments on their crops. Sayaqmarka Sayaqmarka is a site which sits on a ridge about 12,000 feet above sea level and is surrounded on three sides by sheer cliffs and the name of the site translates to ‘Inaccessible Town’. It is believed that it was built as a military control site as it blocks all pathways to Machu Picchu with the exception of the Inca Trail. The stone work ensures the site blends in with the natural landscape and it would have been built in order to keep enemies and unwanted trespassers out of Machu Picchu. Machu Picchu Last but not least is the most famous of all Inca sites, Machu Picchu.

It was built in 1450 but abandoned just a century later during the Spanish Conquest. Machu Picchu remained hidden and unknown to the outside world until 1911 when American historian Hiram Bingham discovered the site thanks to the directions of a young Inca boy. Seeing Machu Picchu for the first time is a surreal dream like experience and it is every bit as wonderful as you’d hope or imagine. Machu Picchu is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and was also voted as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World in a 2007 Machu Picchu Worldwide Internet Poll. The site was built in the classical Inca style using polished dry stone walls and is without a doubt one of the most majestic and grand of all Incan sites and it is amazing to think that the ancient city was never revealed to the conquering Spaniards and was basically forgotten about until the early part of the 20th century. To visit these incredible ruins and other South American destinations, check LATAM for the cheapest flights to Peru! The following two tabs change content below.

Peru: The Grand Tour - WorldStrides Educational Travel Home > Perspectives Educational Travel > Peru: The Grand Tour Peru: The Grand Tour From sacred to mysterious, the City of Kings to the heart of the Incan empire Take your students on the grand tour of Peru. Journey from jungle to mountain and discover this rich country. Your Grand Tour includes visits to Chivay, Condor viewing, small picturesque towns, Lake Titcaca, and Cuzco, the heart of the Incan Empire. Meet with local students, then visit sacred Machu Picchu. Investigate Puerto Maldonado in the Amazon basin, then back to Lima. Home > Perspectives Educational Travel > Peru: The Grand Tour Peru: The Grand Tour From sacred to mysterious, the City of Kings to the heart of the Incan empire Take your students on the grand tour of Peru. Journey from jungle to mountain and discover this rich country. Your Grand Tour includes visits to Chivay, Condor viewing, small picturesque towns, Lake Titcaca, and Cuzco, the heart of the Incan Empire. Meet with local students, then visit sacred Machu Picchu. Investigate Puerto Maldonado in the Amazon basin, then back to Lima.

Call for more information: 800-771-2323 Thank you for your interest in our WorldStrides Peru: The Grand Tour Tour! Please tell us a little more about yourself so we can get you sent to the right place. Rather call us on the phone? Reach us at: 800-771-2323 My role is Thanks for visiting! Please let us know how we can help you. You can get the answers to most questions by accessing our Resource Center . You can also visit all our social media sites and see what the excitement is all about. Tell your friends about all these amazing places to visit! Questions? We're here to help. Just tell us a little about yourself and what you have questions about and we'll be right with you.

You can also call us at 800-771-2323, or at our main toll-free number: 1-800-999-7676 I have a tour scheduled: Machu Picchu – Travel guide at Wikivoyage History[ edit ] These remarkable ruins were rediscovered by the scientific world in 1911 by the American archaeologist Hiram Bingham, who was led to the site by locals. Perched dramatically 1000 ft above the Urubamba river, Machu Picchu is a UNESCO World Heritage site . It is also the end point of the most popular hike in South America , the Inca Trail . The story of Machu Picchu is quite a remarkable one; it is still unknown exactly what the site was in terms of its place in Inca life. Current researchers tend to believe that Machu Picchu was a country resort for elite Incas. At any given time, there were not more than 750 people living at Machu Picchu, with far fewer than that during the rainy season.

The Incas started building it around AD 1430 but it was abandoned as an official site for the Inca rulers a hundred years later at the time of the Spanish conquest of the Inca Empire. One thing that is clear is that it was a remarkably well hidden place, and well protected. Located far up in the mountains of Peru, visitors had to travel up long valleys littered with Inca check points and watch towers. Remarkably, the Spanish conquistadors missed the site. However, many people are said to have knowledge of the ancient city as it was referred to in some text found in the 20th century. However, it was not until Bingham that Machu Picchu was scientifically discovered. He was on a trip sponsored by the Yale University, actually looking for the last Inca capital, which was at Vilcabamba, which Bingham also rediscovered but overlooked in favor of the more impressive Machu Picchu. Machu Picchu was declared a Peruvian Historical Sanctuary in 1981 and a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983. Since it was not plundered by the Spanish when they conquered the Incas, it is especially important as a cultural site and is considered a sacred place.

Machu Picchu was built in the classical Inca style, with polished dry-stone walls. Its primary buildings are the Intihuatana, the Temple of the Sun, and the Room of the Three Windows. These are located in what is known by archaeologists as the Sacred District of Machu Picchu. In September 2007, Peru and Yale University reached an agreement regarding the return of artifacts which Hiram Bingham had stolen from Machu Picchu in the early twentieth century. 116 Source: [1] (for Aguas Calientes, a few km away) Daytime highs are quite constant around the year, but the nighttime lows are much more pronounced during the Southern Hemisphere winter. As is common in the tropics, most of the yearly rain falls during the rainy season which in Machu Picchu is October to April. Due to the altitude, extremely hot temperatures that one may expect this close to the Equator are absent. However these two factors contribute to very high levels of UV-radiation (nearby Cuzco actually has the highest average level of UV-radiation in the world for any major city) so do take precautions.

Landscape[ edit ] Flora and fauna[ edit ] Both are abundant and varied. Typical plant life in the historic reserve of Machupicchu includes pisonayes, q'eofias, alisos, puya palm trees, ferns and more than 90 species of orchids. The fauna in the reserve includes the spectacled bear, cock-of-the-rocks or "tunqui", tankas, wildcats and an impressive variety of butterflies and insects unique in the region. The lay of the land, the natural surroundings and the strategic location of Machu Picchu lend this monument a fusion of beauty, harmony and balance between the work of the ancient Peruvians and the whims of nature. Get in[ edit ] Visitors to Machu Picchu typically either hike the Inca Trail or leave by rail from Cuzco or Ollantaytambo , either on a day trip, or overnighting in Aguas Calientes . Overnighting allows you to visit the park early or late in the day and avoid the worst of the crowds, and on sunny days, gives you a nice window of reprieve from the beating sun. Don't forget sunblock.

The only ways to get to Aguas Calientes are by train or on foot—no roads go there. On foot, it is possible to get to Aguas Calientes by traveling through Santa Maria and Santa Teresa by public transport or with a minibus from Cuzco with a travel agency as described in Aguas Calientes . This alternate route involves walking (2.5–3 hours) or taking the train for "only" $28 (this would be the cheapest PeruRail train as of May, 2015). The basket riding crossing is not required anymore. The wet season in Peru is from November (often only really taking off in December) until the end of March, so then it is best to include a few extra days for flexibly dealing with delays. From Aguas Calientes, there are two ways to reach the ruins: by bus or walking (free steep hike), as described below. Depending on when you arrive, the site may be quite crowded or nearly deserted. The busiest periods are in the dry season (June–August), with the slowest being in February, the height of the rainy season, when the Inca Trail is closed.

Most visitors arrive on package tours and are in the park between 10am and 2pm. To access the site, you must have both a bus ticket (currently $21 for foreign adult single-trip, less for others, available from a small ticket booth near the bus departure area) and ticket for Machu Picchu - which are available on in advance from machupicchu.gob.pe or from various ticket offices described on that website. Machu Picchu tickets are NOT sold at the entrance gate and are limited to 2500 per day, with entrance to Huayna Picchu being further sublimited to 400. It is obligatory to bring your passport to enter Machu Picchu. Even if your ticket is on your national id card, the officer will still ask for your passport. By bus from Aguas Calientes[ edit ] If arriving by train into Aguas Calientes, walk out of the station and keep going roughly straight through the warren of handicraft stalls and over a foot bridge to the bus departure area.

Frequent buses leave to the ruins (US$12 each way (May, 2015), US$24 round-trip for adult foreigners) starting at 5:30AM. There's often a queue, so if you're intent on being on the first bus up, you should arrive at least 90 minutes early. The journey takes around 1/2 hour to slowly wind around the switchbacks and up to the park. Busses depart when full, which typically means they run quite regularly. At popular times, there may be a lengthy queue for the busses, so plan the return trip accordingly in order not to miss train departures. Advance train bookings are recommended, as trains are often sold-out, particularly return trains. By foot from Aguas Calientes[ edit ] From Aguas Calientes to get to the ruins themselves it is also possible to walk along a similar 8 km route that the buses run, which will take about 1.5–2 hours up, and around an hour back down. This route is mainly stairs, connecting the switchbacks that the buses take.

It is a strenuous and long hike but is very rewarding, recommended to start around 5AM when the gate at the foot opens, to make it to the top before sunrise. The descent is fairly easy, just take care when the steps are wet. Keep alert for the bus drivers that rarely brake for pedestrians. By foot via the Inca Trail[ edit ] Hiking the Inca Trail is a great way to arrive as you first see the city through the Sun Gate (instead of arriving from below as you do from Aguas Calientes). Both the four-day and two-day hikes are controlled by the government. Travellers should be fit enough to walk for days and sleep in tents. Every traveller needs to travel with a tour agency because of the rules and regulations of entering the park (for details, see the Inca Trail article). There are also other options available for hiking to Machu Picchu. This is important to know the Inca Trail hike is limited to the amount of people that can go on it each day, including porters. As such, there is a much steeper price on this trek and it is necessary to book far in advance to get a place on the dates you will be there.

Two other cheaper, but equally as good, options are the Salkantay Trek and the Inca Jungle Trek. Most, if not all, tour agencies in Cuzco offer these. The Salkantay Trek is a 5 day trek through the Salkantay Mountain Pass. The scenery is amazing and if you go in the rainy season you will be rewarded with dozens of waterfalls. Though, at the same time, you will be wet for the most part anyways. The other option, the Inca Jungle Trek, is a three day trek that begins with a drive to the top of a mountain and then a bike ride down to the bottom. A full day of hiking follows the next day to Aguas Calientes. Both of these alternatives can be booked a couple days in advance when you arrive in Cuzco and can be much cheaper options and good ways to stay away from the crowds before getting to Machu Picchu. Prices, as of December/January 2011 was anywhere from US$180–200 for the entire trek. Do your research in Cuzco and pick the tour company you feel most comfortable with. Some groups will offer slightly more(sleeping bag included, etc.) than others.

The Inca Jungle Trek is an agency tour, but the "backdoor" route they use is also an option for independent travellers wishing to go-it-alone. Minivans and buses are cheap (15-30 soles) from "Terminal Santiago" in Cusco and take you to either Santa Maria or Santa Teresa. Santa Maria is further away from Aguas Calientes than Santa Teresa but is a nice option for those wishing to hike an alternative Inca trail used locally. The walk takes you through the mountains and tiny villages, even people's farms and offers impressive views of the valley. You can end up in Santa Teresa the same day and there are villages, such as Huacayupana and Quellomayo en route which offer an alternative view of local life and accommodation if you don't make it to Santa Teresa that day. Walking on from here to Santa Teresa is along the river (May - November) and by road during rainy season, although it is advisable to get advice before taking this route between December and April due to severe weather.

From Santa Teresa to Hidroelectrica is a 25 minute taxi or minibus ride and from here you can walk the 2 to 3 hour flattish trek to Aguas Calientes which is one of the nicest parts of the journey. The Peruvian government has imposed a 500 person pass limit per day on Inca Trail traffic. Passes do sell out far in advance, particularly for the high season. Travelers must have a valid passport in order to purchase a pass at the time of reservation. Many local tour operators have since opened up alternate trekking options that allow for similar trekking opportunities in the area. Most visit other Inca ruins, not as well excavated, and finish with the train trip up to see Machu Picchu at the end. One such option is the Choquequirao Trek, which starts in Cacharo and ends in Los Loros or the Cachiccata Trek which starts in Racca and ends in Cachiccata. Fees/Permits[ edit ] The current fee schedule and online tickets are available at the official government website of and from ticket offices listed on that website. The website is shockingly difficult to use.

Reservations made on the website only give you the right to then pay for the tickets--they do not guarantee entry, which is only accomplished after paying for the tickets. The reservations made online are only valid for 2-6 hours, depending on who you ask, and must be paid for either at one of the banks using the code on the reservation, or from one of the other payments means. It is not clear what these means are, however. The safest option is to buy tickets at the Ministerio de Cultura in Cusco or Aguas Calientes . Whatever you choose, make sure that the confusing website does not end up leaving you with an invalid reservation and hamper your visit. As of December 2014, the entrance fee is US$62 and US$71 (machu Picchu and Wayna Picchu), with discounts for children and students with an ISIC card. When preparing your budget, do not forget to include train tickets and bus tickets. Food at the site is US$40 for a lunch buffet (May, 2015). Most hostels can sell entry permits and bus tickets.

Don´t buy them at the travel agency at the Ollantytambo train station, as they don´t actually sell you tickets, but a receipt that you need to give to a person to get your tickets, you´ll end up running all around Aguas Calientes looking for this person. You can buy your ticket at the Aguas Calientes Ministerio de Cultura. 5:30AM-9PM. Be sure to bring your passport, as it is requested upon entry. Some travelers have been able to enter with other forms of ID. There is a popular stamp booth as you exit where you can prove to your friends you've been there, though it is technically illegal to mark your own passport. Only small packs are allowed in the park (no more than 20 litres), but there is a luggage storage at the entrance mostly used by Inca Trailers . If your pack is checked, any food you carry may be confiscated. Only 2,500 people are allowed to enter Machu Picchu each day. The government website ( ) lists how many tickets are available for each day.

Also, visitors must purchase tickets for Huayna Picchu in advance and there is now an additional fee to hike Huayna Picchu. Get around[ edit ] Machu Picchu is fairly compact, with most attractions visible within an hour or two of easy walking. There are no vehicles of any kind in the park, so bring some comfortable walking shoes, especially if you plan to do any of the hikes such as Wayna Picchu. No walking sticks are allowed in the main area, except for visitors who have difficulty walking; however, they are allowed on Wayna Picchu, where they help significantly with the climb, especially down. The main ruins are fairly compact and easily walkable. Mobility-disabled visitors can arrange wheelchair/accessible tours via private tour groups, and see a substantial portion of the site. See[ edit ] All the views from above, be sure before do it there are no clouds (early in the morning is always cloudy, It is recommended to do it at noon). Machu Picchu Take your time walking around the site, there are many places to see and explore. Although it is not necessary, taking a guided tour does provide a deeper insight into the ancient city, its uses, and information on the geography of it.

As of 2015, a 2h guided tour is 120 soles. If you wish to save money, you can team up with other tourists who would like to have a guided tour. Keep in mind that relatively little is known about the history and uses of the ruins, and some of the stories told by the guides are based on little more than imaginative hearsay. Sun Gate (Inti Punku) – if you've just arrived via the Inca Trail, this will be your first experience of the ruins. Others can backtrack from the ruins along the trail and up the hill. From here you can see back down each valley offering excellent views, if it is cloudy you cannot appreciate the view (avoid doing it or just wait for a clearance). It's a fairly strenuous hike (probably 1-1.5 hours each way) but well worth it. Temple of the Sun – Near the summit of the main city, the stonework on the temple is incredible. Look closely and you will see that there are a variety of stone walls throughout the city. Most are rough stones held together with mud, the common stone walls found throughout the world.

But many buildings or parts of buildings are done with the more distinctive and impressive closely-fit stonework. The temple is the absolute pinnacle of this technology. Observe it from the side, descending the stone staircase in the main plaza. Intihuatana – A stone carved so that on certain days, at dawn, the sun makes a certain shadow, thus working as a sun dial. From Quechua: Inti = sun, huatana = to take, grab: thus grabing (measuring) the sun. (pronounce 'intiwatana'). While most early risers view the sunrise from the watchtower, the Intihuatana offers the best vistas, and you'll have it all to yourself. Temple of the Three Windows – Main Temple – Temple of the Condor – The tour guides will try to tell you that this was a temple, but look closely: between the wings of the condor is a chamber with grooves cut in the stone to secure manacles, a walkway behind where a torturer may walk to whip the prisoner's backs, and a scary looking pit to let the blood of prisoners drain.

Clearly the condor was a symbol of cruel justice, but a sanitized version is told for the benefit of middle-aged tourists and their children. Fountains – As a testament to Inca workmanship, these 500 year old spring fed fountains still function to this day. It is speculated that these provided drinking water to the city or were for ritual bath purposes. Do[ edit ] Machu Picchu as seen from Huayna Picchu If you got some energy in you, there's a few great hikes involving a bit of legwork. Do make sure that you've taken the time to acclimate to the elevation either in Cuzco or Aguas Calientes for a couple days before exerting yourself too much, especially on Wayna Picchu. Huayna Picchu (Wayna Picchu). Towering above the north end of Machu Picchu is this steep mountain, often the backdrop to many photos of the ruins. It looks a bit daunting from below, but while steep, it's not an unusually difficult ascent, and most reasonably fit persons should be able to make the ascent in about 45 minutes. Stone steps are laid along most of the path, and in the steeper sections steel cables provide a supporting handrail.

That said, expect to be out of breath, and take care in the steeper portions, especially when wet, as it can become dangerous quickly. There's a tiny cave near the top that must be passed through, it is quite low and a rather tight squeeze. Take care at the peak, it can be somewhat precarious, and those afraid of heights may want to hang out just below. The entire walk is through beautiful landscape, and the views from the top are stunning, including birds eye views over the whole site. There's also a few ruins near the top. If visiting these ruins, you'll see a second way to start making your descent down the mountain via a cave once thought to be the Temple of the Moon, along some very steep and shallow steps... these steps are a bit dangerous if wet, but the hike may be well worthwhile. This hike is one of your best bets for getting away from Machu Picchu and Huayna Picchu crowds. Tickets to Huayna Picchu have to be reserved beforehand and are limited to 400 a day - ask the tour company with which you are going to Machu Picchu to reserve this for you (at least a month beforehand).

Tickets are purchased in one of two groups: 7-8am and 10-11am. 200 people are allowed in each group. Entrance to the hike is controlled by a second ticket booth, and visitors are staggered across their hour entry. In other words, if you have a ticket for the 7-8am group, even if you arrive at 6:30am, if there are other people ahead of you in line, you will have not be able to ascend until everyone in front of you has been admitted. To find this second gate, enter the site via the regular gate and follow signs. S/.87, added to the price of your ticket. If you have some time at hand, or long for a sparkle of solitude, from Huayna Picchu you can also walk to the Moon Temple (Templo de la Luna) and the Great Cave (Gran Caverna). It's a long walk and adventurous hike involving several ladders. Note that as of December 2014, paths to these sites were barricaded off to visitors. Some may find that the sites aren't really rewarding, but unexpected wildlife can be seen (wild spectacled bears have been reported).

This hike is also quite interesting because partway through you leave behind the mountain terrain and enter a more conventional forest. The caves can be reached either by hiking down the trail from the peak of Wayna Picchu (which includes some semi-harrowing but fun near-vertical descents) or by the split from the main Wayna Picchu trail (look for the sign that says Gran Caverna). Remember that it is much easier to descend from Wayna Picchu than to ascend from these temples. Be sure to bring plenty of water and snacks for this long hike. The hike from the summit to the caves and back to the checkpoint takes about two more hours. To properly take in Huayna Picchu, the Moon Temple, and the Great Cave you should plan on a 4-5 hour round trip. Machu Picchu as seen from Machu Picchu Mountain Machu Picchu Mountain – This is the mountain on which Machu Picchu is located and you can walk to the summit. Like Wayna Picchu you will have spectacular views, however there is no additional fee to hike to Machu Picchu Mountain. The path to Machu Picchu Mountain can be found along the path to the Sun Gate.

Machu Picchu Mountain is among the least visited sites at Machu Picchu, which will give you the opportunity to get away from the tourist crowds. For the round trip you should plan on 2.5-3 hours. Inca Bridge. Historically there were two paths into Machu Picchu. The Inca Trail is one of the paths, the other is through the Inca Bridge. This bridge (logs/drawbridge) is built across a sheer cliff which would control access to the city. The walk to the Inca Bridge is short and can be found to the south west of Machu Picchu. Eat[ edit ] Inca Bridge Officially, you are not allowed to bring any food or water bottles into the park, and must check these in at the luggage storage at the entrance. In practice, however, bags are rarely searched, and most people have no problem getting a small bottle of water and some snacks in with them, which you'll definitely want, especially if you're planning to stray from the central set of ruins. Buy these beforehand, as they're much more expensive at the site itself. Don't even think of leaving a shred of trash behind you.

If you are thinking in walk between 6am to 5pm, you will need at least 1.5 Litres of water. The concession stand near the entrance of the site is appropriately overpriced given their captive audience, a meal is US$40, and a small bottle of water is S/.8 (in the supermarket it cost S/.1). Once in the site, there are no food or drinks for sale, though it is possible to leave and return. Tinkuy Buffet Restaurant (At Belmond Sanctuary Lodge), ☎ +51 84 211038 . 11:00–15:30. A casual lunch buffet. The food is decent and the restaurant quite busy at peak times. A discounted train + buffet ticket is available on certain trains from Peru Rail. After lunch, do a circuit of the restaurant's poster-size photographs from Hiram Bingham's 1911 "discovery" of Machu Picchu. US$40. Tampu Restaurant Bar (At Belmond Sanctuary Lodge). 5:30AM-9AM, noon-3PM, 6:30PM-9:30PM.

Open to hotel guests only, also high prices. Sleep[ edit ] Because this is a protected park, further construction in the area is nearly impossible. Thus, there is currently only one very expensive hotel at the site itself. Almost everyone who wants to overnight near Machu Picchu books a hotel in nearby Aguas Calientes . Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge , KM 7.5, Carretera Hiram Bingham, ☎ +51 84 211038 , e-mail: perures.fits@belmond.com . This superbly over-priced hotel is the only option for sleeping at the park. There are two equally expensive restaurants on site, and 2 suites that have partial views of the ruins. Unless you have more money than sense, you won't want to stay here. It's located just outside the ticket booth. over US$1000 (october 2015).

Go next[ edit ] Back to town (in order of size and distance): Aguas Calientes – if spending the night or want a bath; not much else to do here Lima to Titicaca - WorldStrides Educational Travel Lima to Titicaca Immersion in the lost Incan empire and natural beauty of Peru Experience Peru with your students, from Lima to Titicaca. Arrive in Lima, and begin exploring. Fly to Cuzco, the historic capital of the Inca Empire. Experience an offering to Mother Earth. Journey along the Inca Trail, meeting with local students. Take a walking tour of lost Machu Picchu, the “Sacred City.” Explore Lake Titicaca, one of the most famous sites in Peru. Lima to Titicaca Immersion in the lost Incan empire and natural beauty of Peru Experience Peru with your students, from Lima to Titicaca. Arrive in Lima, and begin exploring. Fly to Cuzco, the historic capital of the Inca Empire. Experience an offering to Mother Earth. Journey along the Inca Trail, meeting with local students.

Take a walking tour of lost Machu Picchu, the “Sacred City.” Explore Lake Titicaca, one of the most famous sites in Peru. Call for more information: 800-771-2323 Thank you for your interest in our WorldStrides Lima to Titicaca Tour! Please tell us a little more about yourself so we can get you sent to the right place. Rather call us on the phone? Reach us at: 800-771-2323 My role is Thanks for visiting! Please let us know how we can help you. You can get the answers to most questions by accessing our Resource Center . You can also visit all our social media sites and see what the excitement is all about. Tell your friends about all these amazing places to visit! Questions? We're here to help. Just tell us a little about yourself and what you have questions about and we'll be right with you.

You can also call us at 800-771-2323, or at our main toll-free number: 1-800-999-7676 I have a tour scheduled: NOVA - Official Website | The Lost Inca Empire NOVA Posted 11.01.00 NOVA "Land of the Four Quarters" or Tahuantinsuyu is the name the Inca gave to their empire. It stretched north to south some 2,500 miles along the high mountainous Andean range from Colombia to Chile and reached west to east from the dry coastal desert called Atacama to the steamy Amazonian rain forest. At the height of its existence the Inca Empire was the largest nation on Earth and remains the largest native state to have existed in the western hemisphere. The wealth and sophistication of the legendary Inca people lured many anthropologists and archaeologists to the Andean nations in a quest to understand the Inca's advanced ways and what led to their ultimate demise. The Inca's engineering of roadways and agricultural terraces in mountainous terrain was one key to the expansion of the empire.

Enlarge Photo credit: © rest/iStockphoto opulent wealth To imagine oneself living in the world of the Inca, one would have to travel back 500 years into a magnificent society made up of more than 10 million subjects. Cuzco, which emerged as the richest city in the New World, was the center of Inca life, the home of its leaders. "The riches that were gathered in the city of Cuzco alone, as capital and court of the Empire, were incredible," says an early account of Inca culture written 300 years ago by Jesuit priest Father Bernabe Cobo, "for therein were many palaces of dead kings with all the treasure that each amassed in life; and he who began to reign did not touch the estate and wealth of his predecessor but .... built a new palace and acquired for himself silver and gold and all the rest." Money existed in the form of work—each subject of the empire paid "taxes" by laboring on the myriad roads, crop terraces, irrigation canals, temples, or fortresses. In return, rulers paid their laborers in clothing and food. Silver and gold were abundant, but only used for aesthetics.

Inca kings and nobles amassed stupendous riches which accompanied them, in death, in their tombs. But it was their great wealth that ultimately undid the Inca, for the Spaniards, upon reaching the New World, learned of the abundance of gold in Inca society and soon set out to conquer it—at all costs. The plundering of Inca riches continues today with the pillaging of sacred sites and blasting of burial tombs by grave robbers in search of precious Inca gold. While some remnants of the Inca's riches remain intact, many were destroyed as looters melted them down for their raw metal. Enlarge Photo credit: © Eduardo Mariano Rivero/iStockphoto Growth of an Empire The first known Incas, a noble family who ruled Cuzco and a small surrounding high Andean agricultural state, date back to A.D. 1200. The growth of the empire beyond Cuzco began in 1438 when emperor Pachacuti, which means "he who transforms the earth," strode forth from Cuzco to conquer the world around him and bring the surrounding cultures into the Inca fold.

Consolidation of a large empire was to become a continuing struggle for the ruling Inca as their influence reached across many advanced cultures of the Andes. Strictly speaking, the name "Inca" refers to the first royal family and the 40,000 descendants who ruled the empire. However, for centuries historians have used the term in reference to the nearly 100 nations conquered by the Inca. The Inca state's domain was unprecedented, its rule resulting in a universal language—a form of Quechua, a religion worshipping the sun, and a 14,000 mile-long road system criss-crossing high Andean mountain passes and linking the rulers with the ruled. Referred to as an all-weather highway system, the over 14,000 miles of Inca roads were an astonishing and reliable precursor to the advent of the automobile. Communication and transport was efficient and speedy, linking the mountain peoples and lowland desert dwellers with Cuzco. Building materials and ceremonial processions traveled thousands of miles along the roads that still exist in remarkably good condition today. They were built to last and to withstand the extreme natural forces of wind, floods, ice, and drought.

This central nervous system of Inca transport and communication rivaled that of Rome. A high road crossed the higher regions of the Cordillera from north to south and another lower north-south road crossed the coastal plains. Shorter crossroads linked the two main highways together in several places. The terrain, according to Ciezo de Leon, an early chronicler of Inca culture, was formidable. By his account, the road system ran "through deep valleys and over mountains, through piles of snow, quagmires, living rock, along turbulent rivers; in some places it ran smooth and paved, carefully laid out; in others over sierras, cut through the rock, with walls skirting the rivers, and steps and rests through the snow; everywhere it was clean swept and kept free of rubbish, with lodgings, storehouses, temples to the sun, and posts along the way." the beginning of the end With the arrival from Spain in 1532 of Francisco Pizarro and his entourage of mercenaries or "conquistadors," the Inca empire was seriously threatened for the first time.

Duped into meeting with the conquistadors in a "peaceful" gathering, an Inca emperor, Atahualpa, was kidnapped and held for ransom. After paying over $50 million in gold by today's standards, Atahualpa, who was promised to be set free, was strangled to death by the Spaniards who then marched straight for Cuzco and its riches. Ciezo de Leon, a conquistador himself, wrote of the astonishing surprise the Spaniards experienced upon reaching Cuzco. As eyewitnesses to the extravagant and meticulously constructed city of Cuzco, the conquistadors were dumbfounded to find such a testimony of superior metallurgy and finely tuned architecture. Inca walls show remarkable craftsmanship. The blocks have no mortar to hold them together yet stay tight because of their precise carving and configuration. Enlarge Photo credit: © Bartosz Hadyniak/iStockphoto Temples, edifices, paved roads, and elaborate gardens all shimmered with gold.

By Ciezo de Leon's own observation the extreme riches and expert stone work of the Inca were beyond belief: "In one of (the) houses, which was the richest, there was the figure of the sun, very large and made of gold, very ingeniously worked, and enriched with many precious stones....They had also a garden, the clods of which were made of pieces of fine gold; and it was artificially sown with golden maize, the stalks, as well as the leaves and cobs, being of that metal....Besides all this, they had more than twenty golden (llamas) with their lambs, and the shepherds with their slings and crooks to watch them, all made of the same metal.

There was a great quantity of jars of gold and silver, set with emeralds; vases, pots, and all sorts of utensils, all of fine gold....it seems to me that I have said enough to show what a grand place it was; so I shall not treat further of the silver work of the chaquira (beads), of the plumes of gold and other things, which, if I wrote down, I should not be believed." Machu Picchu and Living at Heights What remains of the Inca legacy is limited, as the conquistadors plundered what they could of Inca treasures and in so doing, dismantled the many structures painstakingly built by Inca craftsmen to house the precious metals. Remarkably, a last bastion of the Inca empire remained unknown to the Spanish conquerors and was not found until explorer Hiram Bingham discovered it in 1911. He had found Machu Picchu, a citadel atop a mountainous jungle along the Urubamba River in Peru. Grand steps and terraces with fountains, lodgings, and shrines flank the jungle-clad pinnacle peaks surrounding the site.

It was a place of worship to the sun god, the greatest deity in the Inca pantheon. The survival of Machu Picchu over hundreds of years, on a mountaintop subject to erosion and mudslides, is a testament to Inca engineering. Enlarge Photo credit: © Bartosz Hadyniak/iStockphoto Perhaps most unique about Inca civilization was its thriving existence at altitude. The Incas ruled the Andean Cordillera, second in height and harshness to the Himalayas. Daily life was spent at altitudes up to 15,000 feet and ritual life extended up to 22,057 feet to Llullaillaco in Chile, the highest Inca sacrificial site known today. Mountain roads and sacrificial platforms were built, which means a great amount of time was spent hauling loads of soil, rocks, and grass up to these inhospitable heights. Even with our advanced mountaineering clothing and equipment of today, it is hard for us to acclimatize and cope with the cold and dehydration experienced at the high altitudes frequented by the Inca. This ability of the sandal-clad Inca to thrive at extremely high elevations continues to perplex scientists today.

The Conquest How did Pizarro and his small army of mercenaries, totaling less than 400, conquer what was becoming the world's largest civilization? Much of the "conquest" was accomplished without battles or warfare as the initial contact Europeans made in the New World resulted in rampant disease. Old World infectious disease left its devastating mark on New World Indian cultures. In particular, smallpox spread quickly through Panama, eradicating entire populations. Once the disease crossed into the Andes its southward spread caused the single most devastating loss of life in the Americas. Lacking immunity, the New World peoples, including the Inca, were reduced by two-thirds. With the aid of disease and the success of his initial deceit of Atahualpa, Pizarro acquired vast amounts of Inca gold which brought him great fortune in Spain. Reinforcements for his troops came quickly and his conquest of a people soon moved into consolidation of an empire and its wealth. Spanish culture, religion, and language rapidly replaced Inca life and only a few traces of Inca ways remain in the native culture as it exists today. Indigenous people of Peru today retain some echoes of the Inca way of life, but most of the culture has vanished.

Enlarge Photo credit: © Bartosz Hadyniak/iStockphoto This feature originally appeared on the site for the NOVA program Ice Mummies . Related Links MACHU PICCHU PERU MACHU PICCHU PERU History Machu Picchu Peru was constructed around 1460, at the height of the Inca Empire. It was abandoned less than 100 years later. It is likely that most of its inhabitants were wiped out by smallpox before the Spanish conquistadores arrived. Hiram Bingham, the credited discoverer of the site, along with several others, originally hypothesized that the citadel was the traditional birthplace of the Inca people or the spiritual center of the "Virgins of the Suns". Machu Picchu Peru As adventure travel specialists, Machu Picchu we offer a wide range of services, from specific treks and expeditions to fully customized programs around Peru, among others. Machu Picchu is one of the most famous historical sites in South America, let alone Peru, but it remained unknown by the outside world until about 100 years ago.

Hiram Bingham, a United States senator and explorer, rediscovered the Incan ruins in 1911 making this famous ruin known all over the world nowadays. Machu Picchu Peru Most modern archaeologists and historians coincide that Machu Picchu was built by the Inca Pachacutec, the greatest statesman in Tahuantinsuyo, who governed from 1438 to 1471. Archaeologists infer that the citadel's construction dates from the fifteenth century approximately, a date confirmed by carbon 14 (radioactive carbon) dating. Machu Picchu Peru construction coincides with the start of the expansion of the small feudal kingdom of the Incas. According to archaeologists, the final battle defining the Incas' victory over the Chancas, a prestigious victory that gave much power to Inca Pachacutec, was fought in this area. Pachacutec was the first Inca to expand beyond the valley of Cusco after his epic victory over the Chancas. He was the author of Tahuantinsuyo's expansion and is recognized as the "constructor" of Cusco. This was one of his greatest works.

Machu Picchu Peru origin is attributed, with a certain degree of authority to Pachacutec, a warlike leader, noted for both territorial conquests and the development of religion and spirituality. This is why present archaeological researchers tend to support the theory that it was a royal hacienda destined for the worship of the Inca's gods, as well as a mighty challenge to the monarch's construction skills. MACHU PICCHU PERU Machu Picchu Peru was constructed around 1460, at the height of the Inca Empire. It was abandoned less than 100 years later MACHU PICCHU PERU History Machu Picchu Peru was constructed around 1460, at the height of the Inca Empire. It was abandoned less than 100 years later. It is likely that most of its inhabitants were wiped out by smallpox before the Spanish conquistadores arrived. Hiram Bingham, the credited discoverer of the site, along with several others, originally hypothesized that the citadel was the traditional birthplace of the Inca people or the spiritual center of the "Virgins of the Suns".

Question: What Incan city's ruins were unknown to the outside world until 1911?
Answer: Machu Picchu