Machu Picchu is a 15th-century Inca citadel perched on a ridge high in the Peruvian Andes, one of the most recognizable archaeological sites on Earth and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Built around 1450 during the reign of Emperor Pachacuti as a royal estate and religious center, the city was abandoned during the Spanish conquest and largely unknown to the outside world until American historian Hiram Bingham brought it to international attention in 1911. Its dry-stone terraces, temples, and plazas remain remarkably intact, framed by the peaks of Huayna Picchu and the surrounding cloud forest.
Entry requires a timed ticket and, for most circuits, an official guide, so booking months ahead during the June to August high season is essential.