This 15th century city holds many mysteries and much beauty.

Machu Picchu, Peru - Ruins of the Incas

4/12/13

Some ruins in this world are so epic and so well preserved that they really do have to be considered among the best of the best. In the country of Peru, there’s one site that is widely regarded to be one of the most important archaeological sites in the world. Resting on the eastern Andes, high in the mountains and nearly 8000 feet above sea level is the former Inca city of Machu Picchu. By far the most famous of all Inca ruins, it was abandoned rather than destroyed and so remains in amazing condition even after 500 years.

Machu Picchu was first founded sometime during the early-to-mid-15^th century, though the exact date is a mystery. High above the rest of the Inca’s villages and more than 60 miles from the capital, Cuzco, this wonder of a city sits among lush tropical forests. What is also a mystery is the reason that the city was built, though many speculate that it was for some sort of religious purpose. Unfortunately, Machu Picchu’s life was short-lived. Once the Inca Empire began to fall to Spanish invaders, the city was abandoned, not to be found and recorded again until the early 20^th century.

Features at the city site consist of many walls, giant terraces used for farming and gardens, and plenty of stairways and ramps to navigate the varied elevation levels. All this is done is a style that seems almost an extension of the mountain itself. There are also plenty of temples, plazas, parks and residences - more than 140 structures in all. The Inca had to no writing system, however, so the how and why of the city is left to speculation.

One of the most important cultural sites in all of South America, Machu Picchu is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a massively popular tourist attraction. For that reason, it’s pretty easy to find any number of tours that will take you there, many of them bundled with other sites so that you can take an entire Inca-themed tour in one go. Set within the beauty of the forests, rich with a variety of exotic plant and animal life, Machu Picchu is a like a place right out of a movie and a must for anyone with an interest in the cities of American pre-history.