The Lost City Machu Picchu, Peru

Machu Picchu is one of the long lost city in the world which is located on the mountain top around 2,430m above sea level in Peru, South America. This lost city was built by Incas in 1,200 AD or during Incas Empire which was the largest empire in pre Columbian America, and possibly the largest empire in the world in the early 16th century. They built the houses, fields, temples and other facilities by cutting rock and prepared it with different level according to the land level. Machu Picchu was built in the classical Inca style, with polished dry-stone walls which cut to fit with each other and placed together like a building block. Most of the structure was damaged and it was restored in order to give tourist a better idea and currently, it is still in restoration.  

Machu Picchu was abandoned in 1,450AD due to the invasion by Spanish and civil war between the ruling rival Inca brothers named Huascar and Atahualpa but they never found this lost city during their occupation due to it located on the top of mountain very high from the ground and there is only one way to access which is protected by a stone wall. Until 1911, it was discovered by a Yale (name of third oldest university in United State) graduate named Hiram Bingham as he heard rumors about abandon city native Peruvians, who guided him there. Based on this information, he develop a project and partly funded by National Geographic Society in order to find this long lost city and make a deal with Peru government to take a artifacts for his further study.

Machu Picchu was declared a Peruvian Historical Sanctuary in 1981 and a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983. Machu Picchu was voted one of the New Seven Wonders of the World in a worldwide Internet poll in 2007.

If you have a chance, you should spent your trip to visit Machu Picchu one time in order to see long lost city with a nice view from the mountaintop. In order to access to Machu Picchu, you need to buy a tickets which is available in the city of Peru or booking online and it is better to book it in advance as the tickets can be sold out very quickly especially during high seasons from June to September as the ticket is limited to 2,500 a day and should be avoid on Sundays because that’s when people who live in the Cusco province are allowed into the site for free. There are three type of tickets as follows:-

Machu Picchu Main Grounds

Adult: $47 USD, Students*: $24 USD, Child (8-17 years)*: $24 USD

Get Your Guide Instant Booking Price: $79 USD

This provides entry to Machu Picchu – that is, the main ruins, terraces, and temples that you see in typical photos (pictured above, left). It does notprovide entry to climb either of the mountain peaks including Machu Picchu Mountain or Huayna Picchu

Machu Picchu & Montaña (Mountain) Machu Picchu

Adult: $62 USD, Student*: $38 USD, Child (8-17 years)*: $38 USD (125 Soles)

Get Your Guide Instant Booking Price: $99 USD

This provides entry to climb the taller mountain, Montaña Machu Picchu, which is 10,111ft/3,082m and provides a raised view of the ruins (pictured above, middle). This mountain is generally less busy, but has no ruins and is a longer climb. You must choose between 2 time slots to climb, either 7-8AM or 9-10AM

Machu Picchu & Huayna Picchu

Adult: $62 USD, Student*: $38 USD, Child (8-17 years)*: $38 USD (125 Soles)

Viator Instant Booking Price: $81 USD (the lower price initially displayed is for local residents only)

This provides entry to the shorter, busier mountain peak, Huayna Picchu (8,923ft/2,720m). Here you'll have sweeping views (pictured above, right) and entry to the Temple of the Sun and ruins at the top. You must choose between 2 time slots to climb, 7-8AM or 10-11AM.