{"id":876161,"date":"2024-11-20T02:31:41","date_gmt":"2024-11-20T01:31:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.adventureworld.com\/blog\/?p=876161"},"modified":"2025-09-19T01:08:02","modified_gmt":"2025-09-19T00:08:02","slug":"14-reasons-why-you-should-visit-machu-picchu","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.adventureworld.com\/blog\/14-reasons-why-you-should-visit-machu-picchu\/","title":{"rendered":"14 reasons why you should visit Machu Picchu"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Shrouded in mist and centuries-old mysteries, Machu Picchu has long intrigued travellers. And it\u2019s not surprising, really: once a thriving Inca city, this sprawling 32,592ha archaeological wonder is a proud symbol of ancient ingenuity and spiritual significance, with its sun-drenched temples and terraces rising over the Peruvian Andes. Here, we step behind the picturesque scenes of this World Heritage icon to explore what makes Machu Picchu so special, uncovering some of its mysterious must-sees, and sharing all the travel essentials for your ultimate, once-in-a-lifetime Machu Picchu and Peru adventure.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSee our suggested itineraries<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

1. Machu Picchu is one of the New Seven Wonders of the World<\/strong><\/h2>

Built around 1450 AD during the reign of Inca emperor Pachacuti, Machu Picchu<\/a> was not only a royal estate but also a spiritual sanctuary, reflecting the Inca\u2019s deep connection to nature, the cosmos, and governance. The citadel likely housed between 300 and 1,000 people before it was abandoned in the 16th century, possibly due to the Spanish conquest or internal factors. Although local farmers and Indigenous people were aware of its existence, it wasn\u2019t until 1911 that American explorer Hiram Bingham brought the complex to international attention. Since then, Machu Picchu \u2013 sometimes referred to as Hanan P’iqch’u in the Quechua language \u2013 has continued to captivate visitors, with around 1.5 million people visiting the site annually. The Peruvian icon is so beloved worldwide that, in 2007, a global poll organised by the New7Wonders Foundation<\/a> saw Machu Picchu join the ranks of the New Seven Wonders of the World, alongside landmarks like the Great Wall of China, Petra (Jordan), Christ the Redeemer (Brazil<\/a>), Chichen Itza (Mexico<\/a>), the Roman Colosseum (Italy), and India’s Taj Mahal<\/a>.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Ancient\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
Machu Picchu<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

2. Machu Picchu is the legacy of the Inca Civilisation <\/strong><\/h2>

The Incas were an influential people who had their heartland in the Andean region around modern-day Peru, with their Empire expanding into parts of Ecuador<\/a>, Chile<\/a>, Argentina<\/a>, Bolivia<\/a>, and Colombia<\/a> throughout the 15th<\/sup> Century. Renowned for their remarkable engineering skills, the Incas built enduring stone structures and developed sophisticated agricultural techniques like terracing and irrigation to thrive in the challenging Andean landscape. They also created a highly organised social and political system, headed up by the Sapa Inca who was believed to be a direct descendant of the Sun God. The Incas\u2019 ability to integrate diverse cultures, maintain efficient communication with an expansive road network, and preserve a rich spiritual worldview saw them leave a lasting imprint on their world. Although the Inca Empire fell to Spanish conquistadors in the 16th century, its impact continues to shape Andean culture, seen in language, art, and agricultural practices that remain to this day, and, of course, in the enduring legacy of Machu Picchu.<\/p>

3. <\/strong>Machu Picchu is a feat of ancient architecture<\/strong><\/h2>

With its precision stonework, advanced water systems, and seamless integration with the natural landscape, Machu Picchu showcases the Incas\u2019 extraordinary designing, building and engineering skills. As no wheels were used in the citadel\u2019s construction, it\u2019s believed its large building blocks and stones were hauled up the mountains via a combination of levers, pulleys, ramps and human labour. Once there, the Incas employed ashlar masonry, a technique where stones were cut with extreme precision to fit together without mortar, making structures both durable and earthquake-proof. Machu Picchu\u2019s complex water management system showcases the Incas\u2019 expertise in hydraulic engineering, featuring a network of aqueducts supplying water to fountains, baths, and agricultural terraces from nearby springs. Those terraces, in turn, feature intricate drainage systems that prevent erosion in the steep Andean terrain. The complex also shows a thoughtful approach to urban planning, with areas designated for residential, ceremonial, and agricultural purposes, all aligned with the surrounding mountains and celestial bodies.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
Inside Machu Picchu<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

4. Machu Picchu has a sacred atmosphere like nowhere else on Earth<\/strong><\/h2>

Machu Picchu\u2019s many consecrated spaces reflect the Incas\u2019 deep spiritual connection to their natural environment, and centuries on they still exude an otherworldly ambience. The Intihuatana (Hitching Post of the Sun) was crucial during the winter solstice, believed to \u2018tie\u2019 the sun to the earth, ensuring its return as the days began to lengthen. The Temple of the Sun, with its strategically placed windows, allowed sunlight to illuminate sacred areas during solstices, symbolising the sun’s vital role in sustaining life and guiding the agricultural cycles. The Temple of the Three Windows offered panoramic views of the surrounding mountains, while the Sacred Plaza and Main Plaza hosted significant ceremonies. The Inca Bridge and Royal Tombs likely held spiritual importance, and the Water Temple and fountains played an essential role in rituals. Ceremonies would have honoured Inti (the sun god), Pachamama (Mother Earth), and Viracocha (the creator god), involving offerings, sacrifices, prayers, and astronomical observations to ensure divine favour for the emperor, agricultural prosperity, and the health of the empire.<\/p>

5. Machu Picchu has unique wildlife and biodiversity <\/strong><\/h2>

The Incas\u2019 sacred citadel sits 2,430m (7,970ft) above sea level in southern Peru\u2019s Andes Mountains, near the town of Aguas Calientes and about 80km from the city of Cusco<\/a> \u2013 the former capital of the Inca Empire. Here, the ecosystems of the Andes and the Amazon Basin intersect, creating microclimates including high-altitude mountain habitats, riparian environments along the mighty Urubamba River and cloud forests. The unique ecology, safeguarded by the 32,000-hectare Machu Picchu Historic Sanctuary, supports more than 1,200 plant species, many of them endemic, including medicinal shrubs, 400 types of orchids and key Inca agricultural crops like potatoes, maize, and coca. The sanctuary is also a haven for rare and endangered wildlife including the spectacled bear, Andean mountain cats, pumas and vicu\u00f1as, and offers great birdwatching thanks to the presence of Andean condors, the striking cock-of-the-rock and more than 30 species of hummingbirds.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
Vicu\u00f1a in front of Machu Picchu<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

6. Machu Picchu is an important UNESCO World Heritage-listed site <\/strong><\/h2>

Machu Picchu was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site<\/a> in 1983 due to its outstanding universal value as a cultural, historical, and architectural masterpiece of the Inca Empire. Its combination of advanced engineering, integration with the natural landscape, astronomical and religious importance, and biodiversity make it one of the most significant heritage sites in the world. One of the key reasons for Machu Picchu\u2019s World Heritage status is its remarkable preservation: unlike many other Inca sites, Machu Picchu was never discovered and destroyed by the Spanish conquistadors. As a result, much of the site\u2019s original architecture and landscape remain intact, offering a unique glimpse into Inca life. While some restoration work has been done, the site still retains much of its original form and is considered one of the best-preserved examples of pre-Columbian architecture in the Americas. UNESCO\u2019s recognition helps preserve its cultural heritage and ensures it\u2019s protected against tourism pressure and environmental degradation.<\/p>

7. Machu Picchu has trails to suit most abilities and mobilities<\/strong><\/h2>

Inside Machu Picchu<\/a>, there are several walking routes to choose from:<\/p>