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Machu Picchu Peru
Machu Picchu Peru - "The Lost City of the Incas"
- TripAdvisor travelers voted Machu Picchu Peru a top World
destination
- Machu Picchu is considered one of the 7
Wonders of the World
Fascinating!
Our pages on Machu Picchu Peru will be including the following areas of
interest:
3. Maps of Machu Picchu
5. History of Ancient Machu Picchu
"Trips to Peru
Machu Picchu mean ... fascination,"
not only for the incredible and extensive sites of the ancient
Inca Civilization but also for its setting in the mountain mists
and cloud forest of tropical Southern Peru.
Lesser-known but remarkable
even on its on merits, the animal and plant life, some of it unique to
the Machu Picchu Historical Reserve, adds flavor to the entrancing
atmosphere.
What is Machu Picchu?
Machu Picchu Peru (in Quechua, "old
mountain") is an Inca
stronghold or fortress built by the Incan rulers.
Buried in the mountain jungle of
Southeastern Peru, these incredible archaeological remains were
unknown to the outside world until an explorer by the name
of Hiram Bingham stumbled
upon them in 1911. Since then, it has been visited by millions of
visitors.
The train into Aguas
Calientes (village at the bottom of the mountain) was closed for
several months due to landslides in March 2010 but reopened within a
short time.
Machu Picchu, Peru is a
pre-Columbian Inca site,
which means that it
existed before any European influences in the Americas. It was a center
of worship and astronomical observation and was probably a private
family estate of Inca Pachacutec.
To supply the food for the residents, the
site included an agriculture area with terraces and food storage.
Considered sacred by the locals, Machu Picchu, Peru is especially
important as a cultural heritage site.
The architecture and setting combined make this one of the most
impressive locations in the world.
Peru's Machu Picchu and surrounding
areas now form the Machu Picchu Historic
Reserve, covering an area of 80,535 acres (32,592 hectares)
Where is Machu Picchu Peru?
Machu Picchu is located
high atop a steep mountain ridge about 3000 feet above the
Urubamba Valley in Southern Peru.
Although it is 7,970 feet (2,439
meters) above sea level, the Machu Picchu area is in the midst of the
extensive tropical forest on the eastern slope of Peru's southern
mountains
The Landscape and Natural Attractions
Much of
the beauty and charm that surrounds Machu Picchu, Peru's
biggest tourist attraction, is its unusual setting: a spectacular natural
environment of verdant ridges and valleys covered with mountain forests.
Surrounded
by the Andes Mountains of Peru, Machu Picchu is dominated
by majestic
Salkantay (6,271 m), the highest snowdrift mountain in the Cordillera
de Vilcanota (Vilcanota range).
Salkantay mountain had a religious
significance for the local population as being the god Apu.
Huayna
Picchu (in
Quechua, 'Young Mountain') is the mountain right
next to Machu Picchu, a hallmark feature of photos of the
area.
There are interesting Inca ruins in different parts of Huayna Picchu that are accessible by
steep trails.
For the more athletic and adventurous, a hike to the
breathtaking peak of Huayna Picchu is not to be missed.
Flora and
Fauna
Over 350 species of birds
can be found in the Reserve, many of which can be
seen during a hike.
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For example, the Andean Cock-of-the-Rock
(national
bird of Peru) can be identified by the male's brilliant red color.
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Ground animals also abound
in the area of Machu Picchu,
Peru.
The
Andean Bear, or Spectacled Bear,
for one, inhabits the Reserve, although seldom
seen due to its reclusive habits.
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The flora is
particularly
diverse and interesting: nearly 200
species
of orchids have been recorded in the sanctuary. |

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See Cusco (Cuzco)
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Discover Cusco
(Cuzco) - If you are considering visiting Cusco, Peru, you will be
amazed by the richness and tranquility of this city nestled in the
mountains. Where to begin... |
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Cheap
Hotels In Cusco Peru
At Inside-Peru.com, we have done some web research to save you time to
find you the best information we can on cheap hotels in Cusco, Peru.
This short list is just a sample of Inside-Peru's great selection of...
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Cusco
- Things to do, places to stay! Find the best deal, compare prices, and
read what other travelers have to say at TripAdvisor
*(Common misspellings are
Macchu Pichu and Macchu Picchu)
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Recommended
Reading:
The
White Rock
An Exploration of the Inca Heartland
The Peru Reader
History, Culture, Politics
The Conquest of
the Incas
"A superb work of narrative history"
-- Antonia Fraser
Birds of Peru
"A major accomplishment"
-- Birder's World


 Alpaca wool cape, 'Andean Bonfire'
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