There are no signs on any of the structures, which contribute to the atmosphere of antiquity, personal discovery, and harmony with the natural environment for which Machu Picchu is so beloved. To help identify the ruins, guidebooks and maps are available at the entrance. Machu Picchu is thought to have been deserted just 100 years after it was completed — likely due to a water shortage or lack of maintenance. After the Inca left Machu Picchu elements of the site continued in use by the local inhabitants until it was revealed to the rest of the world by Hiram Bingham in 1911. If you are seeing it for the first time or for the hundredth, Machu Picchu is always impressive. Could this marvel really be private property?

Among the most impressive characteristics of Machu Picchu is the technique that was employed to build it. It is still a general mystery as to how the Inca managed to move the large rocks that they used to construct the city, especially when you consider how it is perched almost precariously over the Urubamba River valley. Never discovered by the Spanish or mentioned in their chronicles, is Machu Picchu the most popular, yet least well-known of the Inca monuments – the pre-Colonial cultures of Peru left no written records. Machu Picchu is a well-preserved pre-Columbian Inca ruin located on a high mountain ridge, at an elevation of about 2,350 m (7,710 ft). Forgotten for centuries by the outside world, although not by locals, it was brought back to international attention by Yale archeologist Hiram Bingham who rediscovered it in 1911, and wrote a best-selling work about it.

image via kimimago

Machu Picchu is situated between steep mountains with summits above 5.500m and the always-wild Vilcanota River. The only way to get there was over a narrow footpath constructed by the Incas, the Inca Trail or the Camino Del Inca. Climbing the nose of Machu Picchu is certainly a great experience but that in itself is hampered by the difficulties of being one of the first 400 people in line. The flora of Machu Picchu is exuberant, and in higher areas different species of high-Andean grains are found. In the low areas, trees such as the “aliso” Alnus jorullensis, “nogal” Juglans neotropica, “intimpa” Podocarpus glomeratus, and “Kisuar” Buddleja incana may be found.

image via kimimago

Although officially sun rise at Machu Picchu is at about 5:30am the sun doesn’t actually start to break out from behind the mountains until about 7:20am (give or take 10 minutes due to variations throughout the year). So arriving at Machu Picchu for about 7am in the morning is ideal as it takes about 10 minutes to walk up to the Watchman’s Hut which offers the best views over Machu Picchu. Surrounded by the emerald green Andes Mountains, shrouded in mist with breaks of golden sunlight and totally hidden from ground level, Machu Picchu is truly one of the world’s most spectacular sites. Explore the perfect stonework of the Temple of the Sun, the fountains of the Royal Sector, the views from the Temple of the Three Windows, the cave of the Temple of the Condor and the mysterious calendar of Intihuatana. Another unique thing about Machu Picchu is the integration of the architecture into the landscape. Existing stone formations were used in the construction of structures, sculptures are carved into the rock, water flows through cisterns and stone channels, and temples hang on steep precipices.

Although it is possible to approach the city by road and then walk to the gate, by far the best way to view Machu Picchu is to hike along the Inca Trail or board a train at Cuzco. The narrow gauge railway meanders along the valley at a gentle pace and visitors may choose from a number of options to suit their budget, ranging from the Backpacker Shuttle to the Hiram Bingham luxury train. In fact most of the history of Machu Picchu is unknown, even though there are many books on the subject, a lot of their content are pure speculation. From the first lodge to the end of the trek – the final part to Machu Picchu is by train – is just 20 miles as the condor flies. But the vertical distances felt transcontinental.

Machu Picchu is both the most impressive and the least understood of the Inca ruins. It is not mentioned in any of the chronicles of the Spanish conquistadors and archaeologists today can do no more than speculate on its function. Because of this, Machu Picchu is now thought to have been a point to observe astronomical events such as the vernal equinox and the autumnal equinox, which would have been important to the Incas who worshiped the Sun. By Peru Rail train, Machu Picchu is three hours and 30 minutes west of the city of Cusco, whose airport accommodates flights from Lima. You can also get there from Cusco in three hours by driving to Ollantaytambo and boarding the train.

One of the most freeing aspects of Machu Picchu is that you can either take a tour of the mountain or explore it yourself. What’s more, half of the adventure in visiting this breathtaking city is in getting there itself. The architectural wonder of the Machu Picchu is that the stone walls have been built without any mortar and still there is not an inch space between the stone blocks. The Machu Picchu has been built totally manually and is composed of 150 structures including the parks, sanctuaries, residences, temples, baths, and storage rooms and so on.