Machu Picchu stands 2,430 m above sea-level, in the middle of a tropical mountain forest, in an extraordinarily beautiful setting. It was probably the most amazing urban creation of the Inca Empire at its height; its giant walls, terraces and ramps seem as if they have been cut naturally in the continuous rock escarpments. The natural setting, on the eastern slopes of the Andes, encompasses the upper Amazon basin with its rich diversity of flora and fauna.

MACHUPICCHU in an Inca archaeological site; Machu Picchu is an outstanding reminder of the power and ingenuity of the Inca civilization. Built in the 15th century, the ancient citadel was abandoned only 100 years later and many mysteries remain. Machu Picchu was Listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage site in 1983 and announced as one of the Seven Wonders of the World in 2007; it is the most important tourist destination in the world

The approximately 200 structures making up this outstanding religious, ceremonial, astronomical and agricultural centre are set on a steep ridge, crisscrossed by stone terraces. Following a rigorous plan the city is divided into a lower and upper part, separating the farming from residential areas, with a large square between the two. To this day, many of Machu Picchu’s mysteries remain unresolved, including the exact role it may have played in the Incas’ sophisticated understanding of astronomy and domestication of wild plant species.

After the abandonment of the Machu Picchu Historic Sanctuary, the growth of vegetation and isolation ensured the conservation of its architectural attributes. Although the design, materials and structures have undergone slight changes due to the decomposition of the fabric, the conditions of authenticity have not changed. Rediscovery in 1911, and subsequent archaeological excavations and conservation interventions have followed international practices and standards that have maintained the attributes of the property.