MORE PERU...   Land of the Incas | Machu Picchu | Nazca and Paracas | Lake Titicaca
Pictures of Machu Picchu, Peru   Peru MACHU PICCHU
Pictures of the Inca 'lost city' of Machu Picchu in Peru

 
 
Picture of Machu Picchu, Peru
The Lost City of the Incas

The Inca citadel of Machu Picchu in Peru is one of the world's most spectacular ruins.  Houses, temples, staircases and agricultural terraces were built high among rugged and forested mountains with distant snow-covered Andean peaks providing a backdrop.  Far below, the rapids of the Urubamba river loop round the site.

  
  The mysteries of Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu is a mysterious place built in a staggering landscape for reasons forgotten with the passing of the Inca empire.  It is believed to have been constructed by the great ruler Pachacutec around the middle of the 15th century.  The Spanish conquistadors never found the site, probably because it was abandoned before the conquest.

Because the Incas left no written records, historians can only speculate on the purpose of Machu Picchu.  Some believe that the dramatic location may have held geographical or astronomical significance to the Incas.

   Photo of Machu Picchu, Peru
Long after being abandoned by the Incas and overgrown by dense forest, Machu Picchu was rediscovered in 1911 by the explorer and historian Hiram Bingham. 		  
 
Picture of Machu Picchu, Peru
A bromeliad growing on an Inca wall.		  
Photo of Machu Picchu, Peru
A view of now roofless buildings with dizzying peaks beyond.
 		  
Inca stonework at Machu Picchu

The intriguing buildings and structures at Machu Picchu are testimonies to the skills of the Inca builders.   No other civilization in the ancient world was able to cut and assemble stone blocks so perfectly.  The purposes of many of the Inca constructions at Machu Picchu remain a mystery.

Inca descendants Many descendants of the Incas live in the Peru highlands.  They keep alive traditions passed down by their ancestors who built Machu Picchu.
Inca stonework at Machu Picchu
The Temple of the Three Windows includes large, beautifully-cut polygonal stones.
 
Inca stonework at Machu Picchu
The Intihuatana is a huge carved stone that occupies a high point in Machu Picchu.  It may have been an astronomical calendar or used for mountain worship.
  Picture of Machu Picchu, Peru
The classic view of Machu Picchu with mist swirling up from the Urubamba river valley far below.  Left of the central plaza is the upper urban area with many of the most important buildings and the Intihuatana stone.		   Orchid
An orchid growing at Machu Picchu.  The surrounding forests are rich in exotic flora.		  
 
Machupicchu
 
Machupicchu
The view from close to the Intihuatana stone, looking across the central plaza to the lower urban area and distant mountains.		  
A sacred landscape
The Inca revered mountains and incorporated the natural beauty of the Andean landscape into Machu Picchu.
 
Photo of Machu Picchu
The buildings meld into a high saddle in front of Huayna Picchu peak.
Salcantay mountain seen from the Inca Trail
Seen from near Machu Picchu, the snow-capped peak of Salcantay rises above the clouds.  Salcantay was revered by the Incas who left carved arrow stones at Machu Picchu that point to its summit.
PERU: LAND OF THE INCAS
Pictures of people and Inca legacies in Cuzco, the former capital of the Inca empire.
PERU: NAZCA AND PARACAS
Featuring the strange Nazca Lines and wildlife of the Ballestas Islands of Peru.
PERU: LAKE TITICACA
Pictures of the people of the Uros Islands and Taquile Island.
OTHER DESTINATIONS
More pictures
Pictures from more of the world's stunning locations.
MACHU PICCHU WALLPAPER
Photos of the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu for download as computer desktop wallpaper.
ZOOMS AND PANORAMAS
Including large images of Machu Picchu that you can zoom and pan.
MACHU PICCHU VIDEO
BROADBAND ONLY (350 Kbps)
Uses RealPlayer
Length: 2 minutes
File size: 5.3 MB
THE LOST EMPIRE
Read about the Inca empire and their mountaintop sacrifices.  From Nova Online.
ANCIENT PERU
Information about archaeological sites in Peru from the Great Outdoor Recreation Pages.
VIRTUAL PERU
The history, geography, culture and people of Peru.  By Monica Mennen-Vela and Govert-Jan Mennen.
PERU ON THE MATRIX
Travelogue and photos by Bruce Stumpf.
PERU 360
A tour around Peru by Studio360.  Includes pictures and QuickTime panoramas of Cuzco, Sacsayhuaman and Machu Picchu.
DESTINATION PERU
A Lonely Planet travel guide with information on history, culture and attractions.
ROUGH GUIDE TO PERU
The online version of the popular guidebook to Peru.