Machu Picchu
Machu Picchu is a 15th-century (1400s) Incan citadel, or large fortress, situated on a mountain ridge 7,970 ft above sea level. For that reason, it was not easy to get to: we had to hike nearly two hours uphill before we finally reached the top! It is located not far from the city of Cusco, Peru. It is above the Sacred Valley, an area that was of great importance to the Incan empire and is full of ancient ruins.
Though it’s still unclear, most archaeologists believe that Machu Picchu was constructed for the Incan emperor Pachacuti (1438–1472). Machu Picchu is often called the "Lost City of the Incas,” and is the most familiar icon of Incan civilization. The Incans built the citadel around 1450 but had to abandon it around 1550 with the arrival of the Spanish. Natives managed to keep it a secret from the Spanish during the colonial period. In fact, it was unknown to the outside world until 1911, when the American historian Hiram Bingham brought it to international attention!
