50 Unbelievable Machu Picchu Facts

Machu Picchu, discovered in 1911, is the most famous Inca Site is South America. As it’s such an important historical and archaeological site, there have been many discoveries about Machu Picchu. We set out on finding all the fun facts to help you prepare before your trip to Machu Picchu in Peru. Who knows? You may end up teaching your tour guide a few things!

10 Machu Picchu Facts about The History

1. Machu Picchu was an astronomical observatory.
   There is a stone within Machu Picchu called the Intihuatana stone. At midday on exactly March 21st & September 21st, the sun stands directly over this stone creating no shadow.
2. Hiram Bingham brought the site world attention.
   With the support of Yale University and the National Geographical Society, Hiram “re-discovered” Machu Picchu and brought it back to popularity in 1911. It’s believed that the Germans were the first to discover it in the 1800s but did not think it was that important. The Peruvians maintain that they had known about the site long before the Germans or Americans discovered it.
3. The city was never actually the “Lost City of the Incas.” When Hiram Bingham arrived the Machu Picchu citadel, there were three farmers living on the site.
4. Machu Picchu was constructed between 1450–1460.
   There no real way to predict when exactly Machu Picchu was built, but archaeologists presume it was built between 1450 and 1460 with construction starting around 1438.
5. Machu Picchu means “Old Peak” or “Old Mountain.”
   In Quechua, the native langue of Peru, the term Machu Picchu means “Old Mountain” or “Old Peak”
6. Spanish Conquistadors never conquered Machu Picchu.
   There is no evidence, including letters or travel diaries, that the Spanish made it to Machu Picchu, but there are some

1. assumptions that disease reached Machu Picchu from the Spanish resulting to its abandonment.
2. The Inca Empire was much more widespread than Peru.
   The Inca Empire encompassed Argentina, Bolivia, Ecuador, and Chile in addition to Peru. At its peak in 1533, the empire had more than 20 million people and did not begin to decline until after the assassination of the emperor Atahualpa in 1533.
3. At the Incan Empires peak, many influential world events had not taken Place.
   Martin Luther had yet to be born (1483), Columbus has yet to sail the “Ocean Blue” (1492), Leonardo da Vinci has not yet painted the Mona Lisa (1503), Michaelango had not sculpted David (1504), and St. Peters Church in Rome has yet to have its cornerstone placed (1506).
4. The official purpose of the site is unknown.
   As the Incans had no written language, we cannot be sure as to the original intent of Machu Picchu. However, many theories range from a royal estate for the Incan King, a pilgrimage site, or a ceremonial site. Only nobles, priests, and “aqllas” (virgins of the sun) populated the city. There was a population of peasants who worked the agricultural fields but did live inside the citadel.
5. The famous Inca Trail was a religious path to Machu Picchu.
   Many paths lead to Machu Picchu; however, the most famous today is the Inca Trail. This was thought to be a spiritual path to the citadel. After the Spanish conquistadors invaded in the 1500s, the Incan people destroyed most of the paths leading to Machu Picchu. They even destroyed the majority of the stones on the Inca Trail leading to Machu Picchu. This prevented Machu Picchu from being discovered for so many years.

10 Machu Picchu Facts About The Structure

1. Machu Picchu can’t fall.
   Peru is known for earthquakes, and cities have been flattened due to them; however, Machu Picchu still stands. This is because the stones were put together so tightly and without mortar that when an earthquake happens, they wiggle and move, but always fall right back in place. The technique was called ashlar. The stones were cut to fit so tightly together that not even a knife can fit between the spaces. A design feature that’s not only incredible to look at but engineered to greatness.
2. The wheel wasn’t used to transport the stones.
   The wheel hadn’t been invented by the yet by the Incas yet, but there are thoughts they used logs to push the stones which weighed over 50 pounds each.
3. There is an extensive network of water channels and conduits.
   The system of water channels and conduits combined make up more than 1 kilometer. The water runs into the Machu Picchu from the mountains above.
4. There are more than 150 buildings in the complex.
   Machu Picchu was a massive city which had more than 150 buildings. The buildings include baths, houses, temples, and various sanctuaries.
5. Most of what is seen at Machu Picchu today is original.
   As a testament to the incredible masonry skill the Incans had, up to 80% of the structure still standing at Machu Picchu is original. However, restoration does continue to this day to return the complex to its original form.
6. 60% of the construction is underneath the surface.
   Much of the structure located underground includes the structures for buildings and the extensive rain drainage and water canals for irrigation and consumption.
7. There are two different zones in Machu Picchu.
   The southern part of the city was used as the agricultural area while the north side was the urban center.
8. At 13 kilometers it was a relatively small city.
   The city housed a little over 1000 people. Because of the number of people in such a small area, the Inca architects had to be very efficient in it’s design when factoring in agriculture, housing, spiritual sites, and housing for the noble.
9. Huayna Picchu Mountain housed the high priest and the local virgins.
   Huayna Picchu, which overlooked Machu Picchu citadel had the Temple of the Moon built into it. The Temple of the Moon was one of the three major temples located at Machu Picchu. It also has the Stairs of Death which is the path taking one to the top of Huayna Picchu Mountain.
10. Machu Picchu was created using two different types of stone.
    It is mostly made up of carved granite stones, and the rest is held together using limestone. The Inca were such master crafters that they constructed a lot of the city around immovable granite boulders and made statues out of them.

10 Machu Picchu Facts about Geography

1. Machu Picchu’s elevation is lower than Cusco.
   A common misconception of Machu Picchu is that it’s insanely high and while it might be higher than Denver Colorado, it’s not as high in elevation as Cusco City or even Rainbow Mountain. Machu Picchu sits at 2,430 meters high (7,970 feet) above sea level. This means it is approximately 1000 meters (3,300 feet) lower than Cusco, which sits at 3600 meters (11,600 feet) above sea level.
2. A grass bridge provided a secret entrance into Machu Picchu for the army.
   This Incan grass rope bridge spanned the distance across the Urubamba river.
3. In the Incan Times, there were only two ways in and out of Machu Picchu.
   Both routes required high-altitude mountainous trekking. The first was via the secret grass bridge. The second was

1. through the Sun Gate leading to the Inca Trail.
2. It sits on two different fault lines.
   This is pretty amazing when you take into account that earthquakes can’t destroy it. Cusco and Lima have both been leveled by earthquakes, but Machu Picchu stands untouched.
3. There are wet and dry seasons.
   The majority of the annual rainfall is between October into April. June, July, and August, the high tourism season, has little to no days of rain.
4. Because of the dense cloud forest, there is still much of Machu Picchu to be discovered.
   Discoveries are being made all the time at the Machu Picchu site. The thick cloud forest that overtakes the area in the morning makes it difficult for discoveries as visibility is low. A new set of terraces was discovered and opened to the public in 2011.
5. The location of Macchu Picchu was significant to the Incas.
   The site of Machu Picchu and its buildings was influenced by the location of the nearby holy mountains. For example, an arrow-shaped stone at the top of Huayna Picchu points directly through the Intihautana Stone to Mount Salcantay, which was one of the most important mountains in Inca cosmology.
6. Machu Picchu is in the Vilcanota Mountain Range.
   The mountain range hosts Machu Picchu National Park which is a sanctuary for its species of hummingbirds, puya palm trees, ferns and over 90 types of orchids.
7. It can rain pretty heavily in Peru. In January 2010 heavy rains caused flooding destroying much of the railways and roadways that lead to Machu Picchu.
   As a result, more than 2,000 tourists and 2,000 locals were stranded, requiring rescue efforts.
8. Machu Picchu is on a hill surrounded by three mountains and the Urubamba.
   It is precisely the center of a ring of the mountains and the river.

10 Machu Picchu Facts on Traveling

1. Machu Picchu is not the only archaeological site in Peru.
   Machu Picchu is one of the busiest places (concerning visits) in Peru; however, it’s not the only one. Peru has over 90 sites to visit.
2. There are only two ways to get to Machu Picchu today.
   You can get to Machu Picchu by train or by hiking. These are the only two ways. There are no roads that lead to Aguas Calientes which is the city situated at the base of Machu Picchu.
3. There are two hikes in addition to viewing Machu Picchu.
   If you’re feeling like a hike, you can pay extra (in advance) to either trek Machu Picchu Mountain or Huayna Picchu.
4. On average 1.3 million people visit Machu Picchu yearly.
   That’s right 1.3 million people go to Machu Picchu a year! That’s 25,000 a month! (after new regulation set in place end of 2017, numbers will decrease over the next few years)
5. Only 2,500 tourists are allowed into Machu Picchu a day.
   This changed on July 1, 2017, after a compromise between Peru and UNESCO. UNESCO had initially wanted to reduce the allotment to 900 people per day. Tickets do sell out, so if you’re going to make sure you see Machu Picchu, it’s best to book your tickets well in advance.
6. Don’t forget your Machu Picchu passport stamp.
   At the entrance, there is a stamp for your passport with a lovely little image of Machu Picchu. This is a nice little souvenir to show all your friends that you have been to this natural wonder.
7. You can follow Hiram Bingham’s original path from 1911 leading to his “discovery” of Machu Picchu.
   If you choose not to take the bus from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu and prefer to travel by foot, you will follow the same path that Hiram Bingham took when he came to Machu Picchu.
8. There are no bathrooms beyond the entrance.
   Peru has done it’s best to preserve the original design and layout of Machu Picchu. That means there are no bathrooms once you get past the entrance. It will cost you two soles at the gate to use the bathroom before entering.
9. There are two time slots for entrance to Machu Picchu.
   There is a morning time slot starting at 6:00 am and an afternoon slot beginning at 12:00 pm. You are allowed 4 hours for your visit. But who’s keeping track?
10. The Temple of the Sun, or Torreon, is one of the three important temples that visitors can see.
    It has an elliptical shape similar to the sun temple located in Cusco City. Inside there is a rock which serves as an altar, and during the June Solstice, the window, sun, and altar directly align. Below the temple is a large cave, which its use is unknown.

10 Bonus Machu Picchu Facts

1. Machu Picchu is one of the 7 New Wonders of the World.
   In 2007 Machu Picchu was voted into the New Seven Wonders of the World.
2. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
   in 1983 Machu Picchu was announced as one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
3. There is a no-fly zone over Machu Picchu. In 2006, there were plans to institute helicopter tours over Machu Picchu. However, after complaints by environmentalists stating that rare animals and plants, such as spectacled bears and vicunas, would be affected by the low-flying helicopters, the Peru Transport and Communication Ministry reversed its decision. As a result, this also means no drones are allowed to fly.
4. You cannot visit wearing your counties folkloric attire.
   The Peru government wants to preserve the sanctity of the famous site. Therefore you can’t show up in a Scottish Kilt, Japanese kimono, or German lederhosen to name a few.
5. Machu Picchu is on the World Monuments Watch List of the 100 Most Endangered Sites.
   Finland agreed to trade 25% of Peru outstanding national debt (nearly USD $6 million) in exchange for conservation programs.
6. The Intihautana stone was irreparably damaged in 2001 after a Peruvian beer company sneaked equipment onto the site to shoot a tv ad.
   The camera crane operator was sentenced to 6 years in jail.
7. Hiram Bingham’s team excavated more than 40,000 artifacts during his exploration and stored them at Yale University.
   There was a protracted dispute over these items between Peru and Yale University. Those items were finally returned to Peru in 2011 to mark the Centennial of Bingham’s discovery.
8. There is a yearly marathon foot race along the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu.
   The fastest time ever recorded was 3 hours and 34 minutes by a Peruvian man named, Roman Tinta, in 1997. For comparison, a well fit person can expect to finish the Inca Trail marathon between 6 and 8 hours.
9. There is a hidden temple to explored for those hiking up to Huayna Picchu.
   This temple is in a cave which is called Templo de la Luna, or Temple of the Moon. It is a ceremonial shrine that is thought to have held mummies. The temple is off a trail that wraps around the peak.
10. A local family claims that they continue to own Machu Picchu and they may have proof.
    A descendant of one of the farmers living on the land when Hiram Bingham “discovered” the site, Roxana Abrill Nunez, has filed several lawsuits worth more than over $100 million in compensation and a cut of future tourism profits. Peru had continued to deny her claim despite having the deed showing the family purchased the land in 1910, a year before Bingham arrived.

This article first appeared on cachilife.com