Travel guides from the trail

Machu Picchu Facts: What It Is Known For, Its Temples and the Myths That Are Not True

Machu Picchu is a 15th century Inca royal estate on a ridge at about 2,430 m (7,970 ft) in the Peruvian Andes. Radiocarbon dates published in 2021 show people lived there from about 1420 to 1530. The city covers about 10 to 12 hectares, sits inside a protected sanctuary of 32,592 hectares and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1983.

By Jorge Suyo·October 17, 2026·14 min read