Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu is an incredible old stone city located along Peru's Inca Trail and is one of the world's most recognized historical monuments. And of course, it's always at number one on the list of the most beautiful historical sites in Peru.

Machu Picchu's ruins, high atop a granite mountain, are thought to have been built by the Inca Yupanqui people for the then-emperor Pachacuti in the mid-fifteenth century. Machu Picchu's exceptional state of preservation is due to the Incas' excellent degree of engineering and architecture, such as the fact that each stone on the site fits together seamlessly.

The semicircular Temple of the Sun, the Temple of the Three Windows, the mausoleum, and the top cemetery are among Machu Picchu's most spectacular monuments. If you haven't arrived by the Inca Trail, there are a number of routes near the site that are suitable for hiking.

The location is well-known, and deservedly so: the metropolis appearing in the clouds takes even the most jaded traveler's breath away. However, with up to 6000 visitors per day permitted, Machu Picchu is becoming increasingly vulnerable to over tourism. Responsible tourism is essential: if you want to go, you must book well in advance or risk disappointment.

Location: Cusco Region, Peru