A visit to Machu Picchu is a dream come true for many national as well as foreign visitors. Therefore, it is essential that responsible and sustainable tourism is applied in this most emblematic and important destination.
Machu Picchu is the famous ruins in Peru and the majestic Inca citadel is one of the most looked upon and photographed destinations in South America and hence the site as now gone through few changes including new entry times and new rules for optimal care, to standardize the volume of visits to the citadel which is one of the most visited worldwide
A Quechua word Machu means old or ancient, and Picchu means mountain, therefore Machu Picchu is Old Mountain. In order to begin the study of the archaeological complex a professor and anthropologist Hiram Bingham, who promoted the site processing the auspices of Yale University, the National Geographic Society, and the Peruvian government. was opened Machu Picchu to the world. As the most amazing urban creation of the Inca Empire and one of the most important heritage sites in the world Machu Picchu citadel is a protected area and due to the enormous natural and cultural attraction and its mysterious nature with great archaeological value and a variety of ecosystems attracts many researchers and tourists.
Machu Picchu sits on top of a mountain, 2.430 meters in the tropical forest, offering spectacular scenery with significant endemic biodiversity of flora and fauna it is a living example of the excellent technical skill and productivity of the Inca Empire in its apogee. and its vast domain was tied together by an estimated 40,000km of road. The site is made up of precincts, plazas, temples, tombs, rooms for storing food, stone canals, and stairways and platforms, distributed on the topography of the mountain in a unique work in urban design. The terraces over 700 preserved lands, promoted agriculture and served as part of an extensive system of water distribution and limited retained water erosion on steep slopes. The monument was built in the fifteenth century, served simultaneously as a center of worship and astronomic observation, and as a rest place of the royal family of the Inca Pachacutec
The Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu contains about 10% of the fauna and 22% of the flora of Peru is one of the few mountain regions that have abundant available information about the local flora and fauna. They have recorded 401 species of birds, 19 reptiles, 10 amphibians, 13 fishes, 300 diurnal butterflies, and 400 nocturnal and 309 species of orchids of the total of 1,625 species in the country, while 200 additional species are not recorded. Machu Picchu was inscribed by UNESCO on the List of World Historic cultural and Natural Heritage in 1983, but not on the list of UNESCO world heritage sites in danger and benefits from the standardization of tourist arrivals to the citadel between the morning and afternoon.
Machu Picchu is also one of the most Instagrammed sites in the world surrounded by splendid grassland and mountains. It is actually a feeling which can’t be described but have to live it to experience it.
More than 40 daily flights connect the city of Cusco with Lima, Arequipa, and Puno. Seasonally, there are flights to Iquitos, Trujillo, and Paracas. Once in Cusco, you should take the train to the district of Aguas Calientes. From there, take a bus to the citadel of Machu Picchu.
For those who love hiking and adventure, you can get there by following the Inca Trail. For this, it is recommended to plan the trip months in advance. For maintenance, the Inca Trail usually closes in the month of February. The opening hours are divided into two shifts: from 06:00 to 12:00 and from 12:00 to 17:30.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=STBHk1B3k30
