Perú
Machu Picchu
Machu Picchu
What is Machu Picchu?
• An ancient Incan city build high up in
the mountains
• One of the best preserved Incan cities
• Constructed in1450 by the Incans
• Located 50 miles from Cuzco, hidden
in mountains
• It was never found nor destroyed by
the Spaniards (Pizarro).
• Rediscovered in 1911 by Hiram
Bingham, from Yale University
• Wayna Picchu (young mountain),
Machu Picchu (old mountain)
• Reached by the Incan trail on foot (or
now by bus)
Why was
Machu Picchu
built?
• Archeologists discovery of the many temples: sun, moon,
condor, three windows, etc.
• Most believe it was the home of Incan ruling class and
priests (temples, palaces and observatories)
• Incans performed religious ceremonies in Machu Picchu
• Huacas – places where Inti and Pachamama were
worshipped (typically in high mountains)
The Ruins
Inca Trail leading up to Machu Picchu
The Inca Trail
• The most important Incan road was the Camino Real, or
the Royal Road.
• A length of 5,200 km (3,230 mi)
• It began in Quito, Ecuador, passed through Cusco, and
ended in what is now Tucumán, Argentina.
• The Camino Real follows the mountain ranges of the
Andes, with altitudes of more than 15,000 feet
• Because of trail erosion, the Peruvian government limits
the number of people who can hike the trial to 500
people a day, including guides and porters
• You can trek up to Machu Picchu, which takes around
three or four days
Intihuatana Stone
• Many believe Machu Picchu was an astronomical
observatory
• Intihuatana Stone – Called “the hitching post of the sun”
• On March 21st and September 21st at noon, the sun stands
almost directly above the pillar, creating no shadow at all,
so is "tied" to the rock.
• The Incas held ceremonies at the stone in which they "tied
the sun" to halt its northward movement in the sky
• It told them when to plant and to harvest crops
Intihuatana Stone
Wayna Picchu
• In Quechua, it means "Young Peak"
• The taller mountain next to Machu Picchu
• The Incans built a trail up the side of the Wayna
Picchu and built temples and terraces on its top
• According to locals, the top of the mountain was the
residence for the high priest and the local virgins
• Every morning before sunrise, the high priest would
signal the coming of the new day
• The climb is very steep and dangerous and takes
about 1 hour each way
Wayna Picchu