Incredible, magical, and unique: that’s how the thousands of travelers who visit Machu Picchu sum up their experience, where they find the finest representation of Inca culture in the world.
There are several ways to reach this astonishing place: you can choose a traditional train experience, opt for one of the Inca Challenges that will completely transform the way you experience Machu Picchu, or include it among the destinations on an incredible journey through Peru’s best highlights.
Since it is now considered Peru’s main and most visited tourist destination—and also one of the most visited places on the planet—we want to dedicate this article to five fascinating facts you (perhaps) didn’t know about this wonder of the modern world.
Here are five facts about Machu Picchu that will (probably) surprise you
1. Its name isn’t really Machu Picchu, and calling it ‘the lost city of the Incas’ isn’t correct either
Today we all know it as Machu Picchu, and that is thanks to Hiram Bingham, the American explorer who came across the Inca site during his 1911 expedition and began the scientific study that made it famous around the world.
Spoiler: in reality, he wasn’t actually looking for it.
He was trying to find Vilcabamba, the last Inca settlement used as a refuge after the Spanish conquest in 1572. While traveling through the Urubamba Valley, Hiram Bingham asked local residents whether they knew of any ancient ruins nearby. It was an Indigenous farmer, Melchor Arteaga, who directed him to Machu Picchu, using his native language.
In fact, the meaning of Machu Picchu in that ancient language appears to be ‘old mountain’ or ‘old peak,’ and it refers to the mountain directly opposite the citadel.
The mountain just behind the citadel, clearly visible in all the classic postcard photos, is called Huayna Picchu, which means ‘young mountain.’ Its summit can be reached in about 45 minutes, with breathtaking views and an Inca temple along the way.
So what did the Incas call this city?
There are a few theories, but no one truly knows. Hiram Bingham wrote the book The Lost City of the Incas based on his discoveries, but many of his theories have since been disproven. And since many people lived in the area and knew of the site before Hiram Bingham made it famous worldwide, we cannot really say it was ever lost.
2. The site is 75% original, making it one of the best-preserved archaeological sites of its era
When the Spanish arrived in Peru in the 15th century, during their conquest they destroyed many Inca buildings and sacred sites, building Catholic churches on top of them.
One of the reasons we can still visit and admire such a well-preserved archaeological citadel today is that the Spanish never found it.
What a stroke of luck.
This is partly due to its remote location, but there is also evidence that when the Incas abandoned the city, they burned some of the surrounding structures and trails so the site would be harder to spot.
During expeditions in the early 1900s, Hiram Bingham found Machu Picchu covered by forest vegetation, which had to be cleared in order to continue the research. Unfortunately, this led to the collapse of some structures. It was then discovered that the more than 600 terraces below the citadel had been built to prevent it from sliding down the mountain.
Structural engineering that was incredibly advanced for its time!
What we can visibly see of Machu Picchu today is only about 40% of the whole site; the rest remains covered by vegetation in an effort to preserve it as much as possible. After the first excavations, there were some very limited restoration and reconstruction efforts, but it remains one of the best-preserved archaeological sites of its time, with around 75% of the original structures intact.
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3. Much of the construction was built without the use of mortar
The Incas are known for their incredibly advanced construction and stoneworking techniques, and by visiting Machu Picchu you can see for yourself just how impressive their structures were.
Ashlar masonry was one of the techniques most commonly used by the Incas in their most sacred structures. In this technique, workers polished and carved large granite stones to perfection, shaping them meticulously so they fit together without the use of mortar or clay. The stonework was so precise that not even a blade could be slipped between the stones.
This type of construction is incredibly earthquake-resistant, because it allows the stones to shift slightly and then settle back into place without the walls collapsing. As has been proven, the Incas were aware that Machu Picchu stood on several fractures and tectonic fault lines, and they wisely avoided building directly over these small fissures.
Amazing, isn’t it?!
4. There is a no-fly zone over Machu Picchu
In the 1970s and 1980s, there were two occasions when the Peruvian government removed a large monolith to allow a helicopter to land at Machu Picchu (once for the visit of the King and Queen of Spain and once for a meeting of Latin American leaders).
In any case, there is currently a no-fly zone over Machu Picchu.
Other strict regulations that have been introduced include:
- a daily ticket limit (3,500 tickets per day);
- restricted entry time slots;
- a one-way pedestrian circulation system.
The goal?
To reduce and control foot traffic and keep tourism sustainable.
5. Machu Picchu says goodbye to single-use plastic
Good news for Machu Picchu and for the environment!
Recently, the Peruvian government issued a supreme decree approving the ban on single-use plastic within these world wonders.
The government’s intention is to gradually replace plastic bags, cutlery, straws, bottles, and cups with reusable and biodegradable plastics, or with other materials whose decomposition does not generate pollution.
This was announced by the National Service of State-Protected Natural Areas (Sernanp), which expressed its satisfaction at the end of plastic use in the Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu. The measure will also extend to Manu National Park, the Paracas National Reserve, and other protected natural areas throughout the country.
The regulation also includes sites declared cultural heritage sites and state museums.
In this way, it confirmed the commitment made by the Minister of the Environment, Fabiola Muñoz, who had announced that protected natural areas would be the first state entities to comply with the single-use plastic regulation.
This means that tourists and visitors cannot enter the country’s main cultural and natural attractions carrying single-use plastic bags, straws, or bottles.
The only exceptions, according to the regulation, would be for hygienic or health reasons, when plastic is essential to maintain the safety of a product or for waste disposal.
Conclusions
In this article, we talked about some fascinating facts about Machu Picchu, one of the wonders of the modern world.
By the way, did you know that we’ve organized a tour that just so happens to stop there? Take a look at our trip to Peru!
