Historic sanctuary of Machu Picchu
MACHU PICCHU, Cusco - Peru
Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu
(Santuario Historico de Machu Picchu)
One of the most important and most visited PreColumbian sites in the Americas, an outstanding symbol of Peruvian national pride and Inca civilisation. The ruins are a uniquely sited royal winter retreat, religious sanctuary and mausoleum of the Inca rulers from Cuzco built around the middle 15th century, superbly constructed and integrated with a spectacularly beautiful landscape. Its sheltered and remote location has preserved a very rich endemic and relict flora and fauna, including the rare spectacled bear.
Peru Tour Operator: sanctuary of Machu Picchu, travel to Peru, Machu Picchu tours Cuzco.Back to top
COUNTRY: Peru
NAME: Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu (Santuario Historico de Machu Picchu)
MIXED CULTURAL & NATURAL WORLD HERITAGE SITE:1983: Inscribed on the World Heritage List under Cultural Criteria i & iii and Natural Criteria vii & ix.
IUCN MANAGEMENT CATEGORY V: Managed Resource Protected Area
BIOGEOGRAPHICAL PROVINCE: Yungas (8.35.12)
Peru Tour Operator: sanctuary of Machu Picchu, travel to Peru, Machu Picchu tours Cuzco.Back to top
Machu Picchu the lost city of Incas
Machu Picchu
Almost a century after its archaeological discovery and thanks to recent studies of sixteenth century archival documents, there are good arguments to suppose that the citadel of Machu Picchu was - like the pyramids of the pharaohs in Egypt or the tomb of the emperor Chin Shi Huan in China - the luxurious and well cared for mausoleum of the Inca Pachakuteq, founder and first emperor of Tawantinsuyu.
Machu Picchu Cusco, Peru
No one doubts that it is a sanctuary of superior social position built in a privileged place seven or eight days' journey on foot from the city of Cuzco. In Machu Picchu there are remains of buildings that were covered with gold, presumably with fantasy gardens, idols and offerings like those of the temple of Qorikancha in Cuzco.
Aguas Calientes Machu Picchu Cuzco
The town of Aguas Calientes
Machu Picchu pueblo
Aguas Calientes is a very small town on the Urubamba River in Peru. Aguas Calientes is located in the district of Machu Picchu, province of Urubamba, department of Cusco. It is located at the western spring of the Vilcanota Mountains, bounded by the Apurimac and Urubamba rivers. It's Altitude is: 7,920 feet above sea level, and it’s average temperature is 55ºF/13ºC. It's rainy season is from November to March.
Just about the only reason that tourists travel to Aguas Calientes is that it is a place where the tourist catches a bus to be transported to the ruins of Machu Picchu, which is 8km distant. As such, quite an industry has developed there which brings income to the local people in the area.
Aguas Calientes is also known for its natural hot baths, which give the town its name ("hot waters" in Spanish).
Another interesting bit of trivia is that the main street is actually a railway line rather than a road.
Trains, as well as helicopters always leave their passengers at this small village before they are taken by busses to Machu Picchu.
The village is located about 2 km from the Puerto Ruinas station and it is the place chosen by most travelers to spend the night. This small town has a few hotels, hostels and restaurants as well as discos with different prices.
About 800 m east of Aguas Calientes, are its famous thermal waters, which give their name to this town. They are sulfur waters at different temperatures, springing up from the rocky soil.
Pools have been constructed to serve as thermal baths. The average temperature of these waters is between 38º to 46º Celsius. Also, there are cloakrooms, restrooms and a small snack bar. The pools are open from 5 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Presently, the Pueblo Hotel at Aguas Calientes is the most luxurious.
Currently the government of Aguas Calientes prefers to call the town Machu Picchu.
