Inca trail to Machu Picchu, Peru, South America
50 Things to do before you die
Machu Picchu ("old mountain" in Quechua, the ancient language of the Incas) nestles on top of a mountain saddle high above the Urubamba River in the middle of the cloud forest. It was both a centre of worship and astronomic observatory as well as the private retreat of the family of Inca ruler Pachacútec.
Machu Picchu is split into two major areas: the agricultural zone, made up of terracing and food storehouses; and the urban zone, featuring the sacred sector, with temples, squares and royal tombs which have been carved to an extraordinary degree of perfection.
The stone staircases and canals are found throughout this unique archaeological site.
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