10 facts about Machu Picchu that you certainly did not know

The well-known environmental protection organization WWF published in its travel blog "10 interesting facts about Machu Picchu". Heritage of Unesco for thirty years, one of the seven new wonders of the world since 2007, Machu Picchu has become a must for a trip to Peru.

Here are 10 interesting facts you should know about Machu Picchu, which will also allow you to look like a professional during a conversation about Peru. 😉

1. "Machu Picchu" means "old mountain" in Quechua.

2. The vast majority of the cities built by the Incas were destroyed by the conquerors who built other monuments on the foundations. It is thanks to its geographical location, hidden for centuries among the high mountains of the Sacred Valley, that Machu Picchu escaped.

3. For centuries, the site was known only to locals. In 1911, Yale University archeologist and professor Hiram Bingham was brought there by locals. His book "Lost City of the Incas" and National Geographic related their discoveries, this is how the citadel was revealed to the world.

4. The Hiram Bingham team that brought the artifacts found at the site back to Yale, Peru, have long called for this heritage to be returned. It was finally in November 2012 (a century later!) That Yale sent Peru the last box containing the remains (bones, pottery, etc.) to Peru, for a total of 35,000 objects. The dispute is over.

5. There are 150 buildings in the citadel, ranging from houses to temples and baths. You can discover every building in a 2 Days Tour to Machu Picchu.

6. There are several theories about the role of Machu Picchu. Some pose the hypothesis of a royal residence, others, a high place of religious worship. Actually, the only certainty we have is that the site was a place of great importance during the time of the Inca Empire.

7. Machu Picchu served as an astronomical observatory. We also notice it with the Intihuatana, a great sacred stone that indicates the two equinoxes and, it is said, the magnetic north.

8. The Incas were excellent bricklayers. We notice this in their construction technique where the stones were cut with such precision that they fit perfectly. After centuries, the walls still remain, without cement. In addition to Machu Picchu, these stones can also be seen almost everywhere in the Sacred Valley and in Cusco.

9. Despite the fact that many very heavy stones were transported to the citadel to build the city, no traces of wheels were found. These stones are supposed to have been pushed by men. Remember that Machu Picchu still rises at 2430m above sea level.

10. The site has over 100 flights of stairs, each of which has been cut directly from stone.
    

But Machu Picchu is much more than a series of numbers, dates and assumptions. It is a world apart that seems to have stopped in time. Witness to a glorious time, it still lives today in the imagination of travelers and the curious, big and small. You have to live it to understand it, and the best way to reach this magical attraction is through a trek: Classic Inca Trail, Short Inca Trail, Choquequirao Trek 4 Days or the Lares Trek to Machu Picchu 4 Days​ are amazing hikes that take you through the most incredible landscapes to Machu Picchu.