Most Inca ruins are located in modern-day Peru. Peru contains the heartland of the Inca Empire, including its capital, Cusco, and many of the empire’s best-known archaeological sites.
The Inca state expanded across parts of present-day Ecuador, Bolivia, Chile, Argentina, and Colombia, so important ruins exist beyond Peru. However, the densest concentration is in the Peruvian Andes, especially around the Cusco region and the Sacred Valley. Machu Picchu, Ollantaytambo, Pisac, Sacsayhuamán, and Moray are all in Peru.
Cusco was the political and religious center of Tawantinsuyu, the Inca name for their empire. From there, roads, administrative centers, terraces, temples, and fortresses spread across the mountains. A common mix-up is to assume that Machu Picchu was the Inca capital; it was an important royal estate or ceremonial settlement, while Cusco served as the imperial capital. Peru’s large number of surviving sites reflects both its central role in the empire and the rugged Andean landscape, which helped preserve many stone structures.