The ancient city of Machu Picchu is located in Peru.
The Inca site stands high in the Andes above the Urubamba Valley, about 80 kilometres northwest of Cusco. Archaeologists generally date its construction to the 15th century, during the reign of the Inca ruler Pachacuti.
Machu Picchu includes terraces, plazas, temples, residences, and carefully fitted stone walls. Its original purpose remains debated, but many scholars view it as a royal estate or ceremonial centre rather than a conventional city.
The site was not known internationally until Hiram Bingham brought it wider attention in 1911, although local people knew of it. Machu Picchu became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983 and is one of the best-known surviving landmarks of the Inca civilization.