The Inca site of Machu Picchu is located in Peru.
Machu Picchu stands high in the Andes above the Urubamba Valley, about 80 kilometres northwest of Cusco. Most evidence indicates that the Inca ruler Pachacuti ordered its construction in the 15th century. The site includes terraces, plazas, temples, residences, and carefully fitted stone walls.
The settlement was probably a royal estate or ceremonial centre rather than a conventional city. Its builders adapted the architecture to steep mountain terrain and created drainage systems that helped protect the terraces from heavy rainfall. The site was abandoned during the Spanish conquest period, although the Spanish did not record discovering it.
Hiram Bingham brought international attention to Machu Picchu in 1911, guided by local residents. The site was already known locally, so describing Bingham as its “discoverer” can be misleading. UNESCO designated it a World Heritage Site in 1983.