Which ancient city in Peru is famous for its Inca ruins high in the Andes?

Machu Picchu is the famous Inca citadel in Peru’s Andes.

Built in the 15th century during the reign of the Inca ruler Pachacuti, Machu Picchu stands at about 2,430 metres above sea level near the Urubamba Valley. Its terraces, plazas, temples and carefully fitted stonework occupy a steep mountain ridge.

The site was probably a royal estate or sacred retreat, although archaeologists continue to study its exact purposes. It was connected to the wider Inca road system and appears to have been abandoned in the 16th century, around the period of Spanish conquest. The Spanish did not record it as a major settlement, helping it remain relatively unknown outside the region.

Hiram Bingham brought international attention to the ruins in 1911, although local people already knew of the site. Machu Picchu became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983 and is often called one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, a modern designation rather than an ancient Inca title.