Which civilization built Machu Picchu in the Andes Mountains of present-day Peru?

The Inca civilization built Machu Picchu in the Andes Mountains of present-day Peru.

Machu Picchu is a 15th-century citadel located high above the Urubamba Valley. Archaeologists generally associate its construction with the reign of Pachacuti, the Inca ruler who transformed the kingdom of Cusco into a powerful empire. The site contains terraces, plazas, residences, religious structures, and carefully fitted stone walls.

Its builders adapted the complex to a steep mountain ridge. Agricultural terraces helped stabilize slopes and grow crops, while drainage systems reduced the risk of erosion from heavy Andean rainfall. The stonework is notable for its precise joins, often made without mortar. The purpose of Machu Picchu remains debated, although it may have served as a royal estate, religious center, or elite retreat.

Spanish colonial forces did not record the site as a major conquest target, and it was largely unknown internationally until Hiram Bingham publicized it after visiting in 1911. Machu Picchu was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983.