Peru contains the ancient ruins of Machu Picchu.
Machu Picchu is a 15th-century Inca citadel in Peru’s Andes Mountains, about 80 kilometres northwest of Cusco. It stands at roughly 2,430 metres above sea level on a ridge above the Urubamba River valley. The site includes terraces, plazas, temples, residences, and carefully fitted stone walls.
Most historians connect its construction with the Inca ruler Pachacuti, who reigned during the 15th century. The settlement was probably a royal estate or ceremonial centre, though its exact purpose remains debated. The Incas abandoned it during the Spanish conquest, and Spanish chroniclers did not record it prominently.
American historian Hiram Bingham brought international attention to Machu Picchu in 1911, although local people already knew of the site. UNESCO designated it a World Heritage Site in 1983. Its location and construction helped it survive largely intact through the colonial period.