Which island contains Machu Picchu, the Inca citadel above the Urubamba Valley?
Answer
None—it is on mainland Peru
Machu Picchu is not on an island; it is on mainland Peru.
The famous Inca citadel stands in the Andes above the Urubamba Valley, in Peru’s Cusco Region. It sits at approximately 2,430 metres above sea level on a mountain ridge between Machu Picchu Mountain and Huayna Picchu. The site was built in the 15th century, probably during the reign of the Inca ruler Pachacuti.
Machu Picchu is sometimes confused with Isla del Sol, an island in Bolivia’s Lake Titicaca that also has important associations with Inca origin traditions. However, the archaeological sanctuary of Machu Picchu is firmly located on the South American mainland.
The site became widely known internationally after Hiram Bingham brought it to broad scholarly attention in 1911. UNESCO added the Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu to its World Heritage List in 1983, recognizing both its cultural and natural importance.