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SOUTH AMERICA TOURS

Experience the world-famous ancient wonders of Machu Picchu, Peru

Travelers on a tour of Peru will almost certainly want to make the time to visit the ancient historical wonders of Machu Picchu. Nestled in the heights of the Andes Mountains, it is arguably the most famous ancient site in all of South America, and one of the premier locations of its kind in the world.

Machu Picchu is a product of the indigenous Inca civilization, which ruled a significant portion of the continent, including modern-day Peru, for much of the second millennium A.D. Its buildings, abandoned for centuries, are mysteriously haunting while simultaneously presenting a strange sort of aesthetic beauty.

Although the Inca civilization was conquered and all but obliterated by the 17th century expeditions of Spanish conquistadors, Machu Picchu remained untouched. Remarkably, this is because the Spanish who sacked the city never managed to find it. Neither did any visitors to the area, and it remained unknown to all except indigenous locals until the early 20th century.

Tourist traffic to the area is most prominent from May to September. Due to the area's popularity, daily attendance is limited to 2,500 people.

According to UNESCO, Machu Picchu is one of the 11 officially designated World Heritage Sites in the country of Peru, as of July 2011. 

Posted: July 28, 2011

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