The Wonder of the World is one of the most highly anticipated destinations for tourists in Peru. We all know how incredible and surprising the views of the attraction can be, but where is Machu Picchu located? The truth is that the beautiful Machu Picchu location is situated in a particularly unique geographical area.
That is why we, along with Machu Travel Peru experts, want to explain in detail where Machu Picchu is located. We hope this inspires you to explore Peru’s wonder of the world. Perfect for Peru tours or anyone planning to travel to Machu Picchu!
Everything about where Machu Picchu is located and its main characteristics
Location of Machu Picchu
Thus, where is Machu Picchu located? This city of the Inca is in South America, in a central-western country called Peru. In a Peruvian southern city named Cusco, the ancient capital of the Inca empire. It’s precisely in the province of Urubamba, in the district of Machu Picchu.
Based on a Machu Picchu map, it is on the eastern slope of the Vilcabamba mountain range. At over 2,430 meters above sea level, or 7,972 feet, and 450 meters, or 1,477 feet over the valley level. It´s just on the Vilcabamba Batholith (a mass of magmatic rocks of significant dimensions, consolidated at great depth, whose cuts come out on the top of a mountain).
That is why, believe it or not, Machu Picchu is about a thousand meters below Cusco.
It is about 13 degrees south of the equator, and the Urubamba River surrounds it on its three sides. Its latitudes are 13 º 9 ’ 48 ’’ S and 72 º 32 ’ 44 ’’ W in the province of Urubamba (jungle sector). Just 80 km (50 miles) northwest of Cusco, the closest city. If you visit Machu Picchu, you must first go to Cusco.
The archaeological site also covers an area of approximately 10 hectares. In comparison, the Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu extends over an area of 32,592 hectares, including the Inca citadel and the long surrounding areas.
You also might be interested in: Detailed map of Machu Picchu
Strategic location
Any guide will explain that the environment where the ruins are located is just as important as the ruins themselves. This is one of the lesser-known Machu Picchu facts. The entire sanctuary was designed to connect with other significant Inca ruins.
Recent research shows the location of Machu Picchu. It reveals that the Inca beliefs and spirituality influenced the layout of its buildings.
For the Incas, the mountains, or Apus, were guardians and essential deities they worshipped. For example, at the top of Huayna Picchu, you can see a stone shaped like an arrow. This seems to point south, crossing the Intihuatana sight towards Mount Salkantay. The Salkantay was among the most revered Apus within Inca cosmology and thought.
Due to its location, Machu Picchu remained intact
Machu Picchu was built around 1450. And, from the time of the conquest in 1532, the Spaniards knew about the Inca citadel. They also had a general idea of its location. “In the edge of the jungle, in a dense tropical and cloud forest, several kilometers away from Cusco, and without precious metals such as gold and silver like Qoricancha (The temple of the Sun)”.
Another important fact was that they feared the tropical diseases of the Peruvian jungle. This place was completely foreign to them.
For all these reasons, Machu Picchu wasn’t interesting to Europeans, and they never tried to get there. In this form, Machu Picchu remained intact until today. That is why everyone called it the Lost City.
Frequently asked questions
1. How does the location influence the climate of Machu Picchu?
Its location makes the climate much milder and more tropical. Let’s remember that Machu Picchu is over the eyebrows of the rainforest. In the eastern Cordillera in the southern Peruvian Andes.
Therefore, the temperature ranges from 61ºF to 77ºF. The days are warm, with humidity and clear skies; sometimes, there can be fog in the mornings. Therefore, late March to May is the best time to visit Machu Picchu.
On the other hand, the temperature can go down to 36ºF on the nights of June and July.
You also might be interested in: Best Time to Visit Machu Picchu
2. Due to its location, what species of flora and fauna can be found at Machu Picchu?
The Sanctuary of Machu Picchu is a Nature Reserve that protects numerous endangered biological species. Also, it has many endemic species.
For example, it contains more than 580 animal species, of which there are about 500 types of butterflies. We can also mention Andean Auquenids, Giant Condors, Cocks of the Rock, Pumas, Sachabacas, Spectacled Bears, and much more. Regarding local flora, there are around 2354 plant species among 300 types of Orchids. Unbelievable!
Its beneficial location protects Andean grasslands, tall forests, tall dwarf forests, and cloud forests, among other places.
3. How do I go to Machu Picchu?
If you are asking how to get to Machu Picchu. Well, generally, most flights from the U.S., Europe, and other parts of the world have direct connections to Lima airport. This is the main door of Peru. From Lima, you can take domestic flights to Cusco (01:30 hrs of trip).
There are many daily flights. You can also get to Cusco by bus (22 hrs of travel), which has a daily frequency.
You can take tourist trains from Cusco or the Sacred Valley to Aguas Calientes train station. This town supports Machu Picchu. The trip takes 2 to 4 hours. Or you can take a car to a specific zone to get a train heading to the Inca citadel.
Trekking experiences like the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu or the Salkantay trek are also available.
From Aguas Calientes, you have two options: to reach the Inca citadel by bus (35-minute trip) or hike the mountain (01-hour approx).
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We hope that this article by Machu Travel Peru experts has been useful. When you are looking for Machu Picchu tours, you’ll need time and patience. Especially because getting to where Machu Picchu is located is an experience in itself.
You can review our other complete articles about Machu Picchu and learn the best way to experience this attraction before taking a tour. By the way, why not start organizing your journey right now? Our qualified consultants will be happy to help you plan the trip of your dreams.
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