Nearly 600 years after its construction and 113 years after its re-introduction to the outside world by Hiram Bingham, Machu Picchu remains unexplained in ways that continue to fascinate. Not unexplained in the tabloid sense — the Inca built it, probably in the mid-15th century during the reign of Pachacutec, the ruler who expanded the Inca Empire from a regional Andean kingdom into the largest empire in pre-Columbian history. What remains genuinely mysterious is why they built it here, why it was abandoned less than a century after construction, and what it was for.
Who Built Machu Picchu?
The Inca Empire — Tawantinsuyu, "the four regions" — was a remarkable administrative and engineering civilisation that, at its peak in the early 16th century, controlled a territory stretching 4,000 kilometres from modern Colombia to central Chile. It was organised without writing (using the quipu knotted cord system for record-keeping instead), without the wheel, and without iron tools. What the Inca had was extraordinary architectural skill, sophisticated agricultural terracing, a 40,000-kilometre road system, and the ability to move millions of tonnes of stone through high mountain terrain using human labour and intelligence.
Machu Picchu was built from local granite, with stones so precisely fitted that no mortar was needed — the famous "no mortar" construction that still holds after earthquakes the region regularly experiences. The site sits at 2,430 metres, wedged between two mountain peaks with the Urubamba River curving 600 metres below. It is inaccessible from the river valley, visible only from above, and was entirely hidden from the Spanish conquistadors who ransacked every Inca site they could find.
What Machu Picchu Was For
The leading current theory is that Machu Picchu was a royal estate — a retreat for Pachacutec and his court, visited seasonally. This explains its extraordinary construction quality alongside its modest size (roughly 200 structures, only partially residential). The agricultural terraces produced food for its inhabitants. The astronomical alignments (the Intihuatana stone, the Temple of the Sun's solstice windows) encoded calendrical and religious functions. It was simultaneously a palace, a religious centre, and an agricultural station.
Spanish records never mention it — which is why it survived while Cusco, Ollantaytambo, and other Inca sites were systematically dismantled for colonial buildings. When Hiram Bingham arrived in 1911, guided there by local farmers who had always known of it, the jungle had reclaimed the stone but the structure was largely intact.
How to Visit in 2025
The Peruvian government has significantly tightened access to Machu Picchu in recent years, implementing mandatory timed entry tickets and daily visitor caps.
- Book tickets in advance: Entry tickets are sold online at the official Ministerio de Cultura website (culturaperu.gob.pe). Book weeks or months ahead for peak season (June–August). Daily slots sell out. There is no alternative.
- Entry circuits: Visitors are assigned to one of several circuits through the site — you cannot wander freely. Book the circuit that includes the Agricultural Terraces and Interior for the most complete experience.
- The Inca Trail: The iconic 4-day trek to Machu Picchu along original Inca road infrastructure is limited to 500 people per day (including guides). Permits sell out 6+ months ahead. Book through a licensed tour operator in Cusco or online.
- Train to Aguas Calientes: For those not trekking, trains from Cusco and Ollantaytambo reach Aguas Calientes (the town below Machu Picchu) in 1.5–3 hours. Peru Rail and Inca Rail both operate routes. Book ahead.
Cusco — The Inca Capital
Spend time in Cusco before visiting the ruins. The city itself is extraordinary — Spanish colonial churches built directly atop Inca stone walls, the remnants of Tawantinsuyu's administrative centre woven into a living city at 3,400 metres. The Qorikancha (Temple of the Sun), Sacsayhuamán fortress, and the Sacred Valley deserve as much attention as Machu Picchu itself.
Acclimatisation
Cusco sits at 3,400 metres and altitude sickness is genuinely common among visitors who rush in from sea level. Spend 2–3 days in Cusco acclimatising before visiting Machu Picchu. Drink coca tea (readily available and legal in Peru), rest on arrival, eat lightly. The altitude at Machu Picchu (2,430m) is actually lower than Cusco — the train descent helps many visitors feel significantly better.