Surrounded by the Peruvian Andes, at 2430m altitude above Urubamba River stands Machu Picchu, one of the most spectacular archaeological discoveries in Latin America. The Incas built the citadel around 1450, and abandoned it a century later at the time of the Spanish Conquest. Although its exact purpose still remains unknown, Machu Picchu was most likely a religious sanctuary and a residential area for the ruler Pachacuti. Considered a symbol of the Inca culture, architecture, and engineering, in 2007 the "Lost City of the Incas" was declared one of the 7 Wonders of the Modern World.
Between Cusco and Machu Picchu, in the southern region of Peruvian Andes, Valle Sagrado de Los Incas (Sacred Valley of the Incas) encompasses small colonial cities, authentic villages and an incredible array of Inca ruins. This picturesque valley stretches almost 100km, from the small town of Pisac to Aguas Calientes, the village located at the base of the mountain where Machu Picchu was built.
Due to the great diversity of climate, Peru is one of the most beautiful destinations around the world. Lima is the second-largest desert city in the world, the Andes hide incredible Inca ruins left almost intact by a civilization that perished too soon, and the Peruvian part of the Amazon is one of the most biodiverse places on Earth. Besides, Machu Picchu citadel is considered one of the 7 Wonders of the Modern World, and its variety of resources attracts millions of tourists each year fascinated by Peruvian cuisine.