The Secrets of Machu Picchu

The secrets of Machu Picchu still remain mysteries of the Inca culture. Machu Picchu is undoubtedly the flagship destination of Peru and one of the most visited tourist attractions in South America! almost one and a half million tourists go every year to confront the reality of this magical and mythical site.

A briefing history
Machu Picchu, meaning “old mountain,” is an ancient Inca city, built in the 15th century, on a mountaintop near Cusco, the center of Inca culture. It would have been built by order of the Inca emperor Pachacutec, but its use remains a mystery: military citadel, religious center or retreat of the royal family?

The site is divided into two areas, an agricultural area, to the south, made up of terraces dedicated to culture, and an urban area, to the north, where step pyramids, temples, solar calendars and homes were built. The domestication of animals, such as the alpaca and the llama, was widespread and formed the basis of the economy of the Quechua people (wool was extracted from these animals and they were also used to transport goods and food).

For a long time, Machu Picchu was called the lost city of the Incas, because it was not “found” until 1911 during an expedition by American archaeologist Hiram Bingham. Although there are ancient records, no one until then knew for sure where the city was located. We only knew that its mountain was located on the circuit of the so-called “Inca Trail“, a hillside path that linked the entire Inca Empire for about 40,000 kilometers.

Today, Machu Picchu is recognized as one of the 7 wonders of the modern world and classified as a world heritage site by UNESCO and still fascinates for its architectural and natural beauty, as well as the many mysteries surrounding its history and construction. Below we reveal some surprising and unknown facts about Machu Picchu.

Here are some lesser-known secrets hidden beneath its layers of history:

1.- Why was it not discovered before?

Why was it not discovered before The Incas took security measures to prevent the discovery of Machu Picchu. The city was abandoned by the Incas for 100 years after they built it in 1532, fearing that Spanish settlers would find it. Then, to avoid a probable looting by the Spanish, the Incas descended from the mountain and burned the forest that surrounded the city so that nature would cover the access roads. The ingenious plan worked as the Spanish never discovered this ancient city and it was unknown to outsiders until Bingham’s visit in 1911.

2.- Is this really the lost city of the Incas?

Is this really the lost city of the Incas When explorer and archaeologist Hiram Bingham rediscovered Machu Picchu in 1911, he was looking for another city, known as Vilcabamba, considered the last refuge of the Inca empire before its defeat by Spanish colonizers in 1572. Over time, it has become famous as the legendary “lost city of the Incas.”

Hiram Bingham spent most of his life disproving that Machu Picchu and Vilcabamba were the same thing, a theory that was proven wrong only after his death in 1956. Furthermore, Machu Picchu was never truly “lost”; in fact, when Bingham arrived, three farming families lived there and were still terracing the site.

3.- The City Was Built to Withstand Earthquakes

Built to Withstand Earthquakes Another of the secrets of Machu Picchu is that the Incas carefully designed their buildings to resist the strong earthquakes, that would shake the city situated on top of two geological faults.
An ancient engineering technique called “ashlar masonry” was used to cut rocks so that they fit perfectly without the need for mortar. During an earthquake, the stones “dance” in place and return to their original location once the earthquakes stop.

4.- There are many other Inca sites in the surrounding area.

There are many other Inca sites in the surrounding area What attracts thousands of tourists is the symbolic and cultural value of Machu Picchu. But there are many other surprising Inca archaeological centers in the area.

In fact, Machu Picchu is located in the Urubamba Valley, also known as the “Sacred Valley of the Incas“, which concentrates numerous important archaeological sites. It is home to a number of ruins, small towns and fascinating sites from the Inca era.

Organize a one- or two-day excursion to the Sacred Valley from Cusco or Ollantaytambo and don’t forget to stop at the traditional market of Pisac, the fortress of Ollantaytambo, the circular terraces of Moray and the salt mines of Maras.

5.- There are also a Secret Temple

While visiting this historical site, many miss out on the two secret temples: The Temple of the Moon, also known as the Great Cavern, and Intimachay, or the Cave of the Sun.

If you are one of the lucky ones to climb Huayna Picchu, we recommend that you visit the Temple of the Moon. This wonderful hidden temple is one of the mysteries of Machu Picchu that you will not want to miss for anything. It is located on the other side of the mountain, you will notice how the path to the top forks to reach the temple. This kind of ceremonial temple is a cave with one of the best masonry works in the citadel. It is believed that it was a place of worship for the mummies.

Another is the Cave of the Sun tucked below Machu Picchu’s main site. The cave is believed to be a sacred space, once designed to make the most of the rising sun during the December solstice as part of the Incan wintertime ritual Capac Raymi.

6.- The Secret Museum at Machu Picchu

Museum at Machu Picchu Unfortunately you won’t find or will be provided most interested facts about Machu Picchu and information regarding the site, history, local people who used to live and build this ancient place.

However, there is a hidden museum known as the Museo de Sitio Manuel Chavez Ballon will fill in many of the blanks about how and why Machu Picchu was built, and why the Inca chose such an extraordinary natural location to build the citadel. Allow you to get the all necessary information you need to know about Machu Picchu. The museum is located at the end of a long dirt road near the base of Machu Picchu, about 30 minutes’ walk from the town of Aguas Calientes.

7.- 60% Of The Infrastructure is Underground

60% Of The Infrastructure is Underground While tourists marvel at the impressive and beautiful feats of engineering, it’s estimated that 60% of the towns construction is underground. The Incas invested in deep building foundations and an extensive crushed rock drainage system to cope with the wet seasons weather.

8.- Pilgrimage Route

One of the proposed theories suggests that the citadel of Machu Picchu may have been a journey for ceremonial purposes. Some scholars believe that the archaeological complex was an ancient pilgrimage route for the Inca nobility.

This theory gains more force when the different Inca Trails built are seen. Because instead of following the path along the banks of the Urubamba River, the Inca built a path surrounded by impressive scenery. According to some, this was the path that prepared the Inca to enter the Historic Sanctuary.

Want to learn more about Machu Picchu secrets? Learn about Machu Picchu Tours for a detailed history of the town and its construction.