Machu Picchu, jewel of the Inca's crown

Veritable archaeological jewel in the crown of the Inca Valley, in the Cusco region of south-east Peru, the Machu Picchu citadel is without doubt the pride of an immense empire. Much has to do with the engineering feats of the major ancient cultures dating back to 3000 BC. Their development lead to the rise of a powerful civilisation, the Inca Empire of the 15th century. This vast network of narrow stone paths spread over a huge area linked the area with an important part of South America. It was named the 'Qhapaq Ñan', or 'Sovereigns Path'. Other than Peru, the path crossed five Andeans countries from the Ecuador to Argentina, passing through Chili, Bolivia and Colombia. To travel along these thousands of year old paths, still used along certain sections, is to go back to the time when societies exploited ingeniously a hostile territory whose area is larger than that of Spain, France and Germany combined. The epicentre of this complex network, Machu Picchu is a key starting point for the discovery of this civilisation. Through the craggy paths, between canyons and mountains culminating at over 19,500ft and between deserts and Amazonian rainforests, the lords of the Andes have left us eloquent evidence of their urban ingenuity. Amongst the pedestrian routes leading to Machu Picchu, which vary in journey time from between two to four days, the crossing of the Urubamba River via a suspended bridge is perhaps the most exhilarating of experiences . Admirable for its location and harmonious construction, the citadel, built at almost 8,000ft, translates to 'old mountain' in the Quechua language. The 'lost city', which was rediscovered in 1911 by archaeologists, is surrounded by deep canyons and sacred majestic mountains, inhabited by 'apus', the mountain spirits which look over the locals. Divided into two zones, the urban zone and the rural zone (where the green terraces pile one on top of the other), the city had an eminently religious purpose, with its acllas monastery, the probable place of residence of the Inca sovereign Cusco.

Photo Report

• 

• 

•