Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu is the greatest surviving relic of the Inca Empire, drawing 1.5 million visitors annually to its mountaintop ruins. Built around 1450 AD at 2,430 metres, it remained hidden until 1911, when Hiram Bingham brought it to global attention. Its UNESCO World Heritage status since 1983 and recognition as a New Seven Wonder of the World in a 2007 poll of 100 million votes underscore its unmatched historical significance. The citadel's stonework is so precise it outperforms #2 Cusco's Coricancha in sheer preservation, with walls that have withstood centuries of earthquakes without mortar. Visitors can reach it by train from Cusco or the 4-day Inca Trail, both offering breathtaking approaches through cloud forest.