© Ana Raquel S. Hernandes
Synonymous with Peru, this superlative Inca site with hundreds of terraces and extraordinary features is awe-inspiring.
Since its rediscovery and initial excavation, Machu Picchu has entranced and baffled in equal measure. The ‘Lost City of the Incas’ is steeped in myth and legend, and this extends to the features of the site and their potential purpose. A masterpiece of architectural and landscape art, the steep terraces, plazas, temples, water channels and staircases seem to be hewn from the rock, echoing the surrounding mountains and framing or celebrating features in the landscape. The natural beauty of the site is staggering.