The fabled “Lost City of the Incas“, Machu Pichu is South America’s greatest attraction and lives up to its reputation as one of the most spectacular sites in the world — named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983 and declared one of the “Seven Wonders of the World”. The Incas hid Machu Pichu so high in the clouds (2,400 m above sea level) that it escaped destruction by the Spaniards, who never found it. Located 120 kms NW of Cusco, Machu Pichu was rediscovered in 1911 by the Yale archaeologist Hiram Bingham. The ruins are nestled in the Andes Mountains and dates back to the mid-1400s. It is still argued by experts whether it was a citadel, agricultural site, astronomical observatory or a sacred retreat for the Inca emperor. Many people reach the ruins by the celebrated Inca Trail which could take from 2 to 4 days of hiking (depending on which route one takes) or by one of the prettiest train rides in South America.