The lost city of Machu Picchu (meaning 'Old Peak' in the Quechua language), is situated in the middle of a tropical mountain forest and stands 2,430 meters above sea-level. It was probably the most amazing urban creation of the Inca Empire and one of the most enigmatic ancient sites in the world.
Its buildings and agricultural terraces, that have been carved from the gray granite of the mountain top, are wonders of both architectural and aesthetic genius. The natural setting, on the eastern slopes of the Andes, encompasses the upper Amazon basin with its rich diversity of flora and fauna.