Pictures of Machu Picchu, the Lost Incan Capital in Peru
It’s easy to see why Machu Picchu was chosen to be a New Seven Wonder of the World. Like the humbling Temples of Angkor Complex in Cambodia, Machu Picchu is an architectural marvel created by one of the world’s greatest ancient civilizations. Abandoned and lost for hundreds of years, the resilient stone city rises above Amazon Rainforest, proudly resting on a flat mountain ridge above the Urubamba Valley.
Below is a collection of some of our favourite pictures of Machu Picchu.
Inca Trail hikers approaching the city of stone terraces
Man-made architectural marvel
The city rests on the spine of a mountain, with steep cliff drops on both sides
Morning peacefulness before the tour bus crowds arrive
It’s safe to say that enemies won’t be attacking from behind
After the gruelling 4-day Inca Trail hike, the treasure at the end was definitely worth the pain!
Llamas grazing in the lush grounds inside the stunning UNESCO World Heritage Site
Exploring Machu Picchu’s awe-inspiring detail
Thick rainforest clouds create an unparalleled sense of mystic and serenity
Stone window with a view
Llamas enjoying the hot morning sun
Dream fulfilled – happy Cam!
The stone architecture is remarkably resilient, intact after hundreds of years of neglect
Views of the sophisticated stone terrace system
Hauntingly beautiful in the quiet early hours
It’s easy to envision what the powerful city looked like at its peak
This is one of my favourite shots
The Inca Trail to Machu Picchu exceeded our high expectations.
It was a life experience that we will cherish forever!
Hiking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu was one of the greatest accomplishments we’ve experienced together as a married couple. As the most popular attraction in Peru, and perhaps the world, the treasure at the end of the challenging trail rewards you with brilliant images and mystical landscapes that leave you pinching yourself in disbelief.
I’m trying not over sell it, but it really is THAT good!
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Have you visited the Incan lost city of Machu Picchu? Did it meet your expectations?
Share your experience in the comments section below
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Talk about beautiful pictures! Oftentimes the mountains are obscured by clouds but it looks like you guys got there at the perfect time. Visiting Machu Picchu is at the top of my “Bucket List”… I’m really hoping to go next year though. 🙂
It’s one of those special places that really does live up to the hike. Totally worth it to do the Inca Trail hike, makes the prize that much more enjoyable knowing that you worked for it!
Awesome photos! My sister in law is from Peru so we have a place to stay whenever we want to go. They’ve been numerous times. Love your photos – since we’ve gotten a new camera I can tell a HUGE difference in the quality and these are awesome!
Appreciate the kind words Jeremy!
Magnificent you two. What stunning photography of Machu Pichu! I have never seen such a collection of photos – so dramatic and so strikingly beautiful!!!
Thanks so much Jeff! Glad you enjoyed the pictures (it was pretty fun taking them!)
I have never been to Machu Picchu but it is one of the places I am dying to go. Great pictures and great view of this magical place.
Thanks Ruth. Hopefully you get a chance to experience MP soon, it’s a special place
One of the most photogenic spots on Earth, not to mention magical. These are great guys! You captured it.
What’s the cost to get into MP these days? It seemed frightfully high even 7 years ago when I was there.
Thanks Nico. Price wasn’t too. We had all transport, food, water, guide, camping gear rental, 4 nights camping, entrance fees etc for about $500 per person. You could get it cheaper but we went with GAP Adventures which is on the higher end
Brilliant photos guys – well done!
Thanks!
These are brilliant, professional-quality photos! I can’t wait to visit Machu Picchu… I don’t know when it will happen, but someday…. 🙂
Thanks! Hopefully you’ll fulfill this dream someday soon 😉
Oh man I was there almost exactly a year ago. As cool as it is in photos, it literally takes your breath away when you step out of the little tourist hut and get that sweeping view… although maybe the shortness of breath is from that ridiculous altitude 😉
Regardless, glad you got to visit.
Couldn’t agree more. When we crossed the Sun Gate the city was covered with clouds and it was raining. We waited for about 15 minutes and, as if on queue, the clouds parted and there it was! Amazing
Gorgeous photos, very fascinating place. I’m always attracted by ancient lost civilizations, we know so little about them and yet they were so great. In Sardinia, where I come from, we also have an ancient civilization, academics keep researching it, they populated the island some 3500-4000 years ago and the towers they built are still there, undisturbed despite any kind of weather condition throughout the centuries. Probably they are stronger buildings than the ones we build today, that become “old” very quickly!
I had no idea that Sardinia had such a place, will need to check it out!
Thanks for stopping by 😉
As always, beautiful pictures — I can’t wait to go there someday!
Thanks Glen!
Nice shots guys, mine are all in the rain 🙂
That’s too bad, we had rain in the morning but fortunately it disappeared in time
you got some great shots. doesnt matter how many i see, it always amazes me. i think im the only person who has been to peru and not been to macchu pichu. next time.
Stunning photos! One year in South America and we never made it there – travesty, right? We had plans to do it but the time we were there was when they had the massive slides that took out the train tracks and closed down the park. Oh well, will just have to go back…
That is surprising that you guys didn’t make to Machu Picchu, but it does give you the perfect excuse to return to South America! 😉
Wow. these photos are amazing. I agree with Jamie, no matter how many I see, I am still in awe of how beautiful it is!
Couldn’t agree with you more!
It was tough not putting another 20 photos into this post, but we didn’t want to over do it 😉
The mists are magic. Could you hear the Gods talk?
Indeed – the clouds definitely add to the mystical atmosphere
I agree with the everyone. In fact I think this might be some of the best travel photos that I’ve seen of Machu Picchu. The contrast between the gray and green is well done.
Thanks for the kind words Scott! Glad you enjoyed the post 😉
you guys take such great photos – and this place is perfect for your skills!
Thanks Michael – really appreciate the feedback, made my day! 🙂
Great pictures! When the wife and I went to Peru we actually had two and a half days slated for Machu Picchu so I could spend some extra time behind the camera.. and I ended up only getting to spend a half day up there. I ate what is now lovingly refered to as the ‘hamburger of death’ in the Sacred Valley and it left me stuck in our hotel room in Aguas Calientes for the other two days. Miserable. I did get a couple of pictures I was really happy with… and it gave me a great excuse to go back! I really want to do one of the treks the next time we go.
Thanks for sharing!
Dan
That’s too bad Dan. If it makes you feel any better, you are not alone. There was a couple with us on our Inca Trail tour that ate hamburgers in Cusco the night before we set off for the hike. Long story short, they were both violently ill and had to skip the 4-day trek all together – terrible timing to eat bad food!
Really spectacular shots, you both! Makes me want to visit very much.
Thanks Charu! Glad you enjoyed the pictures, it was fun taking them
Machu Picchu, has been on my list for a long time, it looks amazing. Fabulous photos!
Thanks Laurel – glad you like the pictures, we had a pretty photogenic subject 🙂
Perfect photos! So captivating and magical. I hope I get a chance to experience MP too…
Fantastic photos! It really makes me feel like i’m right there with you. Definitely inspiring for a newbie photographer!
Thanks Jade! Glad you like the photos 🙂
Beautiful! This is a place we need to get to before we can’t get our old butts up the trail. Thanks for the inspiration!
The Inca Trail was one of the best things we’ve done together as a married couple. It’s not easy, but the reward at the end of the trail doesn’t get any better than that! 🙂
incredible! seriously stunning you two! they are all so magical, but think i agree with your fave. i hope to be able to do this next year on my RTW! i’d better get my butt in shape to do it though! 🙂
Awesome shots, love seeing other Canadians exploring the world as well.
Thanks Rob!
Gorgeous photos! It looks like you guys had perfect weather!
Yes – it worked out well. Actually, the morning hike it was pouring rain. The 3 days of hiking prior was perfect weather and then the morning of Machu Picchu was terrible. Luckily, at about 8:00 AM the clouds parted and the weather turned for the better. The travel gods were looking out for us that day!
Beautiful photography of a stunning location. This reminds me of 2005 when my wife and I joined a gym and spend months getting fit and arranging a holiday to walk the Inca trail only to loose my job and have to pull out. One day i’ll make it and send you guys images, thanks for inspiring me.
That’s too bad Neal, hopefully you’ll gte another opportunity to hike the Inca Trail. It’s one of the best things we’ve done together as a couple! 🙂
Wow, I love the photos, it’s making me so excited! I’m doing the 4-day hike at the end of Aug and cannot wait – if these are the type of views I can expect at the end, it will all be worth it! So glad hiking means you get there before the main crowds – must make it extra-special. I can’t imagine actually being there yet, but I can’t wait for this dream to come true!
I can feel your excitement Katy! We felt the same way leading up to the trek. In fact, it was the main reason we decided to backpack around South America. I don’t want to oversell it, but it’s one of the most special places we’ve visited on our travels
Superb pictures. And looks like you guys had a lot of fun. The location is just exquisite. Just in case you didn’t know, there is this amazing book that has excellent tips on how to make your travel blog more professional, and it also tells you how to make money out of it. Very helpful. I’m sure you’ll like it! http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004ZZM6YO
Maybe hiking the trail made the ending much better. When I was there, about 2 years ago, it was ok, But not the awe inspiring vision that some people talk about. Maybe it was the $80 fee to get in the gate that makes me so cynical. Either way, there is much more to Peru than Machu Picchu.
Travel experiences can be so circumstantial, doesn’t sound like it lived up to your expectations – sorry to hear that Steven. We might have felt the same way had we not done the hike, I think the challenge of the Inca Trail made the experience that much more rewarding
wows!!!!!!
Its really so fantastic pictures really like your post
That is amazing photos. This is very nice place for trip.Thanks for shearing it.
Awesome photos! i love machu picchu…Machu Picchu means,”Old Mountain”, also called “the Lost City of the Incas”
http://www.travelstoperu.com/en/Region/Cusco.html
Beautiful photos you’ve got there! Love the detail and colorf in all your photos. I can imagine how serene and surreal it must have felt to be walking among clouds.
No, we have not visited Machu Picchu yet but it’s definitely on our list!
Hi guys, thanks for sharing your wonderful shots.
When did you go there? Which month? When is better to go there, can you advise?
oh its realy nice i hope to go
Is fantastic place, one wonder of our world.
I’m hiking the Inca Trail and visiting Machu Picchu in September. I’m really, really worried about the altitude and elevation gain. Did you aclimate to the altitude quickly? It looks like you are much younger and in better shape them me. How “grueling” was it? I’m looking forward to it, but scared too.