The photographic collection

Machu Picchu, in photographs.

14 perspectives on Machu Picchu, from the familiar view to details worth a closer look. Select a photograph to open it at full size.

Photographs show different viewpoints, dates and conditions. They do not establish current access to a particular route. Every image is credited below.

The story behind the picture

Read the slope

The famous view compresses a complicated place into one elegant silhouette. Look instead at the changes in level: a terrace, a stair and a roofless room answer different needs on the same steep ridge. The surrounding mountain is part of the architecture. Comparing a broad viewpoint with a close look at a wall gives the visit two different scales.

Choose your permitted circuit for what it actually includes. A ticket that supplies a particular panorama need not include every building or an additional mountain climb.

Explore the history, highlights and practical guide →

Read the guide ↗ · Complete gallery ↗