Machu Picchu Location:

Machu Picchu Location:

One of the first questions that comes to mind when you hear about this magnificent place is undoubtedly Where is Machu Picchu located?
In this post, you’ll discover its exact location and learn fascinating details that go far beyond simple geography.

Geographical Location of Machu Picchu:

• Country: Republic of Peru

• Region: Cusco

• Province: Urubamba

• District: Machu Picchu

• Latitude: 13°09′47″ S

• Longitude: 72°32′44″ W

Altitude range where Machu Picchu is located :

When visiting Machu Picchu, you’ll experience several altitude levels due to the Andean geography.
Machu Picchu Town or Aguas Calientes, the village lies at 2,040 m (6,692 ft) above sea level, the archaeological site at 2,430 m (7,972 ft), and the summit of Huayna Picchu rises to 2,693 m (8,835 ft).

👉 Want to learn more? Click here for a complete Machu Picchu location guide.

Geological Location:

Machu Picchu is built on the Andes mountain Range ( longest in the world), and the Vilcabamba Batholith and range, a massive granite formation crossed by a network of geological faults that intersect in an “X” shape. 
This natural setting created a hidden and hard-to-access area, which helped preserve the site for centuries.

Historical and timeline Location:

Understanding the historical location of Machu Picchu is also essential.
The sanctuary was built by the Inca civilization, which thrived between 1100 and 1533 A.D. (or 1572 A.D. if we consider the fall of Tupac Amaru I, the last Inca of Vilcabamba).

It was commissioned by Pachacutec, the ninth Inca ruler, who reigned from approximately 1430 to 1480 A.D.
During the height of the Inca Empire, known as Tahuantinsuyo, Machu Picchu was located in the Antisuyo region.

Distance From Lima

• By air: 586 km (364 miles) flight to Cusco, about 1 hour.

• By land: Around 1,150 km (714 miles) or 20 hours by car/bus.

• 61 km via Anta or 85 km via Chinchero to Ollantaytambo

• 43 km by train

• 9 km by bus

Total Distance:

• By air: ~723 km (449 miles)

• By land: ~1,287 km (800 miles)

From Cusco

• Via Ollantaytambo: Same route (61–85 km by road + 43 km by train + 9 km by bus).

• Via Hidroeléctrica: 210 km (130 miles) by van + 10 km (6 miles) walking + 9 km by bus.