Name: __________________________________

Date: ______________

Machu Picchu
Directions: Read each article on Machu Picchu and answer the questions that follow.

Machu Picchu, Peru.

(image source: maxisciences.com)

Article 1: Machu Picchu discovered

On July 24, 1911, American archeologist Hiram Bingham got his first look at Machu Picchu, an
ancient Inca settlement in Peru that is now one of the world’s top tourist destinations.
Tucked away in the rocky countryside northwest of Cuzco, Machu Picchu is located in some of
the most attractive mountainous territory of the Peruvian Andes Mountains. It is believed to have
been a summer retreat for Inca leaders, whose civilization was virtually wiped out by Spanish
invaders in the 16th century. For hundreds of years afterwards, its existence was a secret known only
to the local villagers living in the region. That all changed in the summer of 1911, when Bingham
arrived with a small team of explorers to search for the famous “lost” cities of the Incas.
Traveling on foot and by mule, Bingham and his team made their way from Cuzco into the
Urubamba Valley, where a local farmer told them of some ruins located at the top of a nearby
mountain. The farmer called the mountain Machu Picchu, which meant “Old Peak” in the native
Quechua language. The next day–July 24–after a tough climb to the mountain’s ridge in cold and
drizzly weather, Bingham met a small group of peasants who showed him the rest of the way. Led by
an 11-year-old boy, Bingham got his first glimpse of the intricate network of stone terraces marking
the entrance to Machu Picchu.
The excited Bingham spread the word about his discovery in a best-selling book, Lost City of
the Incas, sending hordes of eager tourists flocking to Peru to follow in his footsteps up the Inca trail.
 The site itself stretches an impressive five miles, with over 3,000 stone steps linking its many
different levels. Today, more than 300,000 people tramp through Machu Picchu every year, braving
crowds and landslides to see the sun set over the towering stone monuments of the “Sacred City”
and marvel at the mysterious splendor of one of the world’s most famous man-made wonders.
Article Source: http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/machu-picchu-discovered

Article 1 Questions:
1. Hhiram Bigham
Who “discovered” Machu Picchu? _____________________________________________
2. July 24 1911
When was this discovery made? ______________________________________________
3. Where is Machu Picchu located? ______________________________________________
4. The residents of this city were virtually wiped out by invaders in
_________________________________________________________________________.
5. Before its discovery, this location was a “secret” and mostly only known to
_________________________________________________________________________.
6. Machu Picchu means __________________________ in the Quechua language.
7. What is the name of the book Hiram Bingham published on the subject?
_________________________________________________________________________
8. Machu Picchu has over _______________________ stone steps and stretches over
___________ miles.
9. In what mountain range Machu Picchu located? _________________________________
10. In what country is it located? ________________________________________________

Article 2
Tucked away in the rocky countryside northwest of Cuzco, Machu Picchu is believed to have
been a royal estate or sacred religious site for Inca leaders, whose civilization was virtually wiped out
by Spanish invaders in the 16th century.
MACHU PICCHU’S INCA PAST
Historians believe Machu Picchu was built at the height of the Inca Empire, which dominated
western South America in the 15th and 16th centuries. It was abandoned an estimated 100 years
after its construction. There is no evidence that the conquistadors ever attacked or even reached the
mountaintop citadel, however; for this reason, some have suggested that the residents’ desertion
occurred because of a smallpox epidemic.

Did You Know?

Machu Picchu is made up of more than 150 buildings ranging from baths and houses to
temples and sanctuaries.
 Many modern-day archaeologists now believe that Machu Picchu served as a royal estate for
Inca emperors and nobles. Others have theorized that it was a religious site, pointing to its proximity
to mountains and other geographical features that the Incas held sacred. Dozens of alternate
hypotheses have cropped up in the years since Machu Picchu was first unveiled to the world, with
scholars variously interpreting it as a prison, a trade hub, a station for testing new crops, a women’s
retreat or a city devoted to the coronation of kings, among many examples.
THE SITE OF MACHU PICCHU
Archaeologists have identified several distinct sectors that together comprise the city,
including a farming zone, a residential neighborhood, a royal district and a sacred area. Machu
Picchu’s most distinct and famous structures include the Temple of the Sun and the Intihuatana
stone, a sculpted granite rock that is believed to have functioned as a solar clock or calendar.

The “Sun Temple” inside Machu Picchu. The Intihuatana stone.

Source: http://www.rediscovermachupicchu.com Source: http://machupicchu.2itb.com/

MACHU PICCHU TODAY

Named one of the New Seven Wonders of the World in 2007, Machu Picchu is Peru’s most visited
attraction and South America’s most famous ruins, welcoming hundreds of thousands of people a
year. Source: http://www.history.com/topics/machu-picchu

Article 2 Questions:
11. There are many theories about what Machu Picchu was used for. Name three.
a. __________________________________________________
Royal estate
Religious estates
b. __________________________________________________
c. __________________________________________________
Prison
Inca
12. Historians believe Machu Picchu was built at the height of the _________________ Empire.
13. Machu Picchu is made up of more than ________________
150 buildings.
Stone
14. The ____________________________ is the name of sculpted granite rock that is believed to
have functioned as a solar clock or calendar. South America
15. In what continent is Machu Picchu located? _______________________________________
Article 3: How to Travel to Machu Picchu
Don’t get lost when you visit the Lost City of the Incas. Here’s T+L’s tip sheet on how best to
travel to Machu Picchu.
When to Go: Machu Picchu is open year-round, but there are two things you can’t count on:
dry weather and thin crowds. It can rain anytime, though officially, October to April is the rainy
season. Peak season is July–August, but you should always expect crowds.
Getting There: Unless you’re hiking the Inca Trail, you’ll likely fly into Cusco and ride the train
to Machu Picchu. You can do it in one day: take the 3.5-hour train ride from Cusco to Aguas Calientes
(the town at the foot of Machu Picchu, now officially called Machu Picchu Pueblo).
Here’s what I suggest instead: when you land in Cusco, take the train straight to Aguas
Calientes and spend one or two nights there, leaving a full day open to explore Machu Picchu. Then
return to Cusco for another couple nights.
Hiking the Inca Trail is a strenuous affair that takes several days. If you’re taking the train, as I
did, PeruRail runs the show. The 3.5-hour trip from Cusco to Aguas Calientes is a pretty one, right
along the Urubamba River with canyon walls on either side.

Machu Picchu: Tips for Visiting

• Bring water and a rain jacket, even if it looks like a beautiful day.
• Bus: Unless you want to do the steep, 90-minute walk from Aguas Calientes, buses are
your only option. They operate every few minutes starting at 5:30 a.m.
• Timing: If you’re spending a full day (and you should), is it worth taking a super-early
bus? It depends. The crowds are slimmer in the early morning, of course. But you’ll never
be entirely alone, and even during prime-time hours, it doesn’t feel super crowded.
• Conditions: I was there on a very cloudy day; when I arrived at 7 a.m., I couldn’t see a
thing. Luckily, the clouds started lifting later in the morning. For me, the best time was
toward the end of the day.
• Guides: Machu Picchu can certainly be seen with just a detailed guidebook. But don’t
underestimate what a good guide can add: local perspective, as well as all the historical,
architectural, and biological info you’d expect. You can book a guide in town, or find one at
the gates.
• Bring some coins. You’ll need them to use the bathroom.
• Food: There’s a snack bar just outside the entrance gates, but the Sanctuary Lodge’s
buffet lunch is your only sit-down-restaurant option. It’s very good, if pricey ($45 per
person).
• Cusco: Don’t skip Cusco. Its pre-Columbian buildings have given this city of 500,000
people UNESCO World Heritage status, and its cobblestoned streets, great hotels, and
relaxed atmosphere make it worth spending at least a couple days here.
Source: http://www.travelandleisure.com/articles/how-to-travel-to-machu-picchu
Article 3 Questions: Mark each answer as true or false.

16. December is one of the months of Peru’s rainy season.

True False
17. The name of the town at the foot of Machu Picchu is Aguas Calientes.
True False
18. Peak touring season for Machu Picchu is June-August.
True False
19. You must pay to use the bathroom here.
True False
20. The weather at Machu Picchu is always sunny and clear.
True False
21. There is nowhere to eat; you must pack a lunch.
True False
22. One of the trains you can take is with PeruRail.
True False
23. The trip from Cusco to Aguas Calientes runs right along the Urubamba River.
True False
24. Machu Picchu is located near Cusco, Peru.
True False
25. You must guide yourself through Machu Picchu using a guidebook.
True False
 Machu Picchu Crossword
Across
1. Continent in which Peru is located
2. Name of book; Lost City of the
_____________
3. Name of the stone believed to function
as a clock or calendar.
4. Town near the foot of Machu Picchu is
named Aguas ______.
Down
1. _____________ Bingham discovered
the city in 1911
2. major city near Machu Picchu (spelled
with an s instead of z)
3. country in which Machu Picchu is
located
4. name of the mountain range of Machu
Picchu
5. Machu Picchu means ___________ in
Quechua language
6. The site stretches over five
____________.
7. It is made up of more than 150
__________________.