Where is Machu Picchu Located?

The citadel of Machu Picchu is located 112.5 km northeast of the city of Cusco, at an altitude of 2,350 meters, within the Machu Picchu Archaeological Park, which covers a vast territory in the Urubamba Province of the Cusco Department.

The surface area of the Archaeological Park, including both urban and agricultural zones, spans a total of 32,592 hectares, protected by Supreme Decree No. 001-81-AA of January 8, 1981. It is situated on the eastern slope of the Vilcabamba Mountain Range, which is bordered by the Apurimac and Urubamba rivers.

There is no road connecting the city of Cusco to the ruins of Machu Picchu due to the difficult geography. The citadel is perched atop a hill in the middle of a mountain range, cut through only by the Urubamba River. The topography is incredible—steep mountains with slopes covered in tropical forests. It is astonishing how the Incas were able to build such cities and roads in these rugged mountains.