Travel & Experiences

Machu Picchu

Traffic at Machu Picchu has been on the rise in recent years. This photo was taken in 2013, when nearly 1.2 million people visited the ancient site. Last year, Machu Picchu had 1.4 million visitors.

Traffic at Machu Picchu has been on the rise in recent years. This photo was taken in 2013, when nearly 1.2 million people visited the ancient site. Last year, Machu Picchu had 1.4 million visitors.   (JTB Photo/Getty Images )

Chicago Tribune
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Peru’s popular tourism destination continues to draw more visitors, making some worry that the ancient site could be a victim of its own success.

Aguas Calientes

The town of Aguas Calientes, in the valley below the mountains, is the main jumping-off point for visits to Machu Picchu.   (Colleen Connolly/Chicago Tribune)

Sacred Plaza

Tourists stop at the main temple in Machu Picchu’s Sacred Plaza, which has been damaged by earthquakes over the years.   (Colleen Connolly/Chicago Tribune )

Morning

Tourists walk around Machu Picchu before the sun rises over the mountains.   (Colleen Connolly/Chicago Tribune)

Flora

Located in the high jungle, Machu Picchu boasts an impressive variety of native plant life.   (Colleen Connolly/Chicago Tribune)

Huts

These stone huts were outfitted with new thatched roofs to demonstrate what they looked like when the Inca occupied Machu Picchu.   (Colleen Connolly/Chicago Tribune)

Intihuatana

The Intihuatana, or “hitching post of the sun,” is one of the most sacred structures in Machu Picchu. It’s now roped off from the public. In 2000, a piece of the sundial chipped off during the filming of a beer commercial, sparking outrage among locals and preservationists.   (Colleen Connolly/Chicago Tribune)

Sunrise

The sun rises over the mountains, casting a glow on Machu Picchu, a staple on many travelers’ bucket lists.   (Colleen Connolly/Chicago Tribune)

Ancient site

Tourists are restricted to certain paths in Machu Picchu.   (Colleen Connolly/Chicago Tribune)

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