Machu Picchu is a World Heritage Site, a title it has held since 1981. It is also one of the 7 modern wonders of the world, a distinction it received in 2007. All of this makes caring for and preserving it a task not only for the Peruvian authorities but for each and every person who visits the Inca city. Learn about the attacks suffered by the Inca citadel and the actions being taken to preserve it for the future.

• Machu Picchu, a historic site in Cusco, Peru
• What attacks did Machu Picchu suffer?
• Preserving Machu Picchu for the future
• Is Machu Picchu in danger?
• How can I help take care of Machu Picchu?
• Penalties for attacks on Machu Picchu
• Attacks on Machu Picchu: Questions and Answers

Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu and the UNESCO list of endangered heritage sites
The Inca city of Machu Picchu is considered a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. This same institution, after analyzing the dangers that threaten the Inca city, included it on the list of endangered heritage sites a few years ago. However, due to the measures taken by the Peruvian authorities, such as restricted entry times, circuits in the archaeological site and the limit of visits per day; Machu Picchu is currently outside this list. That is, if preventive measures continue to be implemented, the Wonder of the World will endure for the future.

Machu Picchu, a historic site in Cusco, Peru

• Machu Picchu is the main tourist destination in Peru. This is due to its amazing architecture, a sign of the great history of the Inca Empire or the Tahuantinsuyu Empire.
• Its real name was Llactapata. ‘Machu Picchu’ was given by the local inhabitants due to the presence of a high mountain next to the Inca city. This name was the one that gained fame after the world news of its discovery by the American explorer Hiram Bingham in 1911.
• Throughout the 20th century, Machu Picchu was visited by tourists interested in history. At that time, there were few restrictions and people could almost freely roam around the Inca city. It was during this period that Machu Picchu suffered several attacks.
• However, in the 20th century, especially after the inclusion of Machu Picchu as one of the 7 Wonders of the Modern World (2007), the number of visitors to the archaeological site increased exponentially.
• The large number of visitors to Machu Picchu led UNESCO to include it on the list of world heritage sites in danger. Thus, in recent years, Peruvian authorities have implemented restrictive measures regarding entry times, tours of the Inca site and visiting times. Only in this way has Machu Picchu been preserved and kept off the list of heritage sites in danger.

Observing the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu

What attacks did Machu Picchu suffer?

• Machu Picchu is a unique place in the world, it is not only a beautiful stone city, it is the perfect synchrony between what man and nature can do.
• In the modern world, man is disrupting his environment in a destructive manner and more and more voices are calling for respect for the environment and Mother Earth.
• Machu Picchu is proof that the hand of man can do great things without this meaning a conflict with nature.
• The Incas knew clearly that respect for the place where they lived was essential, and that it should not be destroyed, but rather that it was possible to enjoy and take pleasure in all the things that Pachamama gave them, by preserving it.
• And all these teachings are even more valid today. Machu Picchu is the great legacy of the Incas for humanity and it must be preserved over time.

Preserving Machu Picchu for the future

• Machu Picchu is contemplated by all visitors who are amazed by seeing it, but unfortunately from time to time irresponsible people appear who threaten the integrity of the Inca city.
• The last attack on Machu Picchu was in 2016 when a foreigner was discovered spray-painting black graffiti on stones in the Pachamama sector, located on the Inca trail to Intipunku.
• A few weeks earlier, some schoolchildren had also painted two stones in the Inca city with a marker, but fortunately they were quickly erased by the sanctuary’s specialist staff.
• But there were also more serious damages, such as the one that occurred in 2000, when a camera mounted on a crane that was filming the Intihuatana for a commercial fell on the monolithic sculpture, severely damaging it. This act led to lawsuits and requests for compensation against the company responsible.
• But the most serious act against Machu Picchu was the destruction of a monolith that stood in the middle of the sacred plaza, and which was removed from its place, just for the mere fact of providing comfort to some “illustrious” visitors so they could land by helicopter over the Inca city.
• These two removals of the monolith ended up destroying it, an act that would be unacceptable today. Fortunately, thanks to new preventive measures, attacks like these will never happen again.

Staff doing restorations in the Machu Picchu grounds

Is Machu Picchu in danger?

• The Peruvian State declared Machu Picchu a Historical and Natural Sanctuary in order to preserve the archaeological site and the natural environment.
• The Peruvian Ministry of Culture has also taken protective measures for the sanctuary in the face of the ever-increasing number of visitors, limiting the number of daily visitors who can access the Inca citadel.
• Likewise, the allocation of times to visit the archaeological site and climb the mountains of Machu Picchu were reorganized.
• But all these measures are not enough to preserve Machu Picchu, which is why, year after year, UNESCO sends a commission to evaluate the state of the Inca city, in order to collaborate with the Peruvian authorities to provide solutions for the preservation and conservation of the archaeological site.

How can I help take care of Machu Picchu?

Visitors are an important part of caring for Machu Picchu. Here are some steps you can take to help care for the Inca city:

• Avoid throwing away food waste or packaging in the Inca city. Ideally, if you want to bring something to eat, it should be a snack and when you finish, save the leftovers to dispose of them later in a garbage bin.
• Bringing water to refresh yourself during the tour to Machu Picchu is essential, but remember to bring it in a canteen or a reusable container. Bottled water in disposable bottles unfortunately constitutes a significant burden of waste and garbage generated by visitors to Machu Picchu.
• Please avoid causing any damage to the stones and monuments of the Inca citadel. Despite their hard composition, the stone structures of Machu Picchu are delicate. Factors such as the passage of time, weather phenomena and the intense tourist traffic, cause their wear. So do not try to climb on them, scrape them, or even pick at them to take a souvenir. Machu Picchu will delight you just by looking at it and feeling it. Keep in mind that you can take many photos, which will serve as an unforgettable memory of your visit to the wonder of the world.
• Don’t jump over Machu Picchu – Yes, it seems trivial, but Machu Picchu suffers from a gradual sinking caused by the large number of tourists who visit it; so, there is no need to jump over it, move calmly and you will be able to enjoy all the beauty of Machu Picchu.

Visiting Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu protection measures: schedules, circuits and visiting time
Machu Picchu has up to ten different entrance tickets. Each ticket allows you to do one of the three circuits established in the archaeological site. In turn, each circuit allows an average visiting time that varies from 1, 2 or 3 hours maximum. If the tourist chooses a ticket that includes the hiking route to one of its mountains, the time is longer. Likewise, the number of daily visitors to Machu Picchu is 4,500 people in low season (between November and May) and 5,600 people in low season (between April and October).

Penalties for attacks on Machu Picchu

If a tourist commits an attack against Machu Picchu these are the punishments:

• Immediate expulsion from the Inca city of Machu Picchu without the right to re-enter the Inca city for life.
• For serious offences such as writing graffiti or damaging Inca walls, the penalty is a criminal complaint by the Peruvian State against the persons who attacked Machu Picchu. The crime of attacking the Historical Heritage of Peru carries a prison sentence of no less than six and no more than eight years.
• If the visitor commits any minor act not permitted in Machu Picchu, such as climbing the Inca walls, taking photos with advertising material or not following the established circuit, the security staff will call the visitor’s attention. If the visitor continues with these violations, he or she will be removed from the Inca city.
• In recent years, one of the offenses committed by some visitors was taking nude photos in Machu Picchu. In the event of such offenses, the authorities of the Inca city immediately expel the visitor without the right to re-enter the archaeological site for life.

Attacks on Machu Picchu: Questions and Answers

• 1) Is Machu Picchu in danger from attacks against the Inca city?

  Machu Picchu is not on UNESCO’s list of endangered heritage sites due to the protection and prevention measures in place against possible attacks and the large number of tourists it receives.

• 2) What attacks did Machu Picchu suffer?

  In recent years, Machu Picchu has suffered minor attacks, such as the prohibition of visitors entering at illegal hours and graffiti being painted on Inca walls. However, one serious attack was the destruction of part of a stone monolith during the filming of a commercial (which is not permitted today).

• 3) What attacks are not serious in Machu Picchu?

  If the visitor commits any minor act not permitted in Machu Picchu, such as climbing the Inca walls, taking photos with advertising material or not following the established circuit, the security staff will call the visitor’s attention.

• 4) What attacks are serious in Machu Picchu?

  For serious offences such as writing graffiti or damaging Inca walls, the penalty is a criminal complaint by the Peruvian State against the persons who attacked Machu Picchu.

• 5) Is stripping a serious offense in Machu Picchu?

  In recent years, one of the offenses committed by some visitors was taking nude photos in Machu Picchu. In the event of such offenses, the authorities of the Inca city immediately expel the visitor without the right to re-enter the archaeological site for life.

• 6) What measures are being organized to protect Machu Picchu from an attack?

  In the case of minor offences, the security staff informs the visitor not to repeat the act, such as leaving the circuit or not respecting the Inca constructions. In the case of serious offences, such as destruction of Inca constructions, the Peruvian State files a criminal complaint against the visitor.

• 7) How can I protect Machu Picchu from an attack?

  The best way to protect Machu Picchu is to visit it with a professional tour guide who is responsible for informing visitors about the measures to be taken.

• 8) Do the attacks put Machu Picchu on the list of endangered heritage sites?

  Due to the protective measures taken by the Peruvian authorities, Machu Picchu is now removed from UNESCO’s list of endangered heritage sites.

• 9) What are the most common attacks in Machu Picchu?

  The most common offenses at Machu Picchu are climbing the Inca walls and walking on prohibited sections of the archaeological site. These offenses are not considered serious.

• 10) Is there surveillance in Machu Picchu in case of possible attacks?

  Yes, inside Machu Picchu there is private security personnel, as well as surveillance by the Peruvian National Police.

Advice from people who have been there

Machu Picchu

By: Xavi T.

“Machu Picchu forever“

“When I arrived at Machu Picchu I was amazed by the city. The Incas were truly great engineers. When I finished my walk through this wonder, I was left thinking that Machu Picchu must exist forever, to tell our children and grandchildren that beauty and perfection do exist.“

By Ticket Machu Picchu – Last updated, November 29, 2024