Machu Picchu, Peru - UNESCO World Heritage Site

 Place: Machu Picchu, Peru

Weather: Scattered showers and thunderstorms, 45/60F.

Route: From Nazca 662 km ENE on 30A.

Significance: If not the most well known site on UNESCO's list, Machu Picchu is at least very firmly in the top 5.  It was built at the height of the Inca Empire in the 15th century.  There were ~500 inhabitants - it was most likely built as a holy site for the elite to worship the sun god and mountain gods.  It is arguably the most picturesque human development on the planet. It is on the east side of the Andes - near the Amazon rainforest.

Website: UNESCO World Heritage Site

Video:

Images:

The morning mist partly obscuring the site (from whc.unesco.org)

The terraces grew maze - a complicated system helped to divert and store water on the site (from whc.unesco.org)