2025-05-20 | Cultural Heritage
Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu Mixed Natural and Cultural Heritage
Inscription: 7th Session of the World Heritage Committee. Florence, December 5, 1983.
Located in the Cusco department, Urubamba province, Machu Picchu district, between the Cusichaca and Aobamba rivers, tributaries of the Vilcanota River, at the meeting point of the Peruvian Andes and the Amazon basin. The Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu is one of the greatest artistic and architectural achievements and the most significant tangible legacy of the Inca civilization, covering 32,592 hectares of slopes, peaks, and valleys surrounding the archaeological monument of the Citadel at over 2,400 meters above sea level. Machu Picchu was abandoned at the beginning of the 16th century when the Inca Empire was conquered by the Spanish and was only rediscovered in 1911.
The Inca City of the Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu is a masterpiece of art, urbanism, architecture, and engineering of the Inca Civilization (Criterion (i)), with a well-planned distribution of functions within the space, territorial control, and social, productive, religious, and administrative organization (Criterion (iii)). The monuments and their historical features are immersed in a spectacular mountainous landscape of exceptional scenic beauty, showing a harmonious and aesthetic relationship between human culture and nature (Criterion (vii)). Covering part of the transition between the High Andes and the Amazon basin, the Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu hosts a great variety of microclimates, habitats, and species of flora and fauna (Criterion (ix)).
Integrity – The Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu meets the conditions of integrity, man-made natural attributes, and values that support its Outstanding Universal Value. The visual ensemble that links the archaeological site with its mountainous surroundings remains almost intact. It could be extended to include cultural sites such as Pisac and Ollantaytambo in the Sacred Valley, and part of the Urubamba river basin, which would contribute to strengthening overall integrity. In particular, the conservation of many species of flora and fauna, consisting of 401 species of birds, 19 reptiles, 10 amphibians, 13 fish, 300 diurnal butterflies, and 400 nocturnal ones; it also records 309 species of orchids out of the total 1,625 species existing in the country.
Authenticity – After the abandonment of the Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu, vegetation growth and isolation ensured the conservation of its architectural attributes. Although the design, materials, and structures have undergone slight changes due to fabric decomposition, authenticity conditions have not changed. The rediscovery in 1911 and subsequent archaeological excavations and conservation interventions have followed international practices and standards that have maintained the property's attributes.
Protection and Management Requirements – The Management Unit of the Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu (UGM) was established in 1999 to implement the strategies contained in the Master Plans, which are regularly updated guiding documents for property management. The UGM was reactivated in 2011 and is composed of representatives from the Ministries of Culture, Environment, Foreign Trade and Tourism, the Regional Government of Cusco acting as President of the Executive Committee, and the local municipality of Machu Picchu.
Despite the adequate legal and formal management framework, challenges exist for inter-institutional governance and the effectiveness of management and property protection. For example, while tourism provides economic benefits, it also causes cultural and ecological impacts. The increasing number of visitors to the Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu must be accompanied by adequate management that regulates access, diversifies offerings, and efforts to understand and minimize impact. Therefore, the evaluation and implementation of suggestions contained in the Reactive Monitoring Mission Report to the Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu, conducted from February 22 to 25, 2017, led by César Moreno-Triana, Head of the Latin America and Caribbean Unit of the UNESCO World Heritage Centre, is particularly important.
Located in the Cusco department, Urubamba province, Machu Picchu district, between the Cusichaca and Aobamba rivers, tributaries of the Vilcanota River, at the meeting point of the Peruvian Andes and the Amazon basin. The Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu is one of the greatest artistic and architectural achievements and the most significant tangible legacy of the Inca civilization, covering 32,592 hectares of slopes, peaks, and valleys surrounding the archaeological monument of the Citadel at over 2,400 meters above sea level. Machu Picchu was abandoned at the beginning of the 16th century when the Inca Empire was conquered by the Spanish and was only rediscovered in 1911.
The Inca City of the Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu is a masterpiece of art, urbanism, architecture, and engineering of the Inca Civilization (Criterion (i)), with a well-planned distribution of functions within the space, territorial control, and social, productive, religious, and administrative organization (Criterion (iii)). The monuments and their historical features are immersed in a spectacular mountainous landscape of exceptional scenic beauty, showing a harmonious and aesthetic relationship between human culture and nature (Criterion (vii)). Covering part of the transition between the High Andes and the Amazon basin, the Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu hosts a great variety of microclimates, habitats, and species of flora and fauna (Criterion (ix)).
Integrity – The Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu meets the conditions of integrity, man-made natural attributes, and values that support its Outstanding Universal Value. The visual ensemble that links the archaeological site with its mountainous surroundings remains almost intact. It could be extended to include cultural sites such as Pisac and Ollantaytambo in the Sacred Valley, and part of the Urubamba river basin, which would contribute to strengthening overall integrity. In particular, the conservation of many species of flora and fauna, consisting of 401 species of birds, 19 reptiles, 10 amphibians, 13 fish, 300 diurnal butterflies, and 400 nocturnal ones; it also records 309 species of orchids out of the total 1,625 species existing in the country.
Authenticity – After the abandonment of the Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu, vegetation growth and isolation ensured the conservation of its architectural attributes. Although the design, materials, and structures have undergone slight changes due to fabric decomposition, authenticity conditions have not changed. The rediscovery in 1911 and subsequent archaeological excavations and conservation interventions have followed international practices and standards that have maintained the property's attributes.
Protection and Management Requirements – The Management Unit of the Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu (UGM) was established in 1999 to implement the strategies contained in the Master Plans, which are regularly updated guiding documents for property management. The UGM was reactivated in 2011 and is composed of representatives from the Ministries of Culture, Environment, Foreign Trade and Tourism, the Regional Government of Cusco acting as President of the Executive Committee, and the local municipality of Machu Picchu.
Despite the adequate legal and formal management framework, challenges exist for inter-institutional governance and the effectiveness of management and property protection. For example, while tourism provides economic benefits, it also causes cultural and ecological impacts. The increasing number of visitors to the Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu must be accompanied by adequate management that regulates access, diversifies offerings, and efforts to understand and minimize impact. Therefore, the evaluation and implementation of suggestions contained in the Reactive Monitoring Mission Report to the Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu, conducted from February 22 to 25, 2017, led by César Moreno-Triana, Head of the Latin America and Caribbean Unit of the UNESCO World Heritage Centre, is particularly important.