Machu Picchu was an ancient Inca city discovered in the early 20th century. Since then, it has become a popular tourist destination. The selections called The Stones of Machu Picchu and Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu teach about the rich history of Machu Picchu, including its time as an Inca city, to its discovery centuries later, to it becoming a popular destination for tourists. The ancient ruins are important as a travel destination because they teach tourists about how the Incas lived and their culture. The site also gives a look into the unique way of life of the people living in the surrounding areas.
The discovery of Machu Picchu and the tourism that sprouted from it shows its significance as a destination. Machu Picchu was discovered on February 11th, 1911, by explorer Hiram Bingham (found in paragraph 1 of The Stones of Machu Picchu). Bingham was amazed at his discovery, which had not been in use or viewed since the sixteenth century when the Spanish conquered the Incas, according to paragraph 1 of Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu. Since the ancient city …show more content…
In the first sentence of paragraph two of The Stones of Machu Picchu, the author quotes Hiram Bingham, with “suddenly I found myself confronted with the walls of ruined houses built of the finest quality of Inca stonework.” From the second sentence of paragraph three of the same article, the author tells us that “the explorer gaped in awe at a huge altar carved from the mountainside itself”. Finally, in sentence three of the same paragraph, it is said that “he marveled at El Torreón---a graceful semicircular tower.” From the details given above, Machu Picchu is a significant tourist spot due to the beautiful buildings the Incas created and the advancement of their culture and society. Bingham’s discovery gave tourists a way to look at ancient Inca’s lives and learn their