From Wikipedia:

Machu Picchu (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈmatʃu ˈpitʃu]) (Quechua: Machu Pikchu; [ˈmɑtʃu ˈpixtʃu]) is a 15th-century Inca citadel situated on a mountain ridge 2,430 metres (7,970 ft) above sea level.^[1][2] It is located in the Cusco Region, Urubamba Province, Machupicchu District in Peru,^[3] above the Sacred Valley, which is 80 kilometres (50 mi) northwest of Cuzco and through which the Urubamba River flows.

Most archaeologists believe that Machu Picchu was built as an estate for the Inca emperor Pachacuti (1438–1472). Often mistakenly referred to as the “Lost City of the Incas” (a title more accurately applied to Vilcabamba), it is the most familiar icon of Inca civilization. The Incas built the estate around 1450 but abandoned it a century later at the time of the Spanish Conquest. Although known locally, it was not known to the Spanish during the colonial period and remained unknown to the outside world until American historian Hiram Bingham brought it to international attention in 1911.

Machu Picchu was built in the classical Inca style, with polished dry-stone walls. Its three primary structures are the Inti Watana, the Temple of the Sun, and the Room of the Three Windows. Most of the outlying buildings have been reconstructed in order to give tourists a better idea of how they originally appeared.^[4] By 1976, thirty percent of Machu Picchu had been restored^[4] and restoration continues.^[5]

Machu Picchu was declared a Peruvian Historical Sanctuary in 1981 and a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983.^[2] In 2007, Machu Picchu was voted one of the New Seven Wonders of the World in a worldwide Internet poll.

FROM ELIAS ON DECEMBER 31, 2016:

Dear friends of the GKPN.

Things are really looking very good for our time in Lima. Many of you have asked me to check on a possible trip to Cusco – Macchu Picchu.

Here is how the plans for Macchu Picchu are being organized for those who are planning to visit that incredible place, and need our assistance for that:

1. Each person buys his or her ticket to leave Lima to Cusco on Friday afternoon and return on Sunday (minimum) or any day after that. I will be returning on Sunday afternoon.

2. I am going to Lima and Cusco today to make sure everything is in place and is safe. I will check hotels for those who would like me to do that. I have about 30 colleagues who asked me to check the quality and safe of the hotels and if I decide to use it for my wife and for me, to go ahead and book two nights for them.I think the rate per night will be something around $ 130 with breakfast included for two people) I am considering primarily the new Hilton Hotel in Cusco.

If you want me to book the nights of Friday and Saturday at the hotel in Cusco, I can do it, but I will need to pay it in full the amount for that (it is high tourism season). Here is what we are planning to do: I will pay the hotel for each person going. I will use the credit card of the CSGC for that. The person will receive an email from me with the confirmation of the booking and the total to be deposited as a online donation at the website of the CSGC (CSGC is a not-for-profit organization).

3. The visit to Macchu Picchu requires a full day (Macchu Picchu is located about three hours by train from Cusco). We will do it on Saturday, March 11, and requires reservation – they only authorizes a limited number of people every day. I will book the visit, that includes the train ticket, the guide and the tickets for the city of Macchu Picchu itself, but everybody will pay on his or her own upon our arrival in Cusco. I heard the package – train, tour guide and ticket for a full day is not cheap, but I will check the costs by being there this coming January 1st, and I will let you know how much is going to cost.

4. Finally, another easy option you can decide to take is just to go to a tour operator in your city and book everything with them. This will be the easiest thing to do, and, perhaps, you will get a good deal on that.

If you still want me to book the hotel room for Cusco, I need the full names of you all. I will send you an email later with the totals and the booking record.

If you are going to need extra nights at the hotel in Lima , no problem, Amelia can take care of that. She will need the names of the people, and she will correspond with you to make sure everything will be reserved as you wish.

Happy New Year for you all.

Blessings.