Travelers flocked to Machu Picchu in record numbers in 2013

Travelers flocked to Machu Picchu in record numbers in 2013

The number of visitors to Machu Picchu reached a new historic high last year, with nearly 1.2 million people exploring the ancient Inca citadel.

The record-breaking figure of 1,177,308 visitors is contained in the annual totals published by the Ministry of Foreign Commerce and Tourism (MINCETUR).

Built in the 15th century by the 9th Sapa Inca Pachacutec, Machu Picchu is considered by most who come to Peru a must-experience. Their Cusco vacation would not be complete without it.  Changes are afoot to ensure the preservation of the monument, which has seen an exponential increase in tourist traffic over the past 20 years.

And Peruvian authorities are working on developing Peru’s other amazing ancient archaeological sites to help take some of the pressure off Machu Picchu.

Machu Picchu visitor totals 1980-2013

Click on image to enlarge

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Authored by: Rick Vecchio

Rick Vecchio, Fertur’s director of development and marketing, was educated at the New School for Social Research and Columbia Graduate School of Journalism. He worked for Pacifica Radio WBAI and as a daily reporter for newspapers in New Jersey, New York and Massachusetts. Then in 1996, he decided it was time to realize a life-long dream of traveling to Peru. He never went back. While serving as Peru country manager for the South American Explorers from 1997-1999, he fell in love with Fertur's founder, Siduith Ferrer, and they married. Over the next six years, he worked as a correspondent for The Associated Press. Meanwhile, Siduith built the business, which he joined in January 2007. Now he designs custom educational and adventure tour packages for corporate and institutional clients, oversees Fertur’s Internet platform and occasionally leads special trips, always with an eye open for a good story to write about.

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