Machu Picchu

The town of Aguas Calientes, in the valley below the mountains, is the main jumping-off point for visits to Machu Picchu.   (Colleen Connolly/Chicago Tribune)

Tourists stop at the main temple in Machu Picchu’s Sacred Plaza, which has been damaged by earthquakes over the years.   (Colleen Connolly/Chicago Tribune )

Tourists walk around Machu Picchu before the sun rises over the mountains.   (Colleen Connolly/Chicago Tribune)

Located in the high jungle, Machu Picchu boasts an impressive variety of native plant life.   (Colleen Connolly/Chicago Tribune)

These stone huts were outfitted with new thatched roofs to demonstrate what they looked like when the Inca occupied Machu Picchu.   (Colleen Connolly/Chicago Tribune)

The Intihuatana, or “hitching post of the sun,” is one of the most sacred structures in Machu Picchu. It’s now roped off from the public. In 2000, a piece of the sundial chipped off during the filming of a beer commercial, sparking outrage among locals and preservationists.   (Colleen Connolly/Chicago Tribune)

The sun rises over the mountains, casting a glow on Machu Picchu, a staple on many travelers’ bucket lists.   (Colleen Connolly/Chicago Tribune)

Tourists are restricted to certain paths in Machu Picchu.   (Colleen Connolly/Chicago Tribune)