(on the left) One of the main entrances to the city. The holes on either side held the heavy wooden bar across the door. (on the right) But a few of the over 3,000 steps located throughout the site.

The other side of the entrance door shown above.

Those magnificent mountains which surround and soar above the ruins.

(on the left) The mighty Urubamba River flows through the canyon at the foot of the mountains. (on the right) A 12 sided keystone is part of the almost seamless joinery in this wall.

This stone forming the end of a main wall is more than 4 foot high and contains over 100 hand-cut sides.

(above and below) Some stones were carved where they lay to form altars and sacrificial stones.

The beauty and rounded symmetry which graces something as simple and utilitarian as these steps, speaks volumes about the craftmanship of the inhabitants of this secret place.

(above and below) One of the many mysterious "rooms" in the ruins with trapezoidal windows lining each side.

Situated at the highest point in the city and probably the most important place in what is commonly believed to be a religious retreat for the Inca, this is the stone altar called Intihuaytana or, loosely translated from the Quechua, "place to tie down the sun". The Incas worshiped the sun and during a ceremony which took place on their "winter solstice" in June, the priest would ceremoniously lasso and tie the sun to the Intihuaytana to prevent it from leaving the heavens.