What could be one of the reasons why Machu Picchu was abandoned?

After the Spanish conquest, the Inca Empire was all but destroyed and Machu Picchu was abandoned. There are several theories around why it was abandoned, including a smallpox epidemic, civil war, and the Spanish conquest. Today, Machu Picchu is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Peru.



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Built in the fifteenth century Machu Picchu was abandoned when the Inca Empire was conquered by the Spaniards in the sixteenth century. It was not until 1911 that the archaeological complex was made known to the outside world.

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They do not know why the site was abandoned. Lack of water may have been a reason. Machu Picchu remained hidden from the Spanish when they conquered the Inca in the 1500s. Plants grew over the site, and for hundreds of years it was known only by a few people who lived in the area.

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The construction of the magnificent site continued until it was abandoned shortly before the arrival of the European conquistadors in Peru in 1532. Machu Picchu, like many Inca projects, was never completed.

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The Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu is threatened by an accumulation of factors (flooding, landslides, fires, deforestation, pollution, tourism infrastructure, and tourist numbers) that combine to negatively impact the World Heritage values of the site and visitor safety.

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5 Fascinating Facts About Machu Picchu
  • The name of this ancient city is not Machu Picchu, and it was never really lost.
  • Machu Picchu is incredibly well-preserved and 75% original. ...
  • Machu Picchu is situated in deep in the jungle. ...
  • Much of the construction was done without the use of mortar.


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Threats to the Sanctuary Machu Picchu faces a variety of threats: excessive tourism, which is especially hard on the fragile site; the generation of solid waste; unsustainable agriculture practices; overgrazing and forest fires; aggravating erosion; landslides; mineral extraction; and the introduction of exotic plants.

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While some of this damage can be attributed to slumping rocks or soil beneath the temples, in other instances, movement of many of the damaged blocks, including substantial gaps between some formerly interlocking blocks of stone, was likely driven by seismic shaking from at least two major quakes.

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