How to spell Machu Picchu

First accounts of the existence of Machu Picchu, as described in the revised edition of John Hemming’s book, “Monuments of the Incas”  (2010 Thames & Hudson), date as far back as 1875 in a book by travel writer Charles Wiener.  He said that local people spoke to him of “other towns of Huaina Pitcho and Matcho Piccho towards the east.” Whilst the UNESO World Heritage site is now famous the world, over, how to spell Machu Picchu is can remain a challenge.

Hiram Bingham, the Yale-educated American explorer credited with the “discovery” of Machu Picchu, stumbled upon the site first on July 24 1911. He was only two days out of Ollantaytambo, when a local muleteer called Melchor Arteaga asked their purpose.  When told they were after Inca Ruins, he said there were excellent ones called Macchu Picchu and Huayna Picchu on top of the opposite precipice.

Bingham left and unforgettable account of his excitement that afternoon, of the dreamlike experience of entering the untouched forestand seeing archaeological wonders:

“I suddenly found myself in a maze of beautiful granite houses! They were covered with trees and mosse and the growth of centuries, but in the dense shadow, hiding in bamboo thickets and tangled vines, could be seen, here and there, walls of white granite ashlars most carefully cut and exquisitely fitted together.”

Hiram Bingham, upon his discovery of Machu Picchu, 24 July 1911

How to Spell Machu Picchu 

How to spell Machu Picchu incorrectly often includes variants such as: Machu Pichu, Macchu Picchu, Machupichu, Machupicchu, Matchu Pitchu or Macchupicchu………….

*This data is from Google April 2010

Machu Picchu means “Old Mountain” in Quechua, the native language of the Northern Andes of Peru and Lingua Franca at the time of the Incas. Huayna Picchu, the mountain that comes out in the pictures with the ruins in the foreground, means “Young Mountain”.

However you spell it, we can help you plan a fabulous holiday around Machu Picchu!