Fernando Astete is a Peruvian anthropologist, who dedicated more than thirty years of his life to the investigation, conservation, and protection of Machu Picchu, and who recently shared with us what the sanctuary means to him through some exclusive pictures he took during the years at the site. 

It was in August 1988, while Fernando was working in the Cadastral office, that a fire started in Santa Rita de Q’ente. At the time, he was a young man, who often used to walk through the mountains and forests of the sacred valley of the Incas, which led him to be present during this incident.

Outstanding in the archaeological site are the bastions of Saqsqahuamán and the Suchuna area, connected through the central opening in space of the park.

This image of mount Yanatin was taken in front of the site’s keep, probably sometime during August. What is so peculiar about this specific picture is the way the horizon looks behind the clearly cut skyline of the Andes.

The river was channeled in Inca times and has left its mark. The path starts from Aqokqasa hill; above the road the site of Tunasmoqo is recognized. This specific way of planning water flows and directions was essential for the Incas and the development of their civilization.

On one Sunday of October 2015, the Prime Ministers of Peru and Italy were visiting Machu Picchu with Adine Gavazzi, together with José Bastante, the head of the Archaeological Park of Machu Picchu.

For a place that holds so much significance and depth, hardly anyone expresses the desire to visit the forest that hides the most important secrets and teachings of Machu Picchu.

This image is the most reproduced picture of Machu Picchu, and it was taken by Heinz Plenge, Peru’s most prominent nature and wildlife photographer. 

You may be asking yourself, why is the Chief of the Machu Picchu Archaeological Park posing in front of a broken wall in the middle of a field? Well, what may seem like a funny shot is actually a picture a very intricate and meaningful story.