New Inca Trail Discovered that Leads to Machu Picchu

Archeologists have unearthed a new discovery near the Inca city of Machu Picchu. The new trail leads to the ancient site, adding to the already extensive Inca Trail network favored by adventurers and tourists. Fernando Astete, chief of the Archeological Park of Machu Picchu, and a group of his workers discovered the trail, which is around a mile long.

First reported by the Peruvian newspaper El Comercio, the road is located on the rear part of the mountaintop site and leads to the region of Wayraqtambo, Tambo de los Vientos. A group of workers are now clearing the road. They also discovered a tunnel that, according to Astete, continues to be passable.

 It is at least 15 feet in length and is 2,700 meters above sea level. "This is one of the best examples of Inca engineering," Astete told the newspaper. "It has been verified that the tunnel was built after the main road collapsed. Then, our ancestors fractured the rock and begun th
e construction."


Speaking with Fox News Latino, Astete added that there was no inkling that the road was there, but he is sure there are others that remain hidden. He added that the road predates even Machu Picchu itself, which was built around 1450 at the height of the Inca Empire.

This new discovery adds to the mystique of the place and will encourage more tourists to visit the site, though they may not need much encouragement.

A survey conducted by travel site Hostelworld.com found that more tourists wanted to visit Machu Picchu than other places around the world. Called "My Awesome Destination" contest, more than one million people chose the Peruvian archeological site, impressing even Peru's Foreign Trade and Tourism Minister.

"This is the result of constant promotional work in the main tourism source countries for one of the most celebrated destinations in our country, and of the special conservation work done by local officials at the Incan sanctuary, which welcomed 1,177,308 tourists in 2013," said Minister Magali Silva.

After Machu Picchu, respondents chose the Full Moon Party in Thailand and South Africa's Kruger National Park as top choices.