Crowded House in Machu Picchu and the Inca Trail

It took the outside world almost four centuries to discover the existence of Machu Picchu, the fabled "Lost City of the Inca." After a visit to the ruins during the June-August high season, you'll swear the world is determined to make up for lost time.

On a high-season weekend, Machu Picchu might host in excess of 3,000 visitors a day. By September, daily totals fall to 1,500 visitors, and a typical February day, in the lowest of the low season, sees a relatively paltry 1,000 people pass through the entry turnstiles.

A current plan would cap numbers at 2,500 visitors per day. The Instituto Nacional de Cultura, which oversees Machu Picchu, is searching for ways to spread the numbers out more evenly over the year. Incentives may be offered for coming during the off-season.