In 1832 the Spanish invaded Peru, to protect the city of Machu Picchu the last Inca ordered that 8 miles of the Incan path that lead into the city was destroyed, the outskirts around that area barricaded and sites along the route destroyed. The Incas fled the city and it became known as ‘the lost city’; the Spanish never found it. However, they did find many other settlements along the route and destroyed them, which is why many of the sites leading to city are now ruins whereas Machu Picchu is whole and scathed only by time and nature. To protect the trail leading to this great monument only 500 permits are allocated each day to hike the Inca trail.