Live bands, a symphony orchestra, a traditional Inca “Tinkay” ceremony and a spectacular sound and light show are all on the bill for the official Machu Picchu Centenary celebrations which take place at Machu Picchu today to mark 100 years since the ruins were brought to the attention of the world.

Celebrating the Machu Picchu Centenary

Touted to be viewed by as many as 500 million people worldwide on HDTV, the official event will be attended by dignitaries from foreign countries, celebrities such as Nobel Prizewinning author Mario Vargas Llosa, outgoing Peruvian president Alan Garcia and a whole host of journalists, photographers and travellers from across the World.

The events will be rounded off with a light and sound show which aims to recreate Machu Picchu as it would have looked during Inca times. The show will feature around 300 notable artists and musicians, including the Andean Orchestra, Cusco’s Symphony Orchestra and the renowned Peruvian musician and composer Manuel Miranda who is famed for his use of traditional wind instruments.

There are also artistic and cultural events taking place in the city of Cusco, where large LCD screens will beam the events at Machu Picchu into the city’s main square. There was a 21 gun salute in the city early this morning to mark the beginning of the day’s proceedings, and celebrations are expected to run into the early hours.

You can find out more about the official celebrations on ANDINA (the government’s official news agency) and Prom Peru or catch the celebrations, which begin at 10.30am local time, on one of the 15 satellite channels broadcasting the events live internationally.

New Wonder of the World

Despite Hiram Bingham first coming across the ruins on the 24^th of July 1911, the official ceremonies are taking place today firstly because it was on 7^th of July 2007 that Machu Picchu was voted as one of the new 7 wonders of the world in a worldwide survey.

Perhaps the principal reason, however, is because the 24^th is too close to the country’s Independence day (the 28^th) and coinciding holidays, which this year will incorporate the novel feature of a presidential inauguration.