Can’t Make It to Peru? This Flagstaff Alternative Is 1,000 Years Old

If you’ve always wanted to visit Machu Picchu in Peru but are on a budget or don’t have the time for a full-blown vacation, you’re in luck! We have the next best thing right here in the Grand Canyon State: Wupatki National Monument. Located just 30 miles north of Flagstaff, Arizona, this 11th-century heritage site is often compared to Peru's ancient Inca ruins because of its size and architectural features. It’s one of the most fascinating historic places in Arizona, leaving over 200,000 visitors awestruck each year. We bet, after you visit, you’ll agree it’s a great dupe for Machu Picchu.

Discover the Ancient Ancestral Puebloan Ruins

Wupatki National Monument is situated about halfway between the colorful badlands of the Painted Desert and Flagstaff’s lush pine forests. In the Hopi language, Wupatki means “Long Cut House,” and the multistory pueblo consists of over 100 rooms. The structure was built by the Ancestral Puebloans between A.D. 1040 and 1100, with a population of approximately 85 to 100 people by 1182. It’s the largest freestanding pueblo in the region, housing as many as 2,000 people (with still others passing through the area) between its construction and abandonment circa 1225.

What to Expect When You Visit Wupatki National Monument

Your visit to Wupatki National Monument begins in the best possible way: with a jaw-dropping view. Just behind the visitor center is a scenic overlook that showcases the site in all its glory. Prepare to be amazed as you take in the sheer vastness of the ruins and imagine the rooms filled with activity over a millennium ago. 

An easy, half-mile hike leads down to the pueblo so you can take a closer look. Explore the various rooms, each one constructed with painstaking attention to detail, and admire a natural blowhole and the remains of an ancient ball court. There are signs posted around the monument that provide context and offer a greater sense of appreciation for this remarkable place. Be sure to stay on the trail and leave no trace to preserve the site for future generations.

Just like Machu Picchu, the ruins themselves don’t tell the whole story of this historic landmark in Arizona. The landscape surrounding the structure is a big part of what makes it so special. Striking rock formations surround the pueblo, and if you look closely enough, you can spot remnants of other ancient heritage sites in the distance. The area is filled with unique plant and animal life, and at night, the dark skies come alive with trillions of glittering stars.

There is a fee to access the historical site that is open from sunrise to sundown. I'd advise visiting the National Park Service website for more information about this ancient monument. If you're like me and have a life goal of visiting as many national parks as possible, the Complete National Parks of the United States book by National Geographic is your ideal travel companion. It features over 400 destinations managed by the National Park Service, including monuments, historic sites, battlefields, and more.

Have you ever visited Wupatki National Monument? If so, do you think it’s one of the best historic places in Arizona? We think so! Continue your deep dive into northern Arizona’s rich history on a scenic drive from Wupatki National Monument to Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument. This ancient cinder cone volcano is now dormant (thankfully!), but its eruptions disrupted the lives of indigenous people, forcing them to relocate and build Wupatki.

Nearby Walnut Canyon National Monument is also a worthwhile side trip because it preserves intricate cliff dwellings and pit houses. Be sure to carve out some time to explore Flagstaff, one of the best destinations for a weekend trip in Arizona. You'll find more historical sites, restaurants, and places to browse around the city.