Fire extinguished near Machu Picchu ruins

After three days of fighting the flames that threatened to close in on one of the world's most famous archaeological sites, Peruvian firefighters have controlled a forest fire near the Incan ruins of Machu Picchu.

The fire, which was started by farmers burning grass and debris to prepare to sow new crops, had engulfed an area about half the size of Vatican City.

The fire had been 90 per cent extinguished by Thursday, but firefighters remain alert for a possible resurgence of the blaze due to strong winds near the old city high in the Andean mountains.

The difficult access to the remote and mountainous area had hampered the efforts of firefighters, according to a report.

The risk management office at the Civil Defence Institute said some 70 people, including firefighters, police and experts, had worked to stop the fire and that a team remained on alert in the area on Friday.

The ministry of culture said the incident had not affected tourist activity in the region.

Machu Picchu, a complex of stone structures that sit atop a mountain, was built more than 500 years ago by the Incas. Its empire controlled large swaths of South America from what is now southern Ecuador to central Chile.

The ruins that surround Cusco region are considered one of the seven wonders of the world, are considered one of the new seven wonders of the world.