1000 Places To See Before You Die: Vote On The Ultimate Destination

UPDATE 12/1: The polls are officially closed and we have reached a winner. Click to see your most desired vacation destination!

In the travelers anthology, "1000 Places To See Before You Die," by author Patricia Schultz, you could spend hours searching, scanning and leafing off pages and pages of destinations that you consider must-visit spots. From St. Thomas to Sapporo, Petra to Pennsylvania, the Great Wall to the golden triangle, you could spend every day of the rest of your life seeing something new.

We spent a few days flipping through the book and coming up with a basic list of the spots we'd put on our must-see itinerary based on popular articles, reader questions and comments, and general popularity. And then you voted through three rounds of qualifiers to get to this exact moment. There were a lot of close calls (phew, Vatican City and Great Barrier Reef!) and some very strong competitors (we're looking at you, Yellowstone!).

We now have two fantastic travel spots vying for the title of ultimate destination to see before you die: The Great Pyramid of Giza and Machu Picchu.

Vote below on your top choice. Plus, leave a comment telling us where you've been and what your own must-see places are. We'll be picking five commenters through the challenge to score a copy of the new version of "1,000 Places To See Before You Die," so you can find your own must-see destinations.

Also, tweet your favorite destination that didn't make the bracket to @HuffPostTravel with the hashtag #1000Places and we'll pick one honorary people's choice winner the end of the challenge.

Ultimate place to see before you die: The Pyramids or Machu Picchu?

The Great Pyramid of Giza, Egypt

Machu Picchu, Peru

Share your vote on Facebook so your friends can take this poll

Contest is open to legal residents of the 50 United States, the District of Columbia and Canada (excluding Quebec) who are 18+ and registered users of The Huffington Post. To enter, leave a comment on this post and vote on the challenge. The comment must be left before the final round of the challenge completes. You may enter (1) one time and (5) five winners will be selected at random to win a signed copy of the 2011 version of the book "1000 Places To See Before You Die.

Comments

[Mario Acuna]

08:47 PM on 04/15/2012

Well im very proud that so far the Wonderful and Beautiful Ruins of Machu Picchu are ahead in polls, not because i am A Peruvian Native but also because we have a very impresive History that made us once known as The Archaeological Capital of America years ago, but enouh of bragging just wanted to share with all readers about my trips to that Beautiful Ruins, is a breath taking experience, just seeing the Technology used back then, that, until today's date, it's still a Mystery to the world, a must see destination before you die and after you had that experience i promised you will agree with me and everybody who voted in favor

[Yomisma]

02:22 PM on 12/03/2011

http://www.discover-peru.org/machu-picchu-architecture/ Welcome to Machu Picchu!

[Yomisma]

03:03 PM on 12/03/2011

http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/75919/20101026/machu-picchu-ecotourism-machu-picchu-peru-tourism-ecotourism-industry-unesco-world-heritage-site-pan.htm

[claudia luna]

03:17 PM on 12/02/2011

Machu Picchu!

[Marilyn Terrell]

05:49 PM on 12/01/2011

Recommend hiking the high route (Camino Salcantay), much more interesting & less congested than the Inca Trail http://on.natgeo.com/cVgTMH

[Annemarie Dooling]

12:13 PM on 12/02/2011

Marilyn! Thanks for commenting on our bracket. You're the best!

[Marilyn Terrell]

08:51 AM on 12/03/2011

Aww thanks Annemarie! The bracket was a very clever idea ;)

[Diana Mery Lopez Paredes]

06:40 AM on 12/01/2011

estuve en machupicchu y es lo maximo!!saludos

[hyperfluent]

02:23 AM on 12/01/2011

Without a doubt there is no place as majestic as Machu Picchu, otherwise known as the "Ancient Mountain" in Quechua. It is one of the few places where I have truly felt that time stands still. This destination intertwines the mystical and reality and the human with the divine. Not only do I feel proud because I am Peruvian but also because anyone from across the globe who visits Machu Picchu can witness the spirituality and rich culture of the Incas.

[Amock]

08:52 PM on 11/30/2011

Want to go to Egypt but with the political unrest that is unlikely. So Peru here we come and with our MONEY.

[Rebecca.Dolan]

05:59 PM on 11/30/2011

Sorry for the date confusion. Polls are still open through tonight. Thanks to everyone who voted!

[Lupita Consejos]

10:50 AM on 12/04/2011

soooo.. WHO WON? its december now!

[Akilah Clarke delgadillo]

05:55 PM on 11/30/2011

Excuse me but I would like to know where do u get the results for this contest , cuz today's date is 11/30/11 ad still don't know who won

[Annemarie Dooling]

08:02 PM on 11/30/2011

We're open till Midnight! Can't wait to show you all the winner though. woohoo!

[randalcoon]

05:29 PM on 11/30/2011

Sorry I got to your voting too late. To me, there is no question. It would have to be Banff National Park in Alberta, Canada. Been there many times, and could never go enough. Just wish I could afford to buy a castle there, and move up permanently.

[nickelsun]

05:05 PM on 11/30/2011

Machu Picchu Corazon!!!, el lugar ancestral mas engimatico y de energia que debes conocer.

[AncientSummit]

01:14 PM on 11/30/2011

I have been to Machu Picchu more times than I can count and every time I go back, it is like discovering it again. What an amazing place! One of the best things about coming to Peru is the diversity and if you crave deserts and pyramids, we have them as well! Some are as old as those at Giza.

[quovadiszero]

01:12 PM on 11/30/2011

One night with a good women is better than all those places.,better yet,take a good women with you to those places.

[Flor Mostacero Mostacero]

01:11 PM on 11/30/2011

estoy en PERÚ UN PAIS LLENO DE MISTERIO UN PAIS MARAVILLOSO Y PRIVILEGIADO.ARRIBA PERÚ...I LOVE YOU!!!!!!

[CaitlinPerna]

11:18 AM on 11/30/2011

The karst mountains of fishing village Yangshuo, China should be on this list!