The new tourist destination that gathers every day more tourists who seek the energy that radiates the sacred landscape of our world wonder Machu Picchu is the summit of Machu Picchu Mountain, which gave its name to the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu.
These days, it is more difficult to get spaces to enter to Machu Picchu and that is why now it is recommended to purchase the entrance tickets at least one month in advance. Undoubtedly, its neighbor Huaynapicchu is also very requested by our tourists and every day it becomes more difficult to acquire an entrance ticket for which it is recommended to make the reservation two or three months in advance.
Machu Picchu our world wonder now offers another alternative that is not so much known by tourists yet but with a unique landscape beauty, and that other option is to climb the mountain that gave its name to Machu Picchu "Machu Picchu Mountain", the new route that was restored two years ago following trails and stairs of an Inca trail, was restored by the team of experts from the National Archaeological Park of Machu Picchu, led by Fernando Astete Victoria.
However, despite having little time of being enable, is already being requested as an alternative route by tourists who can’t get the Huayna Picchu.
The Inca citadel of Machu Picchu, is located between two large stone walls: Machu Picchu ("old hill") at 3,050 meters above sea level, and Huayna Picchu ("young hill") at 2,730 meters above sea level. The name of the main mountain was used by the editors of the National Geographic Magazine to baptize the 'Lost City of the Incas' in its historic edition of 1913. The Machu Picchu Mountain route ascends through that huge mole covered with vegetation that does not come out in the official photographs of the Inca citadel, but that had a character as much or more sacred than the Huayna Picchu itself.
The entrance times to Machu Picchu Mountain are: from 7 in the morning to 10 am, with 800 spaces per day. The access door to Machu Picchu Mountain closes at 3 in the afternoon, the time is enough to ascend and descend, the time it will take you to ascend and descend is 3 to 4 hours (round trip) depending on your physical condition.
The landscape that this route presents while one is ascending by the stone steps, is the best that a visitor can appreciate. It is estimated that there are 1,600 steps, along this Inca Trails you can see the fine work that was achieved with the restoration by Fernando Astete.
Halfway down the road we can see the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu, the summit of Huayna Picchu, the imposing canyon formed by the Vilcanota River with the Putukusi mountain and a corner of Aguas Calientes. As a backdrop we can see the Andean buttresses covered in the jungle vegetation and, at the other end, the Machu Picchu hydroelectric power station and the chain of mountains that point towards Vilcabamba. But at the top the show is overwhelming. To all this view is added the snowy peak of the Apu Salkantay (6,271 meters high), master and lord of Cusco. You can also see the stylized summit of Pumasillo ("claw of the puma") with its 6,070 meters high, the Tucarhuay mountain (5,910 m), the Verónica (5,682 m) and the Huacay Huillca (5,361 m), among others.
Arriving at the summit you can already appreciate and contemplate all the sacred landscapes that surrounds Machupicchu, there is no doubt that with all this experience, you will be able to verify that it was worth all the effort.
Useful information:
- Ascent time: Ascent between 1h 30m and 2h. (Total time to go up and down is between 3 to 4 hours)
- Altitude of the summit: 3,082 m.s.n.m.
- Height in relation to Machu Picchu: 652 meters.
- Terrain: Inca stone path, with places of grass and earth.
- Recommended footwear: Light hiking boots (never new)
Schedule to enter the Machu Picchu Mountain:
- First Schedule: 07:00 hrs. - 08:00 hrs.
- Second Schedule: 09:00 hrs. - 10:00 hrs.
- Tickets: Limited to 800 entries per day, with 400 entries in each group.
- Type of Ticket: The ticket to the Machu Picchu mountain must be purchased as a combined Entrance Ticket (Machu Picchu + Mountain), there is no way to buy it separately
