Machu Picchu — Hiram Bingham’s “Lost City of the Incas” — sits at about 2,430m (7,970 feet) above sea level in the Peruvian Andes. The site is a UNESCO World Heritage listing, and the elevation is actually lower than Cusco at 3,400m.
The ridgeline position matters. The citadel occupies the saddle between Huayna Picchu and Machu Picchu Mountain, with the Vilcanota river making a near-complete loop below. Terraces run down both slopes, and the cloud forest closes in on the lower edges.
The 2,430m altitude is high enough for the air to feel noticeably thin on exertion, but low enough that acclimatised visitors (two days in Cusco first) rarely have problems. The ridge location also gives the panoramic view across the Vilcanota gorge toward the Vilcabamba range.
Peruways handles the trip chain — Cusco transfer, train from Ollantaytambo, Consettur shuttle, entry ticket, licensed guide — in one booking.
