Of the two peaks you can climb from inside Machu Picchu, Machu Picchu Mountain is the taller — 3,082 metres — and the easier of the two underfoot. The trail climbs steadily through cloud forest on original Inca stonework; the view from the top opens onto the citadel below and the ridges running south towards the Vilcabamba.
Peruways arranges the permit with your entrance ticket. Daily walker caps mean the mountain add-on sells out weeks ahead in high season, so book early.
Round trip takes three to four hours. The grade is relentless rather than technical, and the weather can turn — bring a shell, water and shoes with grip. On a clear morning, the summit view beats anything from inside the citadel.
Trains in from Ollantaytambo, shuttle up from Aguas Calientes, and the entry slot that lines up with the mountain’s first-ascent window — Peruways packages all three.
