Every year, a million visitors venture into Machu Picchu, a must-visit landmark in Peru. Today, it was our turn to explore the world's most iconic archaeological sites and Peru's most popular tourist attraction. Not only did we wander the Peruvian Sacred City, but we also trekked the challenging Machu Picchu Mountain.

The Early Morning Ascent

As we couldn't buy the shuttle bus ticket in advance for arriving too late the previous day at Aguas Calientes, we decided to walk up to Machu Picchu which means Old Mountain in Quechua, the old Inca language. At 4 AM, we left our hostel, Catari's House ↗, and set off for the Inca ruins and for the Machu Picchu Mountain. The streets were busy. Many people were already lined up at the bus ticket kiosk. More were waiting for the buses which only departed at 5:30 AM. We were glad to have skipped both queues. And so far, we were thrilled to hike up from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu.

Easily, we made our way to the only bridge running over the Vilcanota River. It was closed. We had to wait patiently with another hundred (yeah - hundred!) of climbers for the guards to let us pass at 5 AM. We started going up the trail in the dark. After 50 minutes, we reached the entrance of the citadel as the first buses were dropping their first customers.

First Glimpse of the Lost City

At 6 o'clock sharp, the main gates opened. Within minutes we saw our first glimpse of the Ancient City erected high in the Andes Mountains. The ruins were well preserved but the dramatic location made the place surreal. Llamas were parading around and weren't afraid to pose for our cameras. So funny! We climbed up to a good spot to admire the sun as it appeared above the green mountains. The light was gradually illuminating the Lost Inca City, one section after another. The spectacle was magic.

We ventured for 2 hours in the remains of the Inca Empire. We strolled along the grassy terraces which were used to harvest hundreds of different crops. We admired the different buildings such as the Intiwatana, the Temple of the Three Windows, the Sun Temple and the Temple of the Condor.

Conquering Machu Picchu Mountain

Around 9 AM, it was time to ascend the neighboring peak called La Montaña - the Machu Picchu Mountain. The trek is less popular than the "(not really) deadly" Huayna Picchu trail. The latter is a treacherous climb with narrow paths, ladders and sheer drop-offs. Huayna Picchu, which means Young Mountain, is located behind the iconic ruins and is commonly seen on postcards as the background of Machu Picchu. The Machu Picchu Mountain, being much much higher, offers an even more impressive perspective of the whole region.

We made our way to the warden hut following the signs towards the Sun Gate. We signed the registry, showed our ticket and passport and joined the 400 brave enough visitors who were allowed to enjoy (or suffer) the ancient Inca trail. Made of 2,115 uneven old stone steps (yeah, we counted them!), the Machu Picchu Mountain was well-marked and easy to follow. Some stretches were steeper than others. The high altitude and the heat made the ascent more challenging. Along the switchback trail, we paused many times in the shade to catch our breath. The view of Machu Picchu getting tinier and tinier was worth every break. Every step was hard. We carried on for an hour and a half, climbing up the never-ending steps but enjoying the delightful vistas the whole way up.

The Summit Experience

The last section was narrower, steeper and scarier, especially for people with fears of heights. We crossed a few people who freaked out as they needed to descend the rocky stairs. The trail was not busy. We crossed only a dozen other enthusiastic trekkers. Suddenly we reached the final switchback. Ahead, we saw the summit. Breathless and tired, we had just completed one of the most challenging hikes we'd done. People were all smiling. Happy to have conquered the Machu Picchu Mountain.

Located at 3,061 meters above sea level, or 630 meters above the iconic Inca sanctuary, the lookout offered an unparalleled view of the Rio Urubamba snaking its way between the green mountains and wrapping around the rare Inca site that the Spanish conquistadors never found. And therefore never destroyed. The scenery was awe-inspiring. We took millions of pictures of Machu Picchu peacefully nestled on the green ridge and protected by the Huayna Picchu and Putucusi mountains.

We sat for a while at the summit taking in the whole panorama, looking down at the ruins of the incredible site, sharing smiles with other similarly mesmerized trekkers. We could see the Santa Teresa's hydro-electric station and the riverside Aguas Calientes from where the adventure all started.

After some time, we climbed down the mountain, got our passports stamped for free, walked down back to Aguas Calientes where our train to Ollantaytambo was waiting for us.

Have you been to Machu Picchu? Did you ascend the Machu Picchu Mountain? Did you wake up at 4 AM to walk up from Aguas Calientes? Leave us your comments below. We would love to hear from you.

Experiencing Machu Picchu and trekking the Machu Picchu Mountain was amazing. A once-in-a-lifetime experience. Even if you need to take the bus, make sure you have enough time to explore this unique wonder of the world.

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🏔️ Conquer Machu Picchu Mountain

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Watch the sun illuminate the Lost City of the Incas stone by stone in one of the world's most spectacular archaeological sites.

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At 3,061m above sea level, the summit offers unparalleled views of the Inca sanctuary and the Urubamba Valley below.