Machu Picchu Mountain Summit — Local services in Machu Picchu

Climbing Machu Picchu Mountain on My 49th Birthday

Decided to take on the Machu Picchu peak hike to mark my 49th birthday—honestly, I thought I’d only go halfway since I wasn’t fully prepared and didn’t carry enough water. But once we started the climb, especially up those endless stone stairs, things got real. It was tough, and more than once I felt like giving up.

You also have to reach certain control points at scheduled times, or you risk being turned back—so there’s a bit of pressure to keep moving.

Thankfully, the weather was in our favor. Even with just a little water, I managed to push through.

There are roughly 1,600 uneven stone steps. The first half doesn’t offer many views and feels like a slog. But once you reach the steeper parts, you’re rewarded with stunning vistas of ancient Inca villages and lush valleys. And when you finally reach the summit—wow. A full 360° panoramic view, clear skies, and the raw beauty of the Andes makes every aching muscle worth it.

My advice? Go slow. Breathe. Take your time. The last 400 steps will test you—they’re steep, and the altitude hits hard. But don’t give up. Just keep moving at your pace. The top is unforgettable Carry enough water n energy bars to celebrate at the top. Going up it took 2 hrs coming down and is also not easy took toll on knees 1 hrs total...

The guards act irresponsibly and put the guests' health at risk by taking away their water. Attached is a photo of the entrance where this happend.

We did Circuit 3 and got through the entrance of circuit 3/4 without any problems. When we entered again (through the entrance to the Mountain, which is also for Circuit 1+2) our backpack was suddenly too big. We had (for 2 people) 3l of water in a drinking system built into the backpack, 2 breads in a foldable can, sunscreen and 2 rain jackets. So nothing big, no plastic waste and our backpack fit in the small model box. We discussed in Spanish whether they really wanted to take away our water for the strenuous hike up the mountain in the midday heat, but they remained adamant.

This irresponsible behavior inevitably leads to dehydration, which is dangerous since there is no way to buy more water. Otherwise the purchased ticket will be useless. I am horrified by the conditions there and how carelessly they provoke medical...

Arduous hike from Machu Pichu city ruins up a steep, well marked, 700 meter (2200 ft) vertical climb. A few lookout points along the way offer stunning views, culminating with a majestic panoramic lookout at the top of the climb with glorious views of the surrounding valley and Urubamba river, including of course the city of Machu Pichu itself. This is one of 2 hikes from the city that require a pre-purchased ticket and a scheduled start time for the hike (the other is the more famous Huayna Pichu which is much less vertical climb, but harder and more vertical). Leave 2 hours minimum for climbing plus time to enjoy the lookouts and have a snack and some water at the top, so 2.5-3.5hrs total. Start times are all before 10am, with the combo city entrance fee. No guide needed, the route is very easy to follow. Prepare for some burning...