Montaña Machu Picchu, Mountain summit near Cusco, Peru

Montaña Machu Picchu is a 3,082-metre mountain in the eastern foothills of the Salcantay massif, in Peru's Cusco region, and the highest peak inside the Machu Picchu archaeological park. Its upper zone holds no archaeological remains; the Inca city of the same name lies on its lower slopes. Dense vegetation covers the flanks, and on the lower right a cluster of pale grey stone terraces with staircases and low walls steps down the slope in long, narrow tiers.

The mountain gave its name to the Inca site on its lower slopes, part of the Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu, a UNESCO mixed site since 1983. The summit itself has no archaeological remains, unlike neighbouring Huayna Picchu. The first recorded ascent was in 1942 by Hiram Bingham and companions.

The name comes from the Quechua language, where 'Machu' means old and 'Picchu' means peak, reflecting how indigenous people understood and named the mountains around them. This naming tradition reveals the connection between language and the landscape.

The climb requires separate entrance tickets and takes about two hours along stone pathways and steep steps of varying difficulty. Visitors should wear sturdy footwear and allow extra time since the terrain is exposed and weather conditions can change quickly.

The summit has no archaeological remains: the Inca site lies on the mountain's lower slopes, while the top is bare rock. From the top, reached by a trail starting inside the Inca city, the view takes in the city, the Urubamba valley and peaks such as Huayna Picchu, Salcantay and Verónica.