Putukusi, Quechua for Happy Mountain, lies east of the Machu Picchu sanctuary. Once a lookout point for Inca sentinels, it is considered an ideal vantage point for photography of the surrounding area. At 2600 meters above sea level, it is reached by a rigorous hike from Aguas Calientes, beginning about five minutes from the hotel. In some places the steep climb is nearly vertical, but this guided trek provides unparalleled opportunities for observing exotic birds and lush cloud forest vegetation.
