Huayna Picchu Hike | Is it worth climbing Huayna Picchu?

Huayna Picchu Hike | Climbing the Huayna Picchu mountain is the dream of millions of tourists because of the magnificent panoramic view, the mystery of the archaeological content that this mountain hides, and the challenging hike that involves climbing this mountain. This short but hard kike is definitely revitalizing experience, one of kind!


Location:

The Huayna Picchu Mountain is located at 2,720 meters above sea level, don´t worry about lack of oxygen, both Machu Picchu and Huayna Picchu are located at the edge of the jungle (The border between the Andes and the Amazon), so there is a lot of vegetation and oxygen.


Before climbing Huayna Picchu

  1. Verify that you are in good physical condition.
  2. Buy your Machu Picchu Inca citadel + Huayna Picchu ticket, at least three months in advance.
  3. Find the access door that is in the sector of the Sacred Rock in the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu, just follow the signs or ask a park ranger, they are always keen to help you.
  4. Present your Machu Picchu Inca city + Huayna Picchu Ticket and your Original Identification Documents.

What schedule should I buy the ticket for?

First option:

  • Most tourists first visit Machu Picchu citadel in the morning, once the Machu Picchu guided tour ends at about 9:30 am, most tourists begin to hike up Huayna Picchu, so we recommend that you buy your ticket for the second schedule in the 3rd Group.
    • First Schedule to enter Huayna Picchu: from 7 am until 8 am
    • Second Schedule to enter Huayna Picchu: from 10 am until 11 am
  • Choose your preferred schedule below.
    • 1st Group: Enter Machu Picchu Inca citadel starting 6 am | Enter Huayna Picchu from 7 am until 8 am
    • 2nd Group: Enter Machu Picchu Inca citadel starting 7 am | Enter Huayna Picchu from 7 am until 8 am
    • 3rd Group: Enter Machu Picchu Inca citadel starting 8 am | Enter Huayna Picchu from 10 am until 11 am
  • In Conclusion, you will enter the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu starting 8am (NOT before) with your guide and other visitors, you will do the guided tour of the citadel which will end at about at 9:30 am; then you will find for the access door to Huayna Picchu between 10am and 11am (Nor before Neither after).
  • Please coordinate the meeting time with your guide in the city of Aguas Calientes or directly at the main door to enter Machu Picchu citadel.
  • Buy the MACHU PICCHU INCA CITADEL + HUAYNA PICCHU Ticket, specify that you are climbing up Huayna Picchu at the second schedule (between 10am and 11am) from the 3rd Group.

Second option:

  • You can also first visit the Huayna Picchu Mountain and then do the guided tour of the Machu Picchu Inca citadel.
  • For this itinerary you need to buy your Machu Picchu + Huayna Picchu Ticket, for the 1st Group or 2nd Group, so that you can enter Machu Picchu starting 6am or 7am, and enter Huayna Picchu between 7am and 8am (Nor before Neither after).
  • Please be at the Main Entrance Door to Machu Picchu at 6am or 7am sharp, the earlier, the more time you will have in Huayna Picchu mountain.
  • After visiting the Huayna Picchu mountain, return to the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu and get outside (to the Main Entrance Door) to join your Tour Guide and RE-ENTER the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu for the guided tour.
  • Please coordinate well with your guide the meeting time so that you find him/her at the Main Gate of Machu Picchu, most tour guides gather at 11am with their attendees for the group tour.
  • This itinerary may change if you take a tour with a private guide.

What is on the route to Huayna Picchu?

  • The first part of the route is light, you will not encounter any difficulties.
  • As soon as you start to climb the mountain you will notice how immensely vertical or steep is, you will have to climb about 2,000 Inca stairs, a total of approximately 2 kilometers.
  • Just before reaching the top you will walk on the “Stairs of Death”

What’s in Huayna Picchu?

  • The Famous Temple of the Moon.
  • Inca platforms for agriculture.
  • The best panoramic view of all the mountains that surround Machu Picchu.

How hard and dangerous is it to climb Huayna Picchu?

  • It will depend a lot on your physiological conditions, but between a scale from 1 to 10, the degree of difficulty is 7, this is mainly due to the danger of the route, not the absence of oxygen.
  • It is recommended to be in good physical condition.
  • Only people over 12 years old can go up to Huayna Picchu.
  • Please do respect the signs along the mountain.
  • If you don´t like walks with many slopes or climbs, take the Inca bridge walk to Machu Picchu.
  • Please be very careful not to stumble, a small human error can cost your life; at the top there are also park rangers who watch over your safety, all “selfies” with the ravine bottom are totally prohibited.
  • If you suffer from Acrophobia, please don’t do it!

How long is the Huayna Picchu hike?

From the citadel to Huayna Picchu is about 1 hour – the Return is about 40 min.


Please bring:

  • Bring a small backpack for your snacks, water, etc.
  • Original Identity Documents – NO copies.
  • Rain ponchos.
  • Sunglasses.
  • Sunscreen.
  • Camera.
  • And a lot of positive energy!

What is the price?

Machu Picchu ticket prices are differentiated according to nationality and certain regional agreements in South America, for example: Citizens from the Andean Community Countries (CAN) pay less. We assume that the Peruvian government established differential prices, due to the difference in the cost of living between Peruvian citizens and first world countries.

Super Important: All kinds of Ticket to the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu DOES NOT include: Tourists Guide, Tips, Food, Bus transportation and Accommodation.

Price for Foreigners:

VisitorMachu Picchu Inca Citadel “Solo” Machu Picchu Inca Citadel + Huayna Picchu Machu Picchu Inca Citadel + Machu Picchu Mountain
Adult

66 USD

81 USD

81 USD

Student

41 USD

56 USD
56 USD

Kids*

39 USD

54 USD

54 USD

Price for Andean Community Countries:

Visitor Machu Picchu Inca Citadel “Solo” Machu Picchu Inca Citadel + Huayna Picchu Machu Picchu Inca Citadel + Machu Picchu Mountain
Adult 37 USD

52 USD

52 USD
Student 29 USD

44 USD 44 USD
Kids* 27 USD

41 USD 41 USD

Price for Peruvians:

Visitor Machu Picchu Inca Citadel “Solo” Machu Picchu Inca Citadel + Huayna Picchu Machu Picchu Inca Citadel + Machu Picchu Mountain
Adult 105 Soles

175 Soles

175 Soles
Student 77 Soles  

125 Soles

125 Soles

Kids* 53 Soles

123 Soles* 123 Soles*

To consider:

  • Kids* for Huayna Picchu and Machu Picchu Mountain – In order for the kids to hike up Huayna Picchu and Machu Picchu Mountain, they must be over 12 years old.
  • It is considered an Infant from 0 to 7 years and 11 months, and all Infants have Free admission to the Inca Citadel of Machu Picchu, if your kid is in this range of ages, you don´t have to reserve a ticket for them, just show up at the main and make sure your present the original Identity Document of the minor.
  • It is considered Kid from 8 years to 17 years and 11 months, the age must be accredited with the Original Identity Document at the main entrance.
  • If you are a foreigner student or you are a student from the Andean Communities over 18 years old, you must carry your Student Card or ISIC, you must also present your Original Identity Document.
  • If you are a Peruvian student, bring your student card issued by the Ministry of Education, you must also bring your Original Identity Document.
  • Local people from Cusco region have free access to Machu Picchu on Sundays, but only to the Inca citadel, it does not include the other attractions such as Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain.

Where do I buy the tickets to Machu Picchu?

Frequently Asked Questions – FAQS

Can I leave Machu Picchu citadel for a while and Re-enter once again?

Yes, you can! Only if you have the Machu Picchu citadel + Machu Picchu Mountain Ticket or Machu Picchu citadel + Huayna Picchu Ticket, otherwise it does not apply.

Some tourists first do the Huayna Picchu Hike on their own, then they do the guided tour of Machu Picchu citadel, if this is your case, you will have to LEAVE the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu and meet your Tour Guide at the Main Gate of access to Machu Picchu, to RE-ENTER Machu Picchu citadel and take the guided tour.

It is not so logical for your Tour Guide to search for you inside the Machu Picchu citadel, because the Inca citadel is immense and there are hundreds of tourists that is the reason why the Guides and visitors always meet outside by the main entrance to the Inca citadel. If you really want your guide to meet inside the Inca citadel, book a private tour.

Can I enter Machu Picchu without a Tourist Guide?

It is mandatory to hire a Tourist Guide to enter Machu Picchu, however if you have the Machu Picchu + Machu Picchu Mountain Ticket or the Machu Picchu + Huayna Picchu Ticket, you can enter the Inca citadel without a Guide because of schedules reasons.

Can I change the schedule to visit Huayna Picchu?

Yes you can, but only for the next schedule, for example if you bought your ticket to enter Huayna Picchu starting 7am until 8am, but you couldn´t arrive on time (because of serious reasons that will be verified at the access door), you can enter Huayna Picchu at the following schedule from 10am until 11am, However if your ticket is for you to enter Huayna Picchu starting 10am until 11am, you will NOT be able to enter Huayna Picchu on the first schedule from 7am until 8am.

How many visitors are allowed to enter Huayna Picchu?

Only 400 visitors per day (200 visitors on each schedule), so it is important to buy the tickets in advance of at least 3 months.


Conclusion:

TYPE OF INFORMATIONHUAYNA PICCHU
Elevation2720 masl (8923 feet)
Duration of the hikeFrom the citadel to Huayna Picchu is about 1 hour – the Return is about 40 min.
Hike distanceFrom Machu Picchu cidated to Huayna Picchu it is 2 km (1.25 miles)
Difficulty Hard
Archaeological sitesAgricultural Platforms and the Temple of the Moon
OverviewPanoramic view of the Machu Picchu citadel and other mountains
Entry schedules 1st schedule: 07am – 08am and
2nd schedule: 10am – 11am
Number of visitors400 daily tickets available (200 visitors on each schedule)

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