Our Experience Hiking Huayna Picchu at Machu Picchu (Full Guide!)
Last Updated on April 14, 2024 by Kelly
After months of planning our trip to Machu Picchu, we were super excited to get tickets to hike to Huayna Picchu! Huayna Picchu is the mountain peak located directly behind the citadel of Machu Picchu. In order to hike to it, visitors need to book a separate ticket. The trail is restricted to prevent over-use, so there are a limited number of tickets for any given day. We were glad our tour operator was able to secure two tickets for us to hike to the summit!
In this post, we’re sharing all about our experience hiking Huayna Picchu. It ended up being one of the highlights of our trip to Peru. We’re sharing lots of photos and our best tips. Spoiler Alert: The Stairs of Death weren’t too bad!
Our Experience Hiking Huayna Picchu
We added on our tickets to Huayna Picchu at the last-minute, and we were very lucky we were able to get them! We planned our trip for March, which was during the rainy season, so I think there was less demand. The only tickets that were left, however, were for the 7am entrance time. We had to wake up really early to get to the trailhead in time, but it was definitely worth the early wake-up!
We woke up early and our muscles were pretty fatigued since we had hiked the Inca Trail the day before. (You can read all about our experience hiking the Inca Trail.)
When we first got to Machu Picchu that morning, it was hard walking through the citadel without stopping for photos and exploring, but we had to make it to the ticketing entrance on time. We had to run through the citadel and go straight to the trailhead.
The hike to Huayna Picchu was incredibly steep, but we were able to take our time and rest when needed. There were tons of people on the trail, as we expected there would be. There was never a moment where we had a portion of the path to ourselves. (I’m not complaining about this, I just think it’s important to set expectations.)
When we reached the top of the summit, we were amazed by the view of Machu Picchu below us. It was a completely different view than from arriving from the Sun Gate the day before. We were really glad we decided to book the extra ticket to Huayna Picchu.
The trail was absolutely gorgeous. We were surrounded by mountains everywhere we looked. On our descent, we walked down the “Stairs of Death.” The steps look dangerous visually, but the photos make it look worse than it actually is. Overall, we were very glad that we booked the additional ticket to Huayna Picchu!
Note: There are no restrooms at Huayna Picchu. (And there is no privacy on the trail!) Be sure to use the restroom before you begin the hike!
Getting Tickets
If you’re working with a tour company, reach out to them about booking tickets for Huayna Picchu on your behalf. Many of the tour companies will take care of the entrance tickets for you. You just need to let them know what tickets you are interested in purchasing.
When we visited Machu Picchu, we just let our tour company know that we were interested in hiking both Machu Picchu and Huayna Picchu. They took care of everything for us. Be sure to ask your tour company if they will make arrangements for the entrance tickets.
If you’re not working with a tour company, you’ll need to purchase tickets yourself. You’ll need to book your tickets further in advance. Because of high demand and low ticket availability, the combined ticket to Machu Picchu + Huayna Picchu sells out quickly.
You can buy your tickets to Machu Picchu from the official government website. Only 200 people can access Huayna Picchu per day. Those 200 people are dispersed over different timed entry slots. You have to be 12 years old or older to hike Huayna Picchu. Young children are not permitted on Huayna Picchu because of the steep cliffs.
| Planning a trip to Peru? See our guide to planning the best Peru itinerary! |
About Huayna Picchu
Huayna Picchu, also spelled as Wayna Picchu or Waynapicchu, translates to Young Mountain in the Quechua language. (Machu Picchu translates to Old Mountain.)
Huayna Picchu Mountain sits at 8,835 feet above sea level. It’s about 850 feet higher than Machu Picchu. If you hike to the top of Huayna Picchu, you’ll be able to have an excellent view as you look down on Machu Picchu.
The mountain overlooks the ruins of Machu Picchu. The Inca carved a trail up to the top of the mountain, and there are multiple ruins that remain.
To reach Huayna Picchu from Machu Picchu, head north past the Sacred Rock section and you will see a small ticket booth.
Short Trail
Huayna Picchu contains two trails: The Short Trail and the Long Trail. We personally completed the Short Trail. The Short Trail is 1.2 miles long (2 kilometers) and takes about 2 hours to complete.
The trail is narrow and very steep. There are several steep staircases and there are portions of the trail that have handrails or ropes for additional support.
When you reach the top, you’ll have unparalleled views of Machu Picchu! Clouds can block the view, so be patient and wait for them to roll through to capture the perfect photo.
Be sure to see all our posts about destinations in Peru!
Long Trail to the Great Cavern
The Long Trail to Machu Picchu is 2.7 miles long (5 kilometers) and takes approximately 4 hours to complete.
In addition to hiking to the top of Huayna Picchu, you’ll also complete a loop around the mountain. The loop will take you to the Temple of the Moon. The temple is made of stones and is enclosed within a natural cave inside the mountain. No one knows exactly why the temple was created or how the temple was used. The Inca believed that caves were an entrance for the gods, so it’s likely that it was a religious site. The name “of the moon” is arbitrary, as scholars don’t know what the Inca originally called this temple.
The Infamous Stairs of Death
A portion of the short trail of Huayna Picchu has been called the Stairs of Death. The stairs were given that name because they are carved into the side of cliff with dramatic views down the mountain. Although no one is known to have died falling from the steps, they do instill a fear of heights.
When we walked down these steps, we didn’t feel particularly unsafe or scared. There were terraces to the side of us, so it was not a direct fall down on the side.
If You Can’t Get Tickets
Tickets to Huayna Picchu sell out quickly because the daily capacity is much more limited. If it turns out that you can’t get tickets to hike Huayna Picchu, don’t despair. Whenever I can’t do a travel experience, I always tell myself it’s a reason to go back one day!
The good news is that there are several alternative hikes that are also worth seeing.
If you can’t make it in time or the tickets are already sold out for Huayna Picchu, here are 3 just as amazing alternatives to climbing Huayna Picchu.
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I may earn commissions from qualifying purchases.
Huchuy Picchu
The Huchuy Picchu hiking route is the newest addition to the Machu Picchu experience. Huchuy Picchu is the small peak next to Huayna Picchu, and there is now a route to its summit. Huchuy Picchu means Little Mountain in the Quechua language. Its summit is only 164 feet higher (50 meters) than the citadel of Machu Picchu. The hike is easier than Huayna Picchu, and Machu Picchu will appear more prominent in the background of your photos since it’s not as far away.
The trail is only 1.2 miles (2 kilometers) long, with only 180 feet of elevation gain. It takes about 60-90 minutes to complete the hike to Huchuy Picchu. To access Huchuy Picchu, you’ll enter through the same ticketing gate as Huayna Picchu.
After you complete the hike, you’ll then get to explore Machu Picchu.
We’ve read that the trail to Huchuy Picchu is fairly simple. We haven’t completed this trail before, but from what we’ve read, it may be better-suited for families with young children that aren’t allowed to hike Huayna Picchu. It’s definitely a great option for people looking for a less challenging hike at Machu Picchu.
Machu Picchu Mountain
Another option is to consider hiking Machu Picchu Mountain, which is the highest mountain in the area. To hike this mountain, you’ll also need to purchase a special ticket in advance.
Because it’s the highest mountain in the area, once you reach the top, you’ll have commanding views of the entire region on a clear day. There are no ruins at the top of this mountain.
The trail to Machu Picchu Mountain is 2.1 miles long with a total elevation gain of about 1,800 feet. You will need about 3 hours to complete the hike.
Sun Gate at Machu Piccu
If you can’t get a ticket to Huayna Picchu but you still want to do a little bit of hiking, another option is to hike to the Sun Gate.
The Sun Gate is about 1 mile from the Machu Picchu citadel, so it would be about 2 miles out-and-back. From the Sun Gate, you’ll be able to see Machu Picchu as the Inca did when they arrived from the Inca Trail.
Summary
Tickets to hike Huayna Picchu are very competitive because the number of hikers allowed on the trail is strictly regulated. You might be wondering if booking the additional ticket to hike Huayna Picchu in addition to seeing Machu Picchu is worth it. We hiked Huayna Picchu and we thought it was definitely worth the time and money. We saw an almost aerial view of Machu Picchu below us.
Hiking Huayna Picchu was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. We hope this article about hiking Machu Picchu was helpful as you prepare for your trip!
Disclaimer: We always strive for content accuracy. Since the time of publishing, travel-related information regarding pricing, schedules, and hours may have changed. Please look up such information directly from each vendor or institution for the most current information.
