The famous Huayna Picchu Mountain which translated from Quechua means Young Mountain, is located at 2,667m/8,750ft above sea level and is part of the Andean foothills bordering the Amazon. Huayna Picchu is a very popular hike from the Machu Picchu Citadel. If you wish to add this hike on your tour or trek, its imperative to book early.
There are a number of reasons why people choose to hike this mountain. This 4km/2.4mile round trip hike takes you through meandering pathways among the lush vegetation that´s part of the Amazon Rainforest. Once you pass the winding path, you come upon the greatly feared and respected Stairs of Death that are steep and narrow. However, this trail is not dangerous, because along the way you will find rails and ropes on the side to hold on to. After you concur this steep climb, the views that await you at the top are unparalleled and will leave you in awe. Feast your eyes on spectacular panoramic views of the river that snakes its way through the valley, unobstructed views of the mountain tops and a slew of Inca ruins scattered on the mountain sides.
Also, awaiting you is an optional hike on the other side of the mountain to the Temple of the Moon. Temple of the Moon adds an extra hour to your overall hiking time, but is well worth it. It was build inside a natural cave and was possibly used for rituals , sacrifices or worshipping the moon. Upon your return to the top of Huayna Picchu, enjoy time exploring the small terraces and some buildings that were a part of an astronomical observatory. Be sure to not spend too much time at the top, so you can make space for other travelers looking to explore this amazing vintage point.
PLEASE NOTE:
***The climb to Huayna Picchu is steep and can be slippery when wet. Also, the hike comprises of stone steps and therefore having hiking boots with good tread, that fit well and are worn out is essential.
***For the reasons listed above, this hike might not be for everybody, its important to evaluate your ability to climb this mountain before booking. It is especially tricky during rainy season.
***This optional extra mountain hike within the Machu Picchu complex does not include a guide. The climb is done on your own, however there are personnel that are stationed within the trail for security and safety reasons. If you require a guide, please request in advance. There is an extra charge for this service.
***You must always respect the scheduled entrance times between 7 to 8am, 8am to 9am, 9am to 10am or 10am to 11am. If you arrive 5 minutes late you will not be allowed to enter!
Yes! Its limited to 300 hikers a day, so you will need to plan early to book the extra hike. Especially for Huayna Picchu, you should book at least 2 to 3 months in advance. We will purchase the permit for you with your trek if entrance tickets are available.
***This is the time you start the hike. It takes approximately 45 minutes to reach the top of Huayna Picchu, take some photos and 45 minutes down.
The price for Huayna Picchu is an extra cost: US$75 per person
Relevant question to ask yourself in this situation is: Is Huayna Picchu mt worth? Simple answer, YES! Here are the reasons why.
Yes, it is possible. You need to take the first train at 05:05 am from Ollantaytambo and buy the 10 am Schedule for Huayna Picchu. So Visit Machu Picchu from 08:00 am to 10:00 am then start hiking Huayna Picchu at 10 am. In case you don’t find early train tickets, You can hike to Huayna Picchu and then do the guided tour at Machu Picchu.
Terraces with flying stairs and houses.
Almost getting to the top, you will see flying stairs, placed with geometric precision, embedded in the walls of the terraces, allowing access between the different levels. The stair treads are high and far apart, needing a bit of a jump between them. Also, you will find Incan houses along the way. Some of them are very well restored.
Tunnels in the Huayna Picchu Mountain
Almost getting to the summit of Huayna Picchu, you will meet with a narrow tunnel that you must navigate through. To cross the tunnel, you need to crawl on your hands and knees. The idea to construct this tunnel was something of a “Choke point” for any invading forces trying to make their way up to the top of the mountain
The Moon Temple
Most people hike to Huayna Picchu to only see Machu Picchu from above and from a different angle. But if you have more time and your train Schedule is late, we recommend you hike the moon temple. It usually takes 4 hours to visit the Moon temple and the view of Machu Picchu from above. This temple is a well-carved lithic structure located inside a natural cave (the great cave).
Special fauna
You will see some Viscachas sitting on top of the rocks, many types of jungle birds, Lizards, and hummingbirds. If you are lucky, you can see cock of the rock and Spectacle bears.
It was perfect! On the first day we had a great time exploring the Sacred Valley and see the main attractions and learn about the history of this beautiful place.
I would definitely recommend the short Inka trail, I think it was the best way to get to know Machu Picchu and the surrounding area. We arrived at Machu Picchu when most of the crowd was gone and it felt really special.
You won’t regret booking with this tour company, especially if Liz Montesinos is your guide. My boyfriend and I did the 4 day Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu and Rainbow Mountain (private) tour. The tour covered everything; from transportation, hotels, meals, tickets and entrance fees, to stops at local places we would’ve never known to go or check out. We did a private tour because for us we felt this would help us get the most out of our time and experience in Peru
Best mix of adventure, history and nature: Sacred Valley & Short Inca Trail to Machu Picchu
4-day trekking option seemed too intense for us, but we still wanted to experience the entrance to Machu Picchu through the ancient Inka trail, so we opted for Orange Nation’s combination of Sacred Valley & Short Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. I couldn’t be more happy about our decision.
We booked and paid the deposit to Orange Nation / Sam travel for the 4 day Inca Trail and Machu Pichu trip back in 2019. But we couldn't travel in 2020 and 2021 - but the company honoured our agreement and so we came back in 2022.
recommends Orange Nation Peru
You won’t regret booking with this tour company, especially if Liz Montesinos is your guide. My boyfriend and I did the 4 day Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu and Rainbow Mountain (private) tour. The tour covered everything; from transportation, hotels, meals, tickets and entrance fees, to stops at local places we would’ve never known to go or check out. We did a private tour because for us we felt this would help us get the most out of our time and experience in Peru. This tour had so many incredible things and places packed into 4 days.
recommends Orange Nation Peru
My girl and i did the Machu Pichu trek tour with Orange Nation. It was seriously the most amazing experience that we'll never forget. Gorgeous views! The long trek was worth the amazing view. The tour guide was friendly and very knowledgeable. We considered other tours but chose Orange Nation because we liked the idea of smaller groups and this was definitely worth it. I will be using Orange Nation again next year when I come back to Peru!
recommends Orange Nation Peru
Wow, what a wonderful trekking experience! My trip to Peru was amazing thanks to this awesome tour that i took with Orange Nation. I did multiple tours with this company. I'm a solo traveler and everyone in my group was always still friendly and did not make me feel left out. I loved going off the beaten track with this company. It's much better to pay extra to go off the path for the quality experience of this amazing guided tour They definitely helped guide us and gave us a quality experience with a small group and paid special attention to each one of us. I highly recommend using Orange Nation for your next tour in Peru!
Has one of the most outstanding meal services. Our chefs have been highly trained to prepare the best peruavian and International food our treks. You should be prepared to not only have a superb trekking experience, but also a culinary one. "The food has been the highlight for all our hikers"
Christian B
10/10 Amazing experience
If you’re thinking about which agency to use, look no further- Ray and Jimmy went well above and beyond and made this a memorable, safe, fun, and professional experience.
Ray is the most knowledgeable guide I’ve ever had in any country for any excursion - during both the Short Inka Trail and the actual tour of Machu Picchu, Ray’s expertise shined through in his ability to give us a detailed background on every aspect of the history, climate, nature, flora, animals.. anything!
Likewise, Ray and Jimmy were truly the friendliest, kindest hosts that I could have imagined our group having.
Thank you both so much and I will definitely book with you again if (when) I come back!
Matt A
Awesome experience!!
Did the 2 day Inca trail with Ray and Jimmy they were great and knowledgeable. Ray not only guided us along trail to Machu Picchu but also was an excellent photographer and taught us the history. It was a group of 10 and we had a great time. Even everything going on in Peru, we always felt in good hands.
Rius
Short Inca Trial (2-Day)
This tour was the perfect experience for our (group of 10) short trip to Peru. The trail was sometimes challenging, but the views and history made it all worth it. Ray and Jimmy were our guides and imparted sooo much knowledge about the history of Peru, Inca, and beyond. I would definitely recommend!