Huayna Picchu is one of the must-see sites in Machu Picchu. This is the most desired adventure in the Inca City. There you can also visit the Temple of the Moon. However, there are some things you should know before climbing this summit. Know some rules, restrictions and tips about the visit to the famous Waynapicchu mountain.

• What are the main rules at Huayna Picchu?
• Who can visit Huayna Picchu?
• What things can’t I bring to Huayna Picchu?
• Prohibitions in Huayna Picchu
• What are the entrance hours to Huayna Picchu?
• Warnings for visiting the Huayna Picchu mountain
• More information on Huayna Picchu

Huayna Picchu towering above the Inca City

Machu Picchu + Huayna Picchu tickets must be booked online 4 months in advance. Otherwise you may not be able to get one for the date you want.

What are the main rules at Huayna Picchu?

• Only 400 people can enter Huayna Picchu daily.
• The entrance is with the ticket: ‘Machu Picchu + Huayna Picchu’.
• The entrance to the mountain will be done in order and respecting the established schedules.
• You will not be able to hike this mountain with a significant physical handicap. This is due to the narrowness of the trails. In some cases you will have to hold on to safety cables to overcome certain sections of the trail.
• Carry only what is absolutely necessary: you are only allowed to carry a maximum weight of 5 kilos.

Who can visit Huayna Picchu?

• Only visitors over 12 years old can enter the Huayna Picchu mountain.
• Minors visiting this mountain must be accompanied by their parents or guardian.
• Older adults should consult with their doctors before making this hike.

What things can’t I bring to Huayna Picchu?

As well as the rules at Machu Picchu, visitors to Huayna Picchu mountain should not bring the following:

• Metal-tipped canes.
• Baby carriages.
• Tripods.
• Banners.
• Paints or aerosols.
• Musical instruments.
• Sharp or firearms.
• Aerosols.
• Posters or objects for advertising purposes.
• Selfie sticks.
• Pets.

Prohibitions in Huayna Picchu

• It is not allowed to generate a crowd in Huayna Picchu.
• Do not deviate from the marked trails.
• Do not risk your life by taking pictures near cliffs.
• No obscene acts are allowed in Huayna Picchu.
• Smoking or drinking alcoholic beverages is not allowed in Waynapicchu.
• Do not carry a backpack weighing more than 15 kilos and measuring more than 40 x 35 x 20 centimeters.
• You will not be allowed to leave and re-enter Waynapicchu Mountain.
• It is not allowed to enter the Waynapicchu mountain in a state of drunkenness or under the influence of drugs.

What are the entrance hours to Huayna Picchu?

• You cannot tour the Huayna Picchu mountain if you do not reserve one of the 400 tickets available to enter each day.
• Tickets are purchased in a matter of days so it is recommended to make the purchase online and in advance.
• On average, purchasing the entrance to Huayna Picchu is recommended 4 months in advance.
• The entrance is divided into 3 groups or schedules per day.

These are the Machu Picchu + Huayna Picchu ticket schedules:

Machu Picchu + Huayna Picchu Group 1

• Entrance to Machu Picchu: from six in the morning.
• Entrance to Huayna Picchu: between seven and eight in the morning.
• Visiting time limit: 6 hours from the time of entry.

Machu Picchu + Huayna Picchu Group 2

• Entrance to Machu Picchu: from seven in the morning.
• Entrance to Huayna Picchu: between seven and eight in the morning.
• Visiting time limit: 6 hours from the time of entry.

Machu Picchu + Huayna Picchu Group 3

• Entrance to Machu Picchu: from eight in the morning.
• Entrance to Huayna Picchu: between ten thirty and eleven thirty in the morning.
• Visiting time limit: 6 hours from the time of entry.

Warnings for visiting the Huayna Picchu mountain

• You will not be able to enter the Huayna Picchu mountain if you do not present your Machu Picchu + Huayna Picchu ticket printed together with your passport or identity card.
• Except for the Inca Trail, the only way to get to Machu Picchu and Huayna Picchu is by train. Book tickets in advance.
• Remember to bring your camera well charged and with space available. This way you will not miss any of the amazing views that this mountain offers and all the fabulous mountain environment where it was built.
• Protect your skin by using sunscreen and mosquito repellent.
• Don’t forget to bring a rain poncho. Machu Picchu is located in the middle of the Amazon jungle and you never know when it will rain.
• When you are on your way to the top of Huayna Picchu you do not turn your steps back as there are other tourists making their ascent to the top.

Climbing Huayna Picchu mountain takes about 1 hour 30 minutes. This hike has a moderate difficulty. The descent from the top only takes 1 hour. The adventure is considered one of the best short hikes on the planet.

More information on Huayna Picchu

• Huayna Picchu mountain rises to 2,720 meters above sea level (8,923 ft). At this altitude it is normal for the visitor to suffer the symptoms of altitude sickness or soroche.
• On Waynapicchu mountain the Incas built a sacred enclosure called the ‘Temple of the Moon’. This construction is reached at a fork in the road on the way back from the summit.
• On the way to the top you will walk the famous ‘Stairs of Death‘ of Huayna Picchu. This is a difficult ascent. Despite its name, no one has lost their life on this stretch.
• Surely your first choice of adventure is to hike Huayna Picchu. However, if you could not book one of these tickets, buy a ticket to Machu Picchu mountain, the second adventurous option in the Inca City.

Advice from people who have been there

Huayna Picchu

By: Celine D.

“A dream came true!“

“I wanted to come to Machu Picchu for a long time, but it didn't work out, first came one thing, then another and it never happened. But one day I decided to travel to Machu Picchu and make it big; so I chose the Huayna Picchu mountain. I have been to the pyramids in Egypt, the Grand Canyon in the USA, the Great Wall of China, but Machu Picchu was special, it was the trip of a lifetime; being in Machu Picchu and Huayna Picchu and seeing the incredible stone buildings was the best experience I have ever had.“

By Ticket Machu Picchu – Last updated, August 16, 2024