If you can get one of the 400 daily entrance tickets to the Huayna Picchu mountain, you will have the opportunity to visit the ‘stairs of death’. These steps offer intimidating views. And, despite its name, no one has died on these famous stairs.

• What is the Huayna Picchu mountain?
• What are the stairs of the death of Huayna Picchu?
• How is the tour of Huayna Picchu and the stairs of death?
• The rise
• The descent
• How many people have died on the stairs of death?
• Other adrenaline alternatives in Machu Picchu
• Other scary stairs in the world
• How to visit the stairs of the death of Huayna Picchu?

The climb up the Huayna Picchu mountain is considered one of the best short walks on the planet. Some tourists consider that visiting Machu Picchu without ascending the Waynapicchu is like not having gone.

What is the Huayna Picchu mountain?

• The Huayna Picchu mountain is the summit located north of the Inca City.
• It is 2,720 meters above sea level (8,923 ft.)
• This mountain is famous for its staircases on the edge of cliffs. The most popular and difficult section are ‘the stairs of death’.
• In addition, a mysterious Inca construction called the Temple of the Moon is located on the Huayna Picchu mountain.

Dizzying stairs in Huayna Picchu

What are the stairs of the death of Huayna Picchu?

• The ‘Stairs of death’ are a section of stone steps built by the Incas, which lead to the top of Huayna Picchu.
• These stairs are characterized by being steep and difficult to climb. In addition, the stairs are on the edge of cliff views. However, despite its name, no tourist lost his life there.
• After ascending this section, you reach the top of the Huayna Picchu mountain.

How is the tour of Huayna Picchu and the stairs of death?

• During the tour of the Huayna Picchu mountain, the tourist must use both hands to hold the wall.
• Tourists will face 183 meters of rock steps, which were sculpted more than 500 years ago.
• During the ascent by these stairs, the visitor will find a damp wall and, on the other hand, a fall of hundreds of meters towards the Urubamba River.

The rise

• The climb up these stairs requires considerable physical effort.
• The stairs have an approximate slope of 60 degrees.
• Tourists must ascend step by step. This is the most difficult section during the ascent to the top of Huayna Picchu.

The descent

• If there is something worse than climbing the ‘Stairs of Death’, that is going down them.
• The way back is intimidating due to the slopes on the edge of cliffs.
• Tourists must descend step by step. Many times you must let the ascending tourists pass.
• Descending the ‘Stairs of Death’ is a very difficult time for visitors who fear heights.

How many people have died on the stairs of death?

• The stairs of death are surrounded by myths. Among the things that are said, it is said that it is very dangerous to ascend these steps. However, that is false. Actually, people of all ages climb the Huayna Picchu daily.
• To date there are no known deaths of people because of a fall in ‘The stairs of death’.

Other adrenaline alternatives in Machu Picchu

• The mountain Machu Picchu – This summit is the other alternative of hiking in Machu Picchu. It is a 2 kilometer walk to the top of the mountain that gave the name to the Inca City.
• The Intipunku (Puerta del Sol) – This construction is located in the old entrance gate to Machu Picchu used by the Incas. It is a 2 kilometer walk along stone stairs in the archaeological site.
• The Inca Bridge – This walk leads to the east side of Machu Picchu, where an ancient bridge used by the Incas is located. The walk lasts only 30 minutes and crosses paths along cliffs.

The stairs of death in Huayna Picchu

Other scary stairs in the world

Many people are looking for this type of experience in other parts of the world. Below is a list of the most frightening stairs on the planet:

• The steps of the waterfall – The Black Forest, Wurzburg (Germany).
• The steps of the Canyon – Pailón del Diablo (Ecuador).
• The well of Chand Baori – Abhaneri (India).
• Stairs of the mountains of Elbe Sandstone – Dresden (Germany).
• The Rock of Guatapé – Antioquia (Colombia).
• The stairs of Haiku – Hawaii (United States).
• Stairs of Via Crusis – Bermeo (Spain).
• Spiral stairs in the mountains of Taihang – Shanxi and Henan (China).

The entrance Machu Picchu + Huayna Picchu is the most difficult to get due to the low availability it offers (400 income per day). That is why it is recommended to buy the ticket online 2 or 3 months in advance.

How to visit the stairs of the death of Huayna Picchu?

Many people are looking for this type of experience in other parts of the world. Below is a list of the most frightening stairs on the planet:

• To visit the Stairs of Death you only need to buy a Machu Picchu + Huayna Picchu ticket.
• Due to low availability (only 400 tickets per day); The purchase of the ticket is done online and 2 or 3 months in advance.
• When you get a ticket, you must choose between one of the 3 income groups:

• Group 1:

  • Entrance to Machu Picchu – from 6 am
  • Entrance to Waynapicchu – from 7 am to 8 am

• Group 2:

  • Entrance to Machu Picchu – from 7 am
  • Entrance to Waynapicchu – from 7 am to 8 am

• Group 3:

  • Entrance to Machu Picchu – from 8 am
  • Entrance to Waynapicchu – from 10.30 am to 11.30 am

Advice from people who have been there

Huayna Picchu

By: Akemy S

“To raise it is to touch the sky“

“Climbing the huaina is amazing. It is an arduous climb of about an hour. The stairs at the edge of the cliff will make your hair stand on end. The views during the climb are fantastic; but the top is indescribable.“

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