If you booked months in advance and have in your possession one of the precious Machu Picchu + Huayna Picchu tickets, here is what you will have to do upon arrival in Aguas Calientes. The trails of Huayna Picchu mountain, its stone staircases, its detailed Inca constructions and its incredible views, constitute one of the most amazing short hikes in the world; and when you complete it, you will be able to see the Inca city of Machu Picchu from above.

• How to organize the trip, is it necessary to spend the night in Aguas Calientes?
• How to organize the trip to stay the night before in Cusco?
• How to organize the trip once in Machu Picchu?
• An alternative for people who could not afford a Machu Picchu + Huayna Picchu ticket

Visit the incredible Huayna Picchu mountain in Machu Picchu

How to organize the trip, is it necessary to spend the night in Aguas Calientes?

Machu Picchu Pueblo or Aguas Calientes is the town or district located at the foot of Machu Picchu. It is best to spend the night in this district to start, thus avoiding getting up early and leaving Cusco very early. This can be applied to the two schedules that allow the entrance. Both schedules are very early and making the trip in just one day would require getting up early to leave Cusco.

The first tour schedule to enter Huayna Picchu begins with the visit to Machu Picchu at 7:00 in the morning. While the second schedule will allow visitors to enter the Inca citadel at 9:00 am. The tour of the citadel has an average duration of one hour. For this reason, the start of the Huayna Picchu begins one hour after the entrance time to Machu Picchu.

As for the tour of the citadel and the ascent to Machu Picchu you will find everything well signposted. However, it is always important to remember to be careful when making the tour. Especially at the time of making the ascent where you can find slopes or abysses near the routes or the road. Likewise, you should not do the tour in a hurry or at speed. It is recommended to appreciate the scenery and take some breaks. There is no need for intense physical efforts to arrive in a short time. The time allowed allows for a quiet and contemplative tour.

Machu Picchu + Huayna Picchu Ticket Schedule

• Schedule 1: Machu Picchu (From 07:00 am) / Huayna Picchu (Entrance at 8:00 am).
• Schedule 2: Machu Picchu (From 09:00 am) / Huayna Picchu (Entrance at 10:00 am).

How to organize the trip to stay the night before in Cusco?

It is best not to spend the night in Cusco. This is because to achieve any of the schedules you will have to get up early and start activities at 3:00 in the morning. If this detail is not an impediment, you will be able to make the trip without complications. If you think it will be a hassle, the best thing to do is to spend the night in Machu Picchu Pueblo, and then start activities at 6:00 in the morning.

About Machu Picchu’s ecological buses
To get to the archaeological site of Machu Picchu, it is important to take into account that there are ecological buses. These buses allow you to reach the access area of Machu Picchu, in addition to using liquefied gas as a source of energy. This energy consumption allows Machu Picchu to remain the only destination in the world recognized as Carbon Neutral. Returning to the subject of the buses, it is recommended to board the buses 30 minutes before the entrance time, since that is the time it takes to complete the trip.

View of the city of Cusco at night

How to organize the trip once in Machu Picchu?

• If you will enter the Huayna Picchu in the first group

  This first group will allow you to enter Machu Picchu at 7:00 am. So you must start activities before 6:00 in the morning. As long as you have spent the night in Aguas Calientes or Machu Picchu Pueblo. If this is the case, it is very likely that you will have breakfast at your hotel. After that, you will have to make the trip in the ecological buses. It is likely that when you enter Machu Picchu you will encounter some fog, especially if you make the trip during the rainy season (November to March). Don’t forget to pack a small backpack with water, sunscreen and mosquito repellent.

• If you will enter the Huayna Picchu in the second group

  The second schedule starts at 9:00 am. This schedule will be much more comfortable if you spend the night in Aguas Calientes. On the other hand, you can also make the visit in just one day, but for this you will have to get up early and take the first train that leaves from Cusco. Likewise, you will have to board the ecological buses to get to Machu Picchu with all the energy possible to begin the hike. At this time you will not find much fog, but a more radiant sun. It is recommended to use sunscreen and carry in a backpack, mosquito repellent, water, snacks and sunscreen.

Temple of the 3 windows (Huayna Picchu mountain in the background)

An alternative for people who could not afford a Machu Picchu + Huayna Picchu ticket

If you could not book in time one of the 400 tickets available to enter the Huayna Picchu mountain, we recommend you to choose the new Machu Picchu + Mountain ticket. With this ticket you can enter, in addition to the Inca city of Machu Picchu, the trails of Machu Picchu mountain.

Advice from people who have been there

Huayna Picchu

By: Luana F.

“A wonderful place full of energy“

“The wayna is a magical place full of energy. I am not a very fit person, on the contrary, I am quite sedentary, but I climbed the wayna (or huayna), without any problem up to the top. Just climb at your own pace, go slowly if you have to, but don't worry, you'll get there. At the top, the views are incredible, some of the most incredible I have ever seen. The only way you can't do it is if you don't book tickets in advance.“

By Ticket Machu Picchu – Last updated, August 28, 2024