Huayna Picchu is the best adventure in Machu Picchu. Some people consider it a feat, a dream come true or something they have to do in life. Only upon entering will you feel the magic that this mountain unfolds. Reaching the top is very safe if the respective security measures are followed. Do you plan to go? Learn how to make a safe trip without setbacks.

• Are the trails marked?
• Can I go if I am afraid of heights?
• Is it safe to take pictures from the top?
• Is it safe to visit the Temple of the Moon?
• Are there security personnel on the mountain?
• How do you control my entrance and exit?
• Who is in charge of security at Machu Picchu?
• How do I report an emergency on the mountain?

Entrance Gate to Huayna Picchu Mountain

Can I get the classic photo of Machu Picchu with the ticket to Huayna Picchu mountain?
No, the entrance ticket to Machu Picchu + Huayna Picchu does allow a tour of Machu Picchu by the Circuit 3 or Royal Route (lower route of the Inca citadel). This tour does not include the visit to the Guardian’s House from where you get the classic postcard photos of Machupicchu. The ticket also allows you to make the famous hike to the top of Huayna Picchu. From the top of this mountain you can get beautiful scenic photos of great beauty.

Are the trails marked?

• The paths up the Huayna Picchu mountain are well signposted and you will be safe as long as you stay on them.
• In total there are 2 kilometers of routes of stone steps that surround the mountain to reach the top.
• Finding your way on your own is dangerous. So please, for your safety, stay within the indicated trails.
• Much of the path up Huayna Picchu is surrounded by thick vegetation. However, this vegetation delimits the paths, which will allow you to move forward with ease.
• However it is important to put all your attention on the road, do not be distracted by the beautiful views. You will have time to take the best pictures from the top of the mountain.
• The top is 2,693 meters above sea level.

Can I go if I am afraid of heights?

• The Huayna Picchu mountain trails are found between the walls of the mountain and the canyon formed by the Urubamba River.
• The path is made of stone and can be very slippery due to the humidity in the mornings.
• However, coming to Machu Picchu during the rainy season can give you more exuberant landscapes than normal. The rains occur from November to April. In those months, with a clear sky, the photos are incredible.
• Anyway, according to experienced tour guides, the best time to tour this mountain is in the dry season (April to October).
• The paths of the Huayna Picchu mountain are visually terrifying. They are narrow, so impressive that they cause vertigo.
• The most difficult stairs of Huayna Picchu are known as ‘The stairs of death’.
• What is this name? The steps of this section are on average 35 centimeters high, 70 centimeters wide and 15 centimeters deep. On one side of them you will find the walls of the mountain and on the other, an exposed drop of about 350 meters straight into the Urubamba River.
• However, no tourist has lost his life on this stretch. There are security ropes and permanent surveillance.
• While touring the Huayna Picchu mountain make sure you do it with a small backpack that allows you to carry what you need and keep your hands free. You will need them!
• Free hands are necessary to hold onto rocks and safety lines along the way.

Is it safe to take pictures from the top?

• The tour of Huayna Picchu is considered among the most amazing short hiking trails on the planet so go for it.
• The mountain offers you something more incredible than the trail itself. There you can have unique and privileged views reserved only for those who manage to reach the top.
• Not only will you get beautiful 360 degree panoramic views of the Inca city of Machu Picchu. Also the surrounding mountains, the Vilcanota River, the town of Aguas Calientes and more.
• Imagine the Inca city of Machu Picchu, with the Andes Mountains behind it and the meandering Urubamba River surrounding it. It is a spectacular photo!
• Enjoy the beautiful natural setting that surrounds and protects one of the wonders of the world!

If you are afraid of heights, do not try to climb the Huayna Picchu mountain

Is it safe to visit the Temple of the Moon?

• The top of Huayna Picchu offers you more than one reward.
• Now, thanks to some modifications in the routes, it is possible to make the journey to the Temple of the Moon that is in the mountain of Huayna Picchu.
• Following the way up to Huayna Picchu, you must take a detour through a descending section. The hike lasts approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes.
• It is now possible to access this ticket only during the high season. That is, from June 1st to October 15th.
• The Temple of the Moon has finely carved stone walls inside a cavern. For the Incas, the caves communicated the world of the living with the world of the dead. Because of this, many tourists come there to perform religious ceremonies similar to those performed by the Incas.
• If you enjoy the mountains properly, you will surely want to relax “properly”. After your visit, the hot springs of Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu town) are the best place to do it .

Are there security personnel on the mountain?

• Your physical integrity is under your responsibility. Because of this, you must be careful while walking the trails of the magnificent Huayna Picchu mountain.
• However, you will have the full support of security personnel, inside and outside of Machu Picchu. They will be attentive to any inconvenience that may arise during your visit.
• The park rangers are at different points of the Huayna Picchu mountain, especially at the top. They have the duty to support the tourist in an emergency situation.
• The park rangers are also in charge of verifying that all visitors leave the Huayna Picchu mountain at the correct time.

How do you control my entrance and exit?

• In order to ascend to the Huayna Picchu Mountain you must register at the entrance control.
• There you must provide your personal data such as: names, identity document as well as the date and time of entry. The same procedure must be performed when exiting the mountain. In this way it can be verified that all the people who entered the mountain are safely removed.
• The park rangers are in charge of observing and reporting that all the tourists are well. They are deployed at different points on the mountain such as: the stairs of death, the top of the mountain or the Temple of the Moon.
• But that’s not all. There are high definition cameras strategically placed throughout the sanctuary. So travel the Huayna Picchu mountain with total confidence and security.

Who is in charge of security at Machu Picchu?

• The authorities of the Ministry of Culture of Peru are in charge of administering the Inca citadel. They have dozens of park rangers throughout the archaeological site and the mountains that surround them.
• In addition to ensuring the safety of all tourists who visit Cusco, the Peruvian authorities have the Tourism Police, which monitors the center of Cusco and the main tourist points of the city 24 hours a day.
• The Tourism Police has security agents and technological solutions for both the agents and for you. Through an application (Tourism Police Peru) you can report any incident that happens to you, from your Smartphone and in real time (available for Android and iOS).

Taking all the security measures you can enjoy the incredible view from the top of Huayna Picchu

How do I report an emergency on the mountain?

• You can report them with “Tourism Police Peru”, a free application available for smartphones and tablets. Through this application you can report any emergency that may arise during your trip.
• Digital communication will allow agents to respond immediately, in case of an emergency.
• You can also report your emergencies directly to the Aguas Calientes town police station. It is located on Hermanos Ayar Avenue, very close to the town’s main square. You can also contact them by calling +51 – 084-211178.
• Police officers can be found in the town of Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu town) and at the entrance to Machu Picchu.
• Keep in mind that in Machu Picchu, as in all tourist cities, you must be careful with your belongings, do not lose sight of them during your tour.

Advice from people who have been there

Huayna Picchu

By: Ettan D.

“Incredible Inca city“

“I was in Huayna Picchu a few weeks ago. Reaching the top is difficult , however, the view from there was so incredible, that it was worth all the effort and overcoming the vertigo, I felt on top of the world; I recommend bringing extra water because inside Machu Picchu they do not sell water or anything.“

By Ticket Machu Picchu – Last updated, August 15, 2024