Reaching Huayna Picchu is one of the best experiences you can do when visiting Machu Picchu. This experience is one of the most recognized and commented by many specialists in the world. It offers a short route, but is full of vitality for the challenges it has. In this blog, we want to show you the different reasons why you should visit Huayna Picchu mountain and discover why your tickets are sold out in a short time.

• The trails
• The stairs of death
• The summit
• The Temple of the Moon
• Recommendations for people who want to ascend Huayna Picchu

View of Huayna Picchu Mountain from Machu Picchu

The trails

The Huayna Picchu mountain trails were built almost 600 years ago alongside cliffs hundreds of meters. From them you can have amazing views of the surreal mountain landscape of Machu Picchu. The base of the mountains where the Inca city is built is surrounded by the mighty Urubamba River and around this, other larger mountains. The bad news of this is that you can not walk the trails of this mountain if you fear the heights. Learn more about the trails that connect the Inca citadel with the top of Huayna Picchu mountain.

• These trails are part of the famous Inca Trail or Qhapac Ñam.
• The hike will begin after passing the checkpoint very close to the Sacred Rock of Machu Picchu.
• The road network connects the Inca citadel with other destinations before reaching the top of Huayna Picchu.
• On the route you can find the detours to the Huchuy Picchu and the Temple of the Moon or Great Cavern.
• During the hike, with a lot of luck, you can find some of the most representative birds of the place.
• It is also important to do the walk carefully, not only because of the difficulty of the route but also because you can find some of the orchids of the place.
• It is important to do the route always next to the walls and not near the cliffs.
• During the hike you will find some ropes installed as support points.
• Be more careful than usual in case it is raining. Stones can cause slipping.

Some of the roads that can be found in Huayna Picchu Mountain

The stairs of death

The Stairs of Death is undoubtedly one of the most exciting places on this mountain, its verticality causes vertigo and what you can see from it is visually terrifying. Now, due to the high demand for this route, it has been decided that the route should only be open to people over 18 years of age. And if you decide to go further down and down these impressive stairs, you will find one of the most impressive temples and Machu Picchu, the Temple of the Moon. Now let’s learn more about the stairs of death.

• It is important to make the ascent with due care.
• For some sections you can find quite steep steps that make the passage difficult.
• It is important to use the ropes as support points to avoid overexertion.
• Despite this name, there are no known cases or fatalities.
• The walk should be done carefully to avoid accidents.
• From these stairs you can see the composition of the cliffs and the main retaining walls or platforms.
• It is important to check the condition of the members of the walk.
• The walk should be done with the proper pauses, to do it at full speed or as if it were a contest would be detrimental.
• Remember that this is a recreational and contemplative activity. Take your time during the ascent and the hike.

The stairs of death in the Huayna Picchu Mountain

The summit

The top can cause many mixed feelings; you will see people with tears in their eyes, others embracing after having been able to overcome the dizzying paths to reach the summit, and these are the most common cases; some others can not articulate any words, they just keep their mouths open. But satisfaction is the common feeling you will see in the faces of all those people. How often can you see a wonder of the world from the top of a mountain.

• By the time you can see some of the Inca constructions, you are close to the top.
• Getting to the top involves going through what is known as the stairs of death.
• Once at the top there is a small stone where many sit and capture the best photo possible.
• It is highly recommended that visitors bring their camera. The pictures are amazing.
• From the top you can appreciate the geography of the place. The passage of the river and the extensive mountain ranges.
• Finally, you can appreciate the extensive forests and dense vegetation that cover all the surrounding mountains.

View from the top of the Huayna Picchu Mountain

What is the official high season?
Now you can find an official high season in Machu Picchu. This new change allows access to new routes or destinations within Machu Picchu. That is, new tickets will be available from June 1st to October 15th. These new tickets will also be part of one of the 3 new Machu Picchu circuits. In addition, during the high season, more tickets will be available in the different tickets. Before making a reservation it is recommended to visit the Machu Picchu circuits.

The Temple of the Moon

This temple is like a kind of reward for people who descend the stairs of death; is different from all that I have seen in the world and the same city of Machu Picchu; is built inside a natural cave and its finish represents one of the best lithic works of the entire Machu Picchu National Park.

• To access the Temple of the Moon, it will only be possible during the high season.
• It is one of the tickets that had the best acceptance, after the changes in the tickets to Machu Picchu.
• Visiting the Temple of the Moon or Great Cavern was formerly possible only with the reservation of the Huayna Picchu ticket.
• Now the Temple of the Moon has its own entrance.
• Nevertheless, the same route is still followed, except that this time, only the route to the specific destination is followed.
• It is also recommended to make the journey with due care.
• The walk to this temple follows beautiful plantations of a variety of fruits.

Visitor inside the temple of the moon

Recommendations for people who want to ascend Huayna Picchu

• Tickets must be booked months in advance; we recommend you do it 3 months before so that you can choose the group in which you want to enter. We recommend you to book group 2, because the city of Machu Picchu dawns covered by mist and this dissipates after 9 am.
• The month of February is not recommended for visiting the mountain Huayna Picchu, because during this month the strongest rains of the season are presented.
• If you are going to enter the mountain Huayna Picchu in Group 1 (7:00 a.m.), we recommend spending the night before your visit in the town of Aguas Calientes, this will allow you to rest well and avoid any inconvenience that prevents you from arriving on time to enter the mountain.
• We recommend booking train tickets after knowing when you will be in Machu Picchu; many of the services are sold out months before and the ones left in the end are usually the most expensive ones.
• You can carry water, a camera, and protection from the sun, but remember that everything must fit inside a small backpack that allows you to have your hands free. You will need to hold safety cables to overcome some stretches. But know that there are objects that can not lead to Machu Picchu.
• Use hiking shoes, it is the safest way to travel the narrow trails of this mountain.

Advice from people who have been there

Huayna Picchu

By: Grecia A.

“Amazing“

“I think it's a wonderful experience, it costs the climb, but it's worth it anyway. Machu Picchu is wonderful, but only from the top of this mountain can you see it in all its splendor, it is spectacular ... remind everyone who wants this experience that they must buy the tickets several months before because there are only 200 seats per day.“

By Ticket Machu Picchu – Last updated, September 4, 2024