The hike to the summit of Huayna Picchu Mountain is one of the main attractions when visiting the Machu Picchu citadel, however, there are other alternatives if tickets to this mountain are sold out.
The hike to Huayna Picchu Mountain, also called "Wayna Picchu," is an unforgettable experience for any traveler visiting Machu Picchu.
The duration of the hike is approximately 2 and a half hours, climbing up one side of the mountain. Throughout the journey, you will be close to a cliff over 400 meters high on the right side.
The personal satisfaction and the panoramic view of the entire site are breathtaking, which is one of the main reasons the Huayna Picchu entrance ticket is so popular.
There are 200 entry tickets available per day for the hike to the summit of Huayna Picchu Mountain.
For this reason, they sell out very quickly, so when travelers DO NOT manage to find available tickets for Huayna Picchu, there are alternatives that are very attractive for a hike to the mountains.
Here are some other options:
The Inca citadel of Machu Picchu is surrounded by mountains, and Machu Picchu Mountain is one of them. This mountain is the first alternative when tickets to Huayna Picchu are sold out.
It is located at an elevation of 3,082 meters above sea level, nearly 300 meters higher than the summit of Huayna Picchu Mountain. This mountain has 400 entry tickets available for sale each day, divided into 2 groups of 200 people each.
The hike to the summit of Machu Picchu Mountain takes approximately 3 hours and 20 minutes, round trip, and is of medium difficulty.
This route does not have as dangerous cliffs as those on Huayna Picchu Mountain, but it still requires a good amount of physical effort to reach the summit.
Currently, there are 2 entrance shifts to Machu Picchu Mountain. The first group enters from 7 am and the second group from 8 am.
To purchase the Machu Picchu Mountain entry ticket, you must also buy the ticket to the citadel. The entry ticket comes with circuit 3 and allows you to visit the Inca city and hike to the summit of Machu Picchu Mountain.
The hike to Huchuy Picchu Mountain is a recently implemented trekking route by the authorities of Machu Picchu. This mountain is the smallest of the three mountains surrounding the Inca citadel and is located right next to Huayna Picchu Mountain.
The name Huchuy Picchu means "Little Mountain" in Quechua. It stands at an altitude of 2,497 meters and is about 50 meters above the Inca citadel. The trek to the summit is nearly 1 km, including stone steps, which gives it a moderate difficulty level.
Previously, the summit of this mountain was included in the climb of Huayna Picchu Mountain; however, Machu Picchu authorities have opened a unique route to reach the summit.
To access this route, you must purchase the Machu Picchu + Huchuy Picchu ticket, which allows you to visit the Inca citadel with circuit 4 and climb to the summit of Huchuy Picchu Mountain.
This ticket is only available for 200 people per day, divided into 5 groups of 40 people each.
Another alternative, if you can't find tickets for Huayna Picchu Mountain because they are sold out, is Putucusi Mountain.
Putucusi Mountain, which means 'happy mountain' in Quechua, is located directly opposite the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu, across the Urubamba River. It is one of the least known and explored attractions in this area.
To climb this mountain, you must walk along the train tracks from the town of Aguas Calientes to an abandoned control point. The walk to the base of the mountain takes no more than 30 minutes.
Upon arrival, you begin the climb to the summit using stairs built alongside the mountain. The total ascent time is approximately four hours.
At the highest point, the stairs you must climb, which also require using your hands, reach a vertical height of approximately 40 meters. A fall from this point is surely fatal.
It is advisable to avoid finishing the hike in the dark due to low visibility, as a visitor might slip and fall more than 300 meters down the slope. For the same reason, it is best to avoid climbing on rainy or cloudy days.
Currently, entry to this lookout or high point is free and unregulated, so access is open.
When the Inca city of Machu Picchu was in its prime, the only access route was the Inca Trail, which ended at the Sun Gate or Intipunku.
This control point is located on one side of Machu Picchu Mountain. At an elevation of 2,745 meters above sea level, it offers a privileged view of the Inca citadel, located about 150 meters below.
Access to this point does not require an additional ticket. The Machu Picchu Llaqta ticket includes entry to the Sun Gate.
The access route is almost the same as that for Machu Picchu Mountain, but less steep. The walk from Machu Picchu citadel to this point takes approximately 2 hours. It does not require much physical effort, but it is recommended to wear appropriate hiking shoes to avoid slips or twists while walking.
