For everyone planning to come to Peru and Machu Picchu. We want to clarify the idea of hiking one of the mountains around the lost city. Those are usually extra walking activities after the visit to the great archaeological site of Machu Picchu itself.
For people reading this article, we want to let you know some basic info about those two hike options. Both are considered by many visitors as the dreamed hikes while they are visiting the wonderful land of the Incas. Because all the historical significant and breathtaking views you get from the top of them.
Huayna Picchu.- is 320 meters higher from the Inca site (the ruins). It takes 1 hour to go up to the top and 1 hour to come back down to the site. It’s limited to 400 spaces per day, divided into two groups of 200 people in each turn. The entry times are the first group (200 people) from 7:00am to 8:00am. The second group (200 people) start the hike from 10:00am to 11:00am. Is not a technical climb. But it’s very steep hike especially close to the top. Its definitely not recommended for vertigo people or afraid of heights. But the views from the top are just mind-blowing.
Montaña Machu Picchu.- is 650 meters the difference in altitude from the site. It takes 2 hours to go up-hill on the stairs through the cloud forest and usually 1 hour and 30 minutes to come down to the site. So definitely is a longer hike than Wayna Picchu. But it’s less steeper, much higher and stunning views from the top. The number of people allowed to hike this mountain is 800 per day, divided into two groups and with two entry times from 7:00am to 8:00am and from 9:00am to 10:00am. This is harder than Wayna Picchu, recommended for adventurous people or physically very active.
For the following hike options we advise you booking one of the mountains to hike: Lares Trek, Huchuy Qosqo trek, Cachicata trek, Salkantay trek, Ancascocha trek, short Inca trail hike and Choquequirao trek. For the Classic Inca Trail 4 day hikers is a little top sometimes after all the hike from the earlier days. But some people will be able to do it specially Huayna Picchu.
Our recommended tours that gives you the best chance to hike up to Huayna Picchu or Montaña are: Machu Picchu explorer 2 day tour, Sacred Valley excursion & Machu Picchu 2 day, Chinchero & Moray tour with Machu Picchu 2 day, Pumamarca hike 2 day, Huchuy Qosqo 2 day trek, 2 day Inca Trail trek and some other tours with overnight in Aguas Calientes prior to Machu Picchu visit day.