From the terrace of the classic Machu Picchu photo you can see two mountains that can be climbed: Huayna Picchu, the steep peak behind the citadel in every picture, and Machu Picchu Mountain, higher, on the opposite side. Both need a specific ticket with its own quota and both give a view you never get from below, but they are very different experiences. This guide compares them so you choose well before buying, because you cannot change afterwards.
Quotas, times and prices are set by the Ministry of Culture and change each season. Check them on the official sales website before buying.
The two mountains in a table
| Huayna Picchu | Machu Picchu Mountain | |
|---|---|---|
| Summit height | About 2,720 m | About 3,080 m |
| Climb from the citadel | About 300 m | About 650 m |
| Way up | 45 minutes to an hour | An hour and a half to two hours |
| Round trip | Two to three hours | Three to four hours |
| Kind of path | Narrow, very steep steps, exposed sections with cables | Wide, continuous Inca staircase, no exposed ledges |
| Vertigo | Yes, in several sections | Little |
| The view | The citadel from very close, almost straight down | The whole sanctuary: citadel, river and mountains |
| Circuit it goes with | Circuit 3 | Circuit 1 |
Huayna Picchu: short, steep and spectacular
This is the mountain in the photo. The path is Inca, cut into the rock, and climbs narrow steps on a very steep slope, with cables to hold on to in the most exposed sections and a squeeze through a rock crevice near the top. At the summit there are Inca terraces and buildings hanging over the drop, and the citadel lies right below, whole, like a map. The climb is short but intense: you use your hands as much as your feet.
At the start of the trail there is a control booth where each visitor’s time in and out is recorded. In the rain the steps are slippery and it is worth going slower.
Choose it if you are fit, have no fear of heights and want the most intense experience in little time.
Machu Picchu Mountain: longer, higher and calmer
It starts from the upper part of the citadel and climbs a wide Inca staircase, almost without a break, to the summit. There are no exposed ledges, so it is the option for anyone with some vertigo, but it is longer and harder on the legs: about 650 metres of ascent. The reward is the most complete view of the sanctuary: the small citadel below, Huayna Picchu, the Urubamba canyon and, on clear days, the surrounding snow peaks.
Early in the morning the summit can be inside the cloud. If you travel in the rainy season, a mid-morning entry time is better.
Choose it if you want the best panorama, prefer a wide path to a vertical one and have the legs for a long climb.
What about Huchuy Picchu?
It is a small hill in front of Huayna Picchu, one of the variants of circuit 3. The climb is short and easy, and gives a view of the citadel from the side opposite the classic photo. It is the option for anyone who wants to climb something without the effort or the vertigo of the other two.
The ticket: what you need to know
- Each mountain has its own ticket, with a very limited daily quota, and costs more than the general one: around 200 soles against about 150 for a foreign adult.
- The ticket states the circuit, the time of entry to the citadel and the time to start the climb. Huayna Picchu goes with circuit 3; the Mountain with circuit 1. We explain all three in Machu Picchu circuits.
- They sell out before anything else: book three or four months ahead, and more if you travel from June to August.
- With a mountain ticket you do not walk circuit 2, the complete one. If it is your first visit and you want to see everything, consider whether a second ticket is worth it.
Spaces available
Ministry of Culture data updated every 30 minutes; we confirm them before booking. All circuits are on the Machu Picchu availability page.
Huayna Picchu (circuit 3)
Availability updated · Spaces change constantly; we confirm them before booking.
Machu Picchu Mountain (circuit 1)
Availability updated · Spaces change constantly; we confirm them before booking.
Can you do it in a day from Cusco?
It is possible, but tight. The mountain adds two to four hours to the visit, and on a day trip from Cusco the train times rule. The most comfortable option is to spend the night before in Aguas Calientes and enter first thing. If you want to add a mountain to our Machu Picchu Full Day, send us your dates: it depends on the quota and the train times, and we will tell you which option fits.
How to choose
- Fit, no vertigo and little time: Huayna Picchu.
- Some vertigo, or you want the full panorama: Machu Picchu Mountain.
- You want to climb something without great effort: Huchuy Picchu.
- First visit and a single ticket: circuit 2 with no mountain. The citadel is what matters.
What to bring
- Shoes with good grip: the steps are stone and slippery when damp.
- A litre of water per person. Nothing is sold inside.
- A light rain jacket, sunscreen and a cap.
- Walking poles are not allowed, under the official code of conduct.
More rules and advice in the 10 tips for visiting Machu Picchu.
Frequently asked questions
Which is harder, Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain?
The Mountain is longer and climbs higher; Huayna Picchu is shorter but steeper and more exposed. The Mountain is more tiring; Huayna Picchu is more thrilling.
Is Huayna Picchu dangerous?
The path has narrow sections above the drop, with cables to hold. With proper shoes, no rush and no fear of heights, it is climbed without trouble. In the rain, take extra care.
Can you climb both on the same day?
Not with one ticket: each goes with a different circuit. You would need two tickets and most of the day.
How far ahead do I need to book?
Three or four months. These are the tickets that sell out first.
Do I need a guide to climb?
The climb follows a signposted trail. The guide is what gives meaning to the visit of the citadel, and on our tours one is included.
Keep planning
- Complete guide to Machu Picchu: tickets, times and rules.
- Machu Picchu circuits, which to choose.
- The best time to go, month by month.
- Private Machu Picchu Full Day, with ticket, train, bus and guide.
