James Bustamante is Native to New York but born to Peruvian parents. He has been traveling throughout Latin America since early 2003 and finally made his home in Peru. James has made his way by eating and traveling through almost every country in Central and South America.
Last Updated on April 7, 2021 by James Bustamante
Huayna Picchu or Mount Machu Picchu which of the two popular additional treks should you take during your Machu Picchu hike? While one is a more structured climb the other feels like it gives the hiker more independence. Let’s go over some of the major differences between these two additional treks.
The Two Additional Hikes
If you are ready for your trip to Peru then you already booked your hotels, reserved flights, and organized your tours. You have also made sure to book your fully guided tour around The Machu Picchu Sanctuary. There are a couple of very popular additional hikes you will want to look into as well.
Both of these offer amazing views of not just the surrounding landscapes, but also direct birds-eye views of the entire Machu Picchu complex: Huayna Picchu or Mount Machu Picchu. These hikes are completely optional and great for travelers that want an extra challenge. Let’s take a look at the differences between the Huayna Picchu Mountain and Machu Picchu Mountain hikes.
The Huayna Picchu or Wayna Picchu Hike
The Huayna Picchu Hike or the “Wayna Picchu” as it is spelled by the local “Cusquenos” is a steep climb up the mountain where in some parts, you will need to use your hands to hold onto stones and balance yourself to the next few steps.
This high elevation hike has some pretty scary sections where you will want to make use of the handrail wires. In some stretches of the Huayna Picchu hike, you will need to climb over boulders and large rocks to reach the final destination (no pun intended).
You don’t really need to worry though, this vertical hike has ample safety measures in place to ensure all trekkers are safe at all times. This doesn’t mean that you won’t be exposed to areas that will make you think twice about continuing the hike. There are actually several exits throughout the hike in case anyone would like to call it quits.
Once you reach the very top of Huayna Picchu you will notice there isn’t much space, it will seem a bit cramped. The view, however, is simply amazing and the trouble it took to get here will seem negligible.
At this height, you will be able to look down at Machu Picchu and the surrounding valleys. Many professional photographers come to Peru simply to reach the peak in Huayna Picchu and take pictures of the landscapes. It really is that impressive.
Huayna Picchu Hike Schedules
If you want to take this hike then make sure to check the available schedules. There are two shifts available to begin this hike to the top. The first shift can be taken between 7:00 am to 8:00 am and the second schedule is from 10:00 am to 11:00 am.
These times are basically when you can enter the path up the mountain. You can take longer going up the trail and coming back down. The entirety of the Huayna Picchu hike will take longer than just one hour, the hike takes around 1.5 – 2 hours to complete in total.
Available Huayna Picchu Permits
This hike has limited capacity. There will be approximately 200 permits issued for each of the shifts that we mentioned above. The total amount of available permits that can be issued in a single day is set to 400. That might sound like a lot but this hike is booked solid all year so if you really want to take the “Inca stairs of death” make sure to have it booked at least 45 days in advance.
- Difficulty: Medium
- Permits/day: 400
- Time to complete: 1.5 – 2 hoursHighest Point: 9,000 feet above sea level (2,600 meters)
The Machu Picchu Mountain Hike
The Machu Picchu mountain hike is a separate activity from the guided tour of the Machu Picchu Sanctuary. It is also referred to as the Machu Picchu Montana hike and for the most part, it is easier to find available permits for this path up the mountain. This is one of the key differences when comparing the Huayna Picchu or Mount Machu Picchu hike.
The total time this hike will take to complete is of around 2 hours depending on your pace (roundtrip) and is generally easier than the Huayna Picchu hike.
This is not really a steep or vertical climb like Huayna Picchu and you also won’t have to use handrail wires during the trek up the mountain.
The Machu Picchu mountain trek is more of a winding path where you slowly increase the elevation the further you go. By comparison, the Mount Machu Picchu trek won’t show spectacular views until you reach the very top.
That is not to say that you won’t be able to see anything spectacular as you move up the mountain. There are definitely some areas where you might feel rather exposed.
Once you reach the summit the view of Machu Picchu is quite a sight to behold. The common misconception is that this peak is not as high as the Huayna Picchu. This is inaccurate, the Mount Machu Picchu hike is actually around 1,000 feet higher (305 meters).
Similar to Huayna Picchu, the Mount Machu Picchu hike will allow you spectacular views of the many mountains that surround this area. The Machu Picchu sanctuary will actually seem far and at ground level by comparison.
Machu Picchu Mountain Hike Schedules
The Mount Machu Picchu hike has its own entry schedule. You can purchase a permit that will allow you to enter between 7:00 am and 11:00 am. You can start the hike at any point during the schedule but do not feel compelled to finish it right away. In fact, take your time going up this mountain and enjoy the lush cloud forest before reaching the summit.
Available Mount Machu Picchu Permits
The Mount Machu Picchu hike has 400 permits available to issue each day. While you do not need to have it booked as far in advance as the Huayna Picchu hike, you will still need to book the required permits 2 weeks before actually arriving at the Machu Picchu Sanctuary. If you plan on taking this short trek between May – July then makes sure to have the permits 30 days in advance.
- Difficulty: Medium
- Permits/day: 400
- Time to Complete: 2 hours
- Highest Point: 10,000 feet above sea level (3,082 meters)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Machu Picchu Mountain harder than the Huayna Picchu Hike?
No, neither is really “difficult” but the Huayna Picchu Hike can be more crowded and it is a more vertical climb as well.
Is Huayna Picchu higher than Mount Machu Picchu?
No, The Mount Machu Picchu Hike is higher by about 1,000 feet (305 meters).
Can I book Huayna Picchu when I get to Machu Picchu?
No, this hike needs to be booked at least 30-45 days before you arrive to ensure availability.
Is Huayna Picchu called The “Inca staircase of death”?
Yes this is one of the names this particular hike has however it is a completely secure trek up the mountain.
