Huayna Picchu Climb
At home, a large photo of the glorious Inca city of Machu Picchu hangs on the wall. Every time I sit at the dining table, I take a moment to look at it—and especially that big, powerful mountain staring back at me: Huayna Picchu.
Huayna Picchu is an essential part of every photo of the ancient Inca city and completes the iconic view. However, climbing Huayna Picchu was still missing from my list. Yes, I had completed the four-day Inca Trail, and yes, I had returned to Machu Picchu a year later with Jorge to visit the site again. But the climb itself never happened.
Our current stay of almost five months in Cusco was therefore the perfect opportunity to finally add Huayna Picchu to the list once and for all.
Machu Picchu with children
Our dream was to visit Machu Picchu with our children, so last month we set out on a trip with them. We first took the train from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes, where we had booked an overnight stay. The next day we visited Machu Picchu, and even the kids were absolutely thrilled when they saw the Inca ruins—they were jumping from stone to stone.
Finding the entrance
We had tickets to climb Huayna Picchu at 10 AM. Finding the entrance took a bit of searching. It is marked with small wooden signs, but they are not very prominent. However, if you ask any guide walking around, you’ll quickly be pointed in the right direction.
At the entrance, two friends and my sister with her boyfriend were waiting for us. They would join us in conquering the “young mountain”—which is what Huayna Picchu means in Quechua.
Here we said goodbye to our children: my mother-in-law, who was also with us, would stay with them. But our eldest son, aged four, wanted none of it—he insisted on coming along. We didn’t hesitate, so off we went with all seven of us.
At the checkpoint, you must show your passport and Huayna Picchu entrance ticket. You also write your name and time in the logbook so the authorities can track who starts the climb.
Climbing the stone steps
The beginning of the hike is fairly gentle. You walk calmly towards Huayna Picchu, but as you approach this giant mountain right in front of you, you know it won’t stay easy for long.
Soon we reach the first steep steps. We immediately feel the altitude and notice our breathing becoming heavier. Taking regular breaks and drinking plenty of water (which you absolutely need to bring with you) is essential.
Our son Timo seems to struggle far less—he’s leading the way and we can barely keep up! The higher we climb, the steeper and narrower the stairs become. We regularly pass resting tourists and sometimes step aside for descending groups, as the Trail is shared in both directions.
Because the ancient Inca paths are so steep and narrow, we constantly enjoy breathtaking views along the way. At times, we are literally hanging on the edge of the mountain.
Where did Machu Picchu go?
After about an hour of climbing Huayna Picchu, we reach some Inca ruins and are almost at the summit. Just a short final stretch brings us to the official sign marking the highest point of Huayna Picchu: 2,667.58 meters.
At first, Machu Picchu looks a bit distant and empty—so where did that famous mountain behind it go? The answer: we were standing on it.
Absolutely incredible! We all agree this is a climb you simply cannot miss, and that seeing Machu Picchu from this mountain is absolutely worth it.
Descending Huayna Picchu: dizzying drops into the valley
The descent is, for some of us, even more challenging than the climb. Going down may seem easier, but suddenly you become very aware of the sheer drops beside the path, which requires full concentration.
We hurry a bit as the weather starts to change and dark clouds roll in—it looks like a storm is coming. Fortunately, we all make it back safely to the checkpoint where we register our return time in the logbook: exactly 2 hours.
Tips
- Bring enough water. There are no places to buy water along the way.
- Consider bringing walking sticks, especially for the descent.
- Climb Huayna Picchu from 10 AM—this is the easiest to combine with a Machu Picchu visit (starting from 6 AM).
