This 2-hour hiking tour is a breathtaking complement to a visit to the Machu Picchu ruins. You will leave for Huayna Picchu mountain from Aguas Calientes, the small town that is nearest Machu Picchu. Huayna Picchu’s peak towers over Machu Picchu – at the summit of Huayna Picchu, hikers will be 1,180 feet (360 m) higher than ruins of Machu Picchu, at 8,920 feet (2,720 meters) above sea level.

The Inca considered mountains in this area highly sacred. According to local legend, Huayna Picchu served as the home for priests and sacred virgins. They built a steep path to the summit from stones. In recent years, cable rails have been added to help hikers keep their footing along the especially tricky portions of the path.

At the summit of Huayna Picchu, visitors can stop and admire both the view and the ruins of temples the Inca build to their gods. You will also see stone terraces built into the side of the mountain, one of the agricultural innovations that make Inca culture so distinct. As you descend the mountain, the hike will take you to two caves, called the Gran Caverna and the Temple of the Moon.
There is a limit to how many people can be on the trail at the same time, so your hike cannot last more than two hours. Please note that the tour will go ahead no matter what the weather, except in extreme cases. The tour cannot control for rain, but it is usually less cloudy during the second hike of the day, which reaches the summit at around 11 a.m. If you take the earlier hike, misty morning clouds may obscure your view. Keep in mind that this hike is in high demand, and you should make your reservation at least one month in advance.

The hike up Huayna Picchu can be challenging, and should only be attempted by visitors in good physical condition. No one older than 60 or younger than 8 is permitted to make the hike.