Cusco, Peru
Climb the steep, iconic mountain behind Machu Picchu. A 1.2-mile round trip on ancient Inca stairs offering a direct view over the ruins.
5.0 from 179 traveller reviews on Viator
Tickets & tours
Tickets sell out months in advance; book early to secure your time slot.
Most bookedVery early we will move from your hotel to the train station in Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes where we will take the bus that will take us to the Archaeological Park...
Top ratedDare to live this adventure! Visit Huayna Picchu and Machu Picchu on a full day where you can enjoy a tour on the tourist train crossing the cloud forest to reach Aguas...
Best valueHike to the summit of Huaynapicchu one of the top attractions when you visit Machu Picchu. You can choose to hike Huaynapicchu at 6am, 8am, 10am or 12pm. The hike will...
Explore
The route features steep steps, cloud forest flora, and elevated viewpoints.
2 spotsThe Inca StairsSteep, narrow stone staircases built by the Incas up the mountain.Explore Photo: tour listing on Viator
2 spotsThe SummitThe 2,693-meter peak with clear views of the citadel.Explore Photo: tour listing on Viator
2 spotsCircuit 3 RuinsThe mandatory route through the ruins included with your ticket.Explore Photo: tour listing on Viator
Access is strictly limited to 400 people per day.
Permits are divided into 7:00 AM and 10:00 AM entry groups.
Plan your visit
The hike takes 1.5 to 2 hours round trip. Your ticket allows a maximum stay of 6 hours inside the park.
The dry season from May to September offers the clearest conditions for the hike.
Take a train from Cusco to Aguas Calientes, then ride the shuttle bus up to the Machu Picchu entrance.
Official foreign adult tickets cost approximately $53 to $60 USD. Tour and agency prices will be higher.
Huayna Picchu is the prominent mountain standing directly behind the Machu Picchu citadel. The summit sits at 2,693 meters (8,835 feet) above sea level. You gain about 260 to 290 meters from the citadel to the peak.
The route requires a specific ticket that combines the hike with Circuit 3 (the Royalty Route). You cannot re-enter the main citadel once you exit this circuit. Check our guide on Booking Tickets for booking strategies.
Hikers face steep, narrow stone steps built by the Incas. Read about The Inca Stairs to understand what the climb demands. You are restricted to a 20-liter daypack and must bring reusable water bottles.
We only show tours that secure the official Circuit 3 + Huayna Picchu permit.
We list starting prices from reliable platforms. Prices change based on dates.
We highlight the strict entry times and no-refund policies on official tickets.
From Viator
179 reviews of the private full day tour on Viator
We had a wonderful experience at Machu Picchu Center! The service was excellent, the staff were friendly and helpful, and everything was well organized. The location was convenient, and the overall experience made our visit even more enjoyable. We truly appreciated the hospitality and would happily recommend Machu Picchu Center to anyone visiting the area. A great experience from start to finish!
i loved the view it was exellente and it was buetifule. i hope everyone likes it toooooo. hidifiosefhir woierjfiojewifjighiowiofaid sfk s s
Our tour guide was not only knowledgeable and very pleasant to be around but also helped us with a scheduling conflict in our group. They were very understanding and responsive to our questions, and I would highly recommend this service to anyone looking for a guide in Machu Picchu
Juan Carlos was our guide. Juan is an educator and a historian. He was perfect. Knowledgeable, friendly, kind, prepared, skilled in picture taking and great at picking out the interesting facts.
Great job coordinating and was really happy with our tour guide! We got to do everything we wanted and they were very good at communication the entire time. Definitely recommend!
We had a great experience with our tour arrangements. Our guide John was phenomenal. Couldn't be more pleased. Thanks CuscoPeru.com for arranging everything and making it easy
I organized my entire trip with the agency and everything was planned and agreed in a good way. A day before I had all the information about my trip and all my service was private. Excellent and thank you Dominic.
good walking and exercises, amazing spectacular views, fresh and pure air best detox and energy. We enjoy a lot
The tour company hand delivered our tickets to our hotel in Cusco. The contact person was responsive to my inquiries.
Travel tips
Booking TicketsHow and when to secure your Huayna Picchu 2026 entry.Read 
Compare the peaksCompare steepness, altitude, and views to choose the right climb.Read 
Getting From CuscoStep-by-step guide to reaching the Huayna Picchu trailhead from Cusco.Read 
Trail DifficultyLearn how hard the climb is and if you are fit enough to hike it.Read 7 AM vs 10 AMCompare the 7 AM and 10 AM entry slots to plan your climb.Read 
Packing EssentialsLearn what to bring and what is banned on the Huayna Picchu hike.Read Yes, if you want a challenging physical activity and a direct, elevated view looking down at the citadel. Permits are highly restricted, making it an exclusive experience.
The hike is physically demanding. You ascend 260 to 290 meters over a short distance using steep, narrow ancient stone stairs. Read more in Trail Difficulty.
The trail features steep drop-offs and narrow stairs, but the most difficult sections are secured with cables. It is safe if you walk carefully and wear proper footwear.
Huayna Picchu is steeper, shorter, and closer to the ruins. Machu Picchu Mountain is a longer, higher hike offering a broader view of the entire valley. See Compare the peaks for details.
The average round trip takes 1.5 to 2 hours. This includes roughly 1 hour to ascend and 40 to 45 minutes to descend.
A guide is not mandatory for the mountain climb itself. However, many visitors hire a guide for the Circuit 3 tour of the ruins.
Check ticket availability well before your trip to Peru.
