Mountains Around Machupicchu
There are 3 important mountains around Machupicchu like Huayna Picchu Mountain , which means ‘Young Mountain’ Machupicchu Mountain ,which means » Old Mountain» and Putucusi Mountain which means «Happy Mountain» , is the large mountain that sits directly behind Machu Picchu, and can been seen in all it’s glory in the picture above, Machupicchu Mountain is just in from of Huaynapicchu mountain is the big mountain and Putucusi mountain is in the other site of Machupicchu city the small mountain. For many trekkers, climbing Huayna Picchu is one of the highlights of a visit to Machu Picchu. The views of the Citadel and surrounding landscape are extraordinary from the top and well worth the climbing effort.
Anyone with a decent level of fitness and moderate constitution for heights can climb Huayna Picchu (if you are afraid of heights or susceptible to vertigo then this climb is probably not for you).
There are areas that are exposed to steep drops, so caution should be taken throughout the climb, keeping a good distance between climbers in front and behind you. This is particularly true if the trail is wet. Children over the age of 12 can climb any mountain
All those mountain are so close to the city complex it provides a fantastic birds-eye view, and the climb itself provides brilliant vistas of the city from various angles.
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Climbing Huayna Picchu - Permits and Rules
Some years ago trekkers were able to climb Huayna Picchu without any permits and there was no limit on the number of visitors on the mountain. As you can imagine unregulated climbing on the mountain had a rather large impact on the Inca paths that lead up the trail, as well as interrupted some of the archaeological work that continues on the mountain even today.
Not to mention the safety risks associated with having lots of people coming and going on steep paths.
A few years ago, the National Institute of Culture of Peru (INC) decided to implement a number of measures to regulate climbing activities on Huayna Picchu. Initially a quota and permit system was implemented that limited the number of climbing permits to 400 per day. Climbers could still ascend and descend at any time of the day as long as the final ascent was two hours before the site closed.
On the 25th July 2011 the ruling on timings changed, and fixed times of departure have been implemented.
There are now two group departure times, each with 200 permits.
The first climbing time runs between 7am-8am, and the second group time runs from 10am-11am. The climb itself takes about an hour to ascend and approximately 45 minutes to descend.
Officially, climbers in the first group need to get back down from the mountain by 10am to avoid cross over with climbers ascending in group 2, but this is very seldom the case as many trekkers take longer to ascend and then like to stay up high to maximise the view, particularly if there is early morning fog that promises to leave by 10-11am.
Please note: Children under the age of 12 are not allowed to climb Huayna Picchu.
Huaynapicchu Mountain
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Cost
The cost of a Huaynapicchu climbing permit is 150 PEN (soles) or USD$50 ,this includes the entrance fee to MachuPicchu which is currently 126PEN .In effect the cost of a HuaynaPicchu permit is 24PEN or USD$10 .Students with a valid international student card (ISIC card) pay half price ,you can’t purchase just HuaynaPicchu mountain.
There is a little complexity here though. If you have purchased an Inca Trail ticket you will already have secured entrance to Machu Picchu city as part of this permit. Purchasing a Huayna Picchu mountain permit at 150PEN will in effect buy another entrance ticket to Machu Picchu, as Huayna Picchu permits are not sold as standalone tickets (they are currently only sold as Machu Picchu + Huayna Picchu Mountain).
Please note, this issue is not a problem for any trekkers arriving at Machu Picchu from any of the alternative trails or for visitors who come by train to the site.
Tickets usually sell out a week in advance and sometimes much faster during high season (May-September) so make sure to book in advance if you want to climb this beautiful mountain.
Remember to bring your passport, as this will be cross checked against your entrance permit to the main city site and Huayna Picchu Mountain.
Climb Times (7am or 10am?)
There are pros and cons to both times. The 7am time is a cooler time in the day because you need to take the first bus or start to hike up to Machupicchu very early, Machupicchu is opening at 6:00 am .And the second time is going to be nice and warm but some times during the dry season when temperatures can get quite hot by the time the 2nd group departs.
However, there is a higher probability of encountering fog in the early mornings which can completely obscure the view from the top of Huayna Picchu mountain. On a clear day though the early morning view is amazing without people in the city.
The Huaynapicchu mountain is quieter early in the morning. You don’t have to contend with any one coming down off the mountain and there is usually only a small group of people at the top at any given time.
Climbers using the later time often reach the top and have to contend with larger groups as many people from the first time slot hang around for better views.
I think I would recommend the second time slot as it gives you a chance to tour the Citadel before tourists from Cusco arrive, as well as reduces the probability of encountering fog which can totally negate the purpose of climbing Huayna Picchu. Moreover, by the time you descend Machu Picchu many visitors have departed for lunch.
Machu Picchu Mountain
The Machu Picchu Mountain is the biggest mountain that rises out of the site’s complex and sits directly across from Huayna Picchu Mountain .
The climb up Machu Picchu mouintain is nearly twice as high as Huayna Picchu mountain but has a more gradual ascent profile up to it’s summit at 1,850 feet (620m) above the city ruins (3,051m above sea level).
The views from the top are fantastic you are going to be able to see the machupicchu city and the inca trail just behind of the mountain(arguably better than Huayna Picchu), as the visual angle is more gradual and the ruins more exposed. The trail is also a lot quieter than Huayna Picchu so you won’t need to worry about crowds.
Cost
Like Huayna Picchu, a permit is required for Machu Picchu mountain, and can be bought for 140PEN (US$45) – this includes entrance to Machu Picchu – on the Peru Ministry of Culture website (http://www.machupicchu.gob.pe/). Note: the mountain is marked as Machu Picchu + Montaña on their site.
Climb Times (7am to 11am?)
To climb this mountain takes around 1 hour and a half to hike to the summit from the ruins and just over an hour to return.
The best time to start a trek up to Machu Picchu mountain is around late morning (permits run from 7am-11am), this way you can complete your guided tour of the city and still get back in time before the site closes. Ideally, if you are lucky enough to be spending two days at Machu Picchu, this trek should be kept for your second day.
The route is good for families with children as the gradual and less rocky path is easier to navigate than Huayna Picchu.
To reach the site you will need to walk towards the Sun Gate, about halfway along this trail, just past the guardian house, you will see a sign directing you to Machu Picchu Mountain.
Putucusi Mountain
If you are lucky enough to have two days in the Machu Picchu Sanctuary and have an adventurous soul, then the Putukusi Mountain (or Happy Mountain) trek from Aguas Calientes is definitely worth a shout.
This trek is not for the faint-hearted though and is much more challenging than Huayna Picchu or Cerro Machu Picchu.
To climb this mountain just you need to follow the rail tracks from Aguas Calientes towards Hidroelectrica.
A little way on you will see a sign for Putukusi mountain off to the right. From here the route follows a steep incline of 600m over stone steps and up ladders – the largest ladder reaches 60m and should be approached with caution. A fall from this height can be fatal.
The final stretch to the summit zigzags along a steep hill.
In total the hike takes about 1 hour and a half to ascend and a similar time to descend. The views from the top are great and the trail is often deserted or very quiet.
No permit is required for the trek, but we would only recommend it to very fit individuals who are not scared of heights. The ladder segments are quite daunting, even for experienced trekkers.
Sun Gate or Inti Punku
If you are trekking on the Inca Trail then the Sun Gate (or Inti Punku), is the first site that you reach as you approach Machu Picchu. It provides fantastic views of the city.
For trekkers who arrive at Machu Picchu using alternative trails, or for visitors from Cusco, the Sun Gate is reached by entering the Citadel and then backtracking along the Classic Inca Trail past the Guardian house to Inti Punku (it is well signposted).
It takes about an hour each way and is an uphill strenuous hike on the way out to the Gate.
Many trekkers and visitors to Machu Picchu try to get the first bus up to the city so that they have enough time to backtrack along the Inca Trail to the Sun Gate to witness the sunrise.
About the Author Darwin Bocangel Zuniga
Hello everyone, My name is darwin! Welcome to Darwin MachuPicchu Guide – the Web’s No.1 Trekking and Tours Guide to Machu Picchu. I started this guide to help trekkers and Visitors like yourself get the information you need to plan for an awesome Machu Picchu trekking experience. Some people have used Darwin Machupicchu Guide to plan their adventure to the famous Incan ruins. I hope I can help you too! If you have any questions don’t hesitate to drop a comment below! Happy Trekking!