The Incas had very good reasons for climbing higher than Machu Picchu.
Our clients always ask us what the experience of visiting Huayna Picchu is like! Often, we have no idea how to answer them. To say that it's the most fabulous thing in Peru would be a bit of an exaggeration, and they might think we're trying to pull their leg, but to say that it's a mountain from which you can see all of Machu Picchu doesn't really convey the true experience of climbing Huayna Picchu either! We take a moment to write an email or spend a few seconds on the phone, and this is what we tell them:
We cannot find the words to describe the view you will enjoy from Huayna Picchu; just imagine why the wise Incas decided to build an observatory with rooms and all the amenities, even higher than Machu Picchu. They had a good reason, and it is the apotheosis of being closer to the sky, contemplating their protectors, the Andes, and their entire sacred city from a single place among the clouds.
"Machu Picchu ALT"
With this brief explanation, our guides will begin the hike, which will take approximately one hour. The route will take you from Machu Picchu to a steep area, with a short climb, which finally leads to Huayna Picchu.
The best time to climb the young mountain (Huayna Picchu) is definitely at 8 a.m.; it is the first available time slot, because the clouds begin to clear, the sun brings life and color to everything; you will understand why the Incas loved it, and the enormous Andes covered with dense vegetation, which from up there look like small hills, emanate aromas of jungle, springs, and pure magic. It is a once-in-a-lifetime spectacle, even more so because Machu Picchu is at your feet; it looks like a small model made of tiny stones. There is also the 9 a.m. time slot, which, although just as spectacular, we recommend for our friends who cannot tolerate low temperatures and want to see the landscape completely clear.
Remember that it is best to make reservations in advance to avoid any setbacks. Tickets to Huayna Picchu sell out quickly, as only 350 spots are available per day. So don't miss out!
"Machu Picchu ALT"
So, to get there at 8 a.m., we will have to get up early and sleep well the night before. This means leaving Cusco at 3 a.m. Yes, it is the only way if you spent the night in our capital. Remember that the trip from Cusco to Ollantaytambo and then by train to Aguas Calientes can take more than three hours. Then we must board a bus that will take us from Aguas Calientes, which is surrounded by the Vilcanota River in the heart of a dense jungle, to the entrance of Machu Picchu, where, in addition to cooling off a bit, we will have to wait in a long line, since half the world wants to see this wonder. But don't worry, with us you will be fully assisted and comfortably transported to Machu Picchu, we will take care of everything.
The other option is to stay overnight in Aguas Calientes, which means traveling by train the day before and taking the bus to Ollantaytambo at a leisurely pace. We can organize a comfortable tour of the entire Sacred Valley of the Incas. There are so many places to visit, but on this short tour we will take you to the best ones: The terraces of Pisac, the salt mines of Maras, the architectural complex of Moray, and the living Inca city of Ollantaytambo, with its streets and walls still intact from Inca times. And the food? Don't worry, before we set off for Huayna Picchu, we will take you to the best restaurants in our region. There is a wide variety on offer, from international restaurants to our modest traditional cuisine, which, incidentally, is in high demand all over the world.
Our mission is to take you to Huayna Picchu, and this is how we will do it. We want you to be safe, happy, and above all, never forget why the Incas built cities in the clouds.
