Okay, so you’re thinking about Machu Picchu, awesome! But did you know there’s more to it than just the main ruins? Yeah, the whole area is this lush canyon, and there are a bunch of spots where you can get these incredible, different views. Think Huayna Picchu Mountain, the Sun Gate, Machu Picchu Mountain itself (that’s a different hike, not the main site!), the Llactapata Inca ruins, Putukusi Mountain, and even this cool Inca Bridge section.
If you’re doing the classic Inca Trail, you’ll get your first jaw-dropping peek at Machu Picchu from the Sun Gate. That’s like, a huge reason people pick that trek. It’s a moment. For everyone else on different treks, you usually come into Machu Picchu from Aguas Calientes. You’ll crash in a hotel there after your last trekking day, then grab an early bus the next morning to catch the sunrise at the ruins. But hey, even then, there are these extra hikes you can tack on for different views.
So, let’s dive into some of these extra bits, especially that famous one…
Thinking About Huayna Picchu Mountain? Here’s the Scoop.
Why does everyone want to climb Huayna Picchu? What’s the big deal that makes tickets disappear so fast? Well, for one, it’s got the amazing Temple of the Moon tucked away on it. That’s pretty special. Plus, Huayna Picchu peak is a way steeper climb than Machu Picchu Mountain. We’re talking long sets of stairs, and paths that get seriously steep and narrow. You’re gonna want your hands free because it gets a bit tricky near the top. They’ve even got ladders and cables there for you to hang onto. Honestly, this hike is perfect if you like a bit of adrenaline.
As you’re climbing, you’ll hit spots with some pretty big drop-offs – not for those scared of heights! And the top? It can feel pretty crowded. But the amazing thing about Huayna Picchu is when you’re at the peak, you’re looking straight down over the Machu Picchu ruins and the Urubamba River. It’s a quicker hike too, and you get the bonus of seeing some Inca buildings that they never quite finished. The whole thing, up and down, takes about 2 hours. Oh, and a heads-up: the trail can be super slippery if it’s wet or raining. Seriously.
Are Tickets for Huayna Picchu Hard to Get?
Yes! Absolutely. They only let 400 hikers up there each day. So you really, really need to plan ahead to book this extra hike. Think at least 2 to 3 months in advance, maybe more. If you’re booking a trek, your tour company might try to snag these permits for you, if tickets are still available. No guarantees.
Times for the Huayna Picchu Hike:
- First slot: 7 am
- Second slot: 8 am
- Third slot: 9 am
- Fourth slot: 10 am – This is usually the best one if you’re finishing the Inca Trail.
***Just remember, these are the times you start the hike. It’s about 2 hours for the roundtrip.
***Super Important Bit: To hike Huayna Picchu Mountain, you need to be on Circuit 4. But, and this is a big but, with this ticket, you are not allowed to wander around and explore the rest of the main Machu Picchu Citadel. You do the mountain, and that’s basically your main activity in that part of the site.
****And they are strict about the times. You have to show up for your 7am, 8am, 9am, or 10am slot. If you’re even 5 minutes late? Nope, you won’t be allowed in. Don’t risk it.
What’s it Cost?
- For Inca Trail trekkers: $75 USD per person.
- For those on alternative treks to Machu Picchu: $75 USD per person.
- If you’re just doing a tour to Machu Picchu and want to add this: $75 USD per person.
What About Machu Picchu Mountain? (The Other Big One)
This is the great Machu Picchu Mountain, and it climbs up more than 652 meters (that’s over 2,139 feet) above the Sacred City of Machu Picchu. Its peak is at a whopping 3,082 meters (10,111 feet) above sea level. The views from up there? Breathtaking. Just a really unique way to see Machu Picchu, like nowhere else. It sits right at the base of the Inca Citadel. People talk about this unique energy from the earth at Machu Picchu – thousands feel it every day – and the Incas thought it was sacred. They say Inca priests used Machu Picchu Mountain’s summit for rituals on special dates, and it was a place where they worshipped the Apu Salkantay (a mountain spirit).
Heads Up! Schedule Changes: The government changed the entrance times for this hike, and now they often clash with the standard tour times for the main Machu Picchu Citadel. So, here’s the kicker: to actually do this optional trek, you’ll probably need an extra day at Machu Picchu just to have enough time to hike it. Bit of a pain, but good to know.
***This is an optional trek inside Machu Picchu, and it doesn’t come with a guide. You usually climb it on your own, after you’ve done your main tour of Machu Picchu.
How Long Does This Hike Take?
How long to climb Machu Picchu Mountain really depends on how fit you are. It can take anywhere from 1 to 1.5 hours to get to the top, so figure 2 to 3 hours for the round trip. From the summit, you get these incredible views of Machu Picchu itself, and you can also see the last bit of the Classic Inca Trail. Plus, you can look out over the amazing canyon carved out by the Vilcanota River, with green mountains on one side, and on the other, the mountains of the Cordillera Vilcabamba and the snowy peak of Salkantay (that’s at 6,271 m/20,574ft!). And more!
The climb to Machu Picchu Mountain is usually called moderate to difficult. It’s not easy-peasy, but not crazy challenging either. You need to be in average physical shape. During the rainy season, though, the path can get really slippery, which makes the climb harder.
Times for the Machu Picchu Mountain Hike:
- First slot: 7 am
- Second slot: 8 am.
***Again, this is the time you start the hike. It’s about 3 hours for the roundtrip.
***Another Super Important Bit: To hike Machu Picchu Mountain, you need to be on Circuit 3. And just like with Huayna Picchu, with this specific mountain ticket, you are not allowed to explore the rest of the main Machu Picchu Citadel.
***Punctuality, again! You must respect these entrance times of 7am or 8am. If you arrive 5 minutes late, they won’t let you in. They mean business.
And the Price?
- For Inca Trail trekkers: $75 USD per person.
- For those on alternative treks to Machu Picchu: $75 USD per person.
- If you’re just doing a tour to Machu Picchu: $75 USD per person.
What’s the Deal with the Sun Gate (Inti Punku)?
Good news here. With the new rules, regular day visitors can now walk to the Sun Gate. You will need to buy an extra ticket for this hike, though. The views are pretty spectacular from there, totally worth it if you can.
For travelers who are actually trekking the Inca Trail, this is how they first enter Machu Picchu. They come through the Sun Gate, also called Inti Punku, and often get to watch the sunrise over the ruins. Magic.
Tell Me About the Inca Bridge!
This is a cool little side trip. The trail to the Inca Bridge actually goes around the back of one of the mountains, in the opposite direction from the main Machu Picchu ruins. You’ll need an extra ticket to walk this path, even though they do document the daily traffic to it. Everyone who goes has to sign their name in a book when they enter, and then sign out again when they leave. It’s about a 20-minute hike along a path that’s pretty narrow in places. The climb isn’t steep, but some of the drop-offs along the edges? Yeah, they might make some folks a bit nervous.
The Inca Bridge itself is just a few narrow logs set over this sheer vertical drop – crazy! They think it might have been a secret back entrance to Machu Picchu. Actually crossing the bridge today is a big no-no, strictly forbidden for safety. But you can take as many photos as you want. And on the hike back, you’ll probably find yourself wondering if you’d have had the guts to cross that thing if you were around in Inca times. I know I would!
And Putukusi Mountain? Heard of That?
So, when people go to Machu Picchu, a lot of them want that bird’s eye view of the ruins, right? Most of them aim for the top of Huayna Picchu, that famous mountain backdrop. But wait! There’s another mountain, a bit further from the ruins. It’s visited less often, but this one also gives climbers some great views: Putukusi (sometimes spelled Putucusi). It sits right across the Urubamba River from the Machu Picchu ruins.
From the top of Putukusi, you get these wide-open views over Machu Picchu, plus the valleys and mountain peaks all around. It’s best to get there super early (like, 6:00 am) if you want to see the ruins before all the crowds pour into Machu Picchu. Plus, the light is just better for photos at that time of day.
Aguas Calientes, that little town, is basically surrounded by these rugged, impossible-looking mountains. It’s in the eastern part of Peru’s Oriental Cordillera. The whole town really just exists to serve all the thousands of people who visit Machu Picchu every year.
And right next to Aguas Calientes, even closer than Machu Picchu itself, is Putukusi. It’s this sheer cliff, a mountain totally coated in jungle, rising like two thousand feet up from the valley floor. On a clear day, it’s sometimes possible to see Machu Picchu with the snow-capped Salkantay peak behind it from here – an absolutely spectacular sight. Word is, Putukusi is the best, and maybe the only, thing to do around Aguas Calientes that doesn’t directly involve Machu Picchu and (last I heard, but always good to check!) doesn’t need an entry fee.
The mountain, like all the others around here, is made of these almost vertical, perfectly smooth stone walls, with steep gullies cutting through them. And these walls are just completely covered by cloud forest. Wild.
The trail up Putukusi is more vertical than horizontal; that seems to be how these mountains roll around here. When you’re looking out at Machu Picchu from the top of Putukusi, it’s interesting to just stop and think, why did the Incas choose to build their empire in such a rugged, out-of-the-way place? Surely the incredible beauty of the landscape must have inspired them, and they probably felt like they were standing right there with their gods. The wilderness here is some of the most untouched left on Earth. Makes you wonder, doesn’t it? Could there be another “Machu Picchu” hidden somewhere in these mountains that nobody even knows exists today? Mind-boggling.