Huayna Picchu is the smaller peak you see in every photo of Machu Picchu — the sugarloaf directly behind the citadel. Climbing it is a separate expedition from touring the ruins, and the permit is harder to get than the citadel ticket itself.
The summit stands at 2,720 metres (8,920 feet) above sea level. The trail is almost all stairs — ancient Inca stairs — with a short exposed stretch near the top where you’ll use fixed cables. It is not technical climbing, but it is physical, and anyone uneasy about heights should take the Machu Picchu Mountain permit instead.
Peruways runs guided climbs. The guide matters here: there are two shrines on the far side of the peak (the Temple of the Moon in particular) that most unguided climbers walk past.
Permits are capped at 400 a day, split across two morning windows, and sell out six to eight weeks ahead in June, July and August. We book the permit with the train, bus and citadel ticket as a package.
Reserve at Peruways.
