Undoubtedly, visiting the Inca citadel is one of the mandatory trips we have to make, as it is classified as one of the 7 wonders of the world, however, we have two mountains to visit Machu Picchu and Huayna Picchu that function as viewpoints to the Inca constructions.
Below I will detail the difference between these two mountains, when you can visit them, which one is more difficult and when you should go.
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Both Machu Picchu and Huayna Picchu mountains function as viewpoints, as it is said that Huayna Picchu was built to protect and guard the Inca citadel that was located at the bottom.
On the other hand, Machu Picchu as a mountain is also ideal to go to this place, although there are no Inca buildings from the top allows you to see the entire Inca city and at the same time you can see all the mountains and snow-capped mountains that surround it.
| Machu Picchu Mountain. | Huayna Picchu Mountain. |
| -It is located south of the Inca citadel. -It is at an altitude of 3,082 meters. -It is at a distance of 2 km -The ascent is semi-flat with wider paths. -It offers us a more complete panoramic view of the Inca city, Huayna Picchu and all that surrounds it. -It has a great diversity of fauna and flora -It receives 400 travelers daily and is booked weeks or days in advance. -The road is easy and can be climbed with easiness. -The arrival time is 2 hours one way and the return. -To access you have to do circuit 3. -The degree of difficulty is moderate. -The degree of difficulty is moderate. -The degree of difficulty is moderate. | -It is located north of the Inca citadel. -It is at an altitude of 2,720 m. -It is at a distance of 2 km. -The ascent is steep with narrow paths. -It offers a panoramic view of the Inca citadel. -You can find archaeological ruins. -It receives 200 travelers daily, therefore you must book months in advance. -This tour is highly requested by adventurers extreme. -If you like extreme adventure and you are not afraid of heights, you can climb Huayna Picchu. -The arrival time is 1:30 hours one way, depending on the physical condition of the person. -To access you have to do circuit 4. -The degree of difficulty is moderately high. |
Both circuits are amazing, maybe one more difficult or demanding than the other, but it is the best experience you will take away from this beautiful attraction and even helps you lose your fear of heights.
Yes you could visit both, however it is not recommended and we wonder why, as we know to enter the Inca city there are schedules to respect and combine the visit to these two attractions would be difficult in a single day.
Assuming that if you do it, you would lose a lot of time, there would be physical wear and perhaps not reach the top, in short, there are many difficulties and could leave you exhausted and unsatisfied, besides the purpose of this trip is to know the world attraction (Inca constructions).
Therefore, twe recommend visiting one mountain at a time so that you can make the most of your time and get to know the constructions of the Inca citadel Machu Picchu in detail.
Actually I could not tell you which one is the best, this will depend on your experience, some may like more extreme adventure and choose to go to Huayna Picchu and others will choose to go to Machu Picchu Mountain for itsaccessibility to reach this mountain and see the whole horizon.
They are two different experiences, therefore, you should visit both options and see which of these attractions attracts you more attention or which one fills you with adrenaline, but from both we will be able to see the Inca city of Machu Picchu.
Of course, we have a mountain that is more difficult to reach than the other, in this case we are talking about Huayna Picchu, which is characterized by having a steep path and you will even need cables to reach the top and see the Inca constructions.
Actually it is an extreme adventure, you could say that it is only for those who are not afraid of heights or can defy this fear; this does not happen when you go to the Machu Picchu mountain, as it has a narrow path and is quieter to get to the top, but remember that you are climbing to an altitude of 3,000 m.
However, Huayna Picchu is the most difficult to reach the top and see everything from the top and have that classic photo of the Inca city Machu Picchu.
To visit the Huayna Picchu mountainyou have to buy your entry tickets 3 months in advance (it is highly demanded), as it has only 200 tickets available per day. You have to buy via internet the circuit 4 "Machu Picchu+Huayna Picchu" and you can enter in these four shifts, the cost of the ticket is 200 Peruvian soles.
Group 1: This group first enters Machu Picchu at 6 am and after the visit goes to Huayna Picchu from 7 am to 8 am.
Group 2: You enter Machu Picchu at 7 am and Huayna Picchu from 8 am to 9 am.
Group 3: This group will enter Machu Picchu at 8 in the morning, after touring the llaqta they will leave for Huayna Picchu from 9 am to 10 am.
Group 4: The last group will access Machu Picchu at 9 am and leave for Huayna Picchu between 10 am and 11 am.
The circuit is first visit the Inca citadel and then go to Huayna Picchu, you can stay in the archaeological site maximum 6 hours, the time counts from the entrance.
It is almost the same procedure, to buy your entry ticket of the Machu Picchu Mountain you must do it weeks or days in advance, you can buy it via internet or in the city of Cusco. The entrance ticket allows you to visit "Machu Picchu and Mountain", it has a cost of 200 Peruvian soles and you can visit it in two schedules.
Group 1: Entrance to Machu Picchu archaeological site at 6 am and to the mountain from 7 am to 8 am.
Group 2: Entrance to Machu Picchu archaeological site at 7 am and to the mountain from 8 am to 9 am.
Finally, don't forget to book your tickets in advance to these amazing sites, and above all, you will be able to see the Inca citadel that has its constructions intact because the Spaniards did not invade the sacred place.
