In this article
Huayna Picchu is the steep peak behind Machu Picchu in the classic photo; Machu Picchu Mountain is the bigger mountain on the opposite side, with the whole citadel and Huayna Picchu below you. Both need their own ticket, both have a small daily limit, and they are very different climbs. This guide compares them with official data, shows live availability for both, and helps you choose.
Sources: Peru’s Ministry of Culture (Ministerial Resolutions 528-2023-MC and 285-2025-MC, official route panels), El Peruano and Andina. Checked on 6 October 2026.
Quick answer
- Choose Huayna Picchu if you want the famous peak, a shorter but steeper climb on narrow stone steps, and you are comfortable with heights.
- Choose Machu Picchu Mountain if you prefer a longer, steadier climb on a wider path, more time on the route and the view of the citadel with Huayna Picchu behind it.
- Tickets: 400 a day for Huayna Picchu and 350 for Machu Picchu Mountain. In high season they can sell out weeks ahead, Huayna Picchu especially.
- Price for a foreign adult: S/ 152 plus a mountain supplement of S/ 48. On our tours, either one costs USD 80 extra, subject to availability.
Availability right now
This table reads the official sale and shows the next date with tickets for each mountain and for the citadel (Circuit 2), plus what is left in the in-person sale in Machu Picchu town.
Live availability · read from the official ticket sale
| Ticket or permit | Next date with space | Next 30 days | Last reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Huayna Picchu (route 3-A) | Nov 17 · 1 left | 30 of the next 30 days sold out | 2 hours ago |
| Machu Picchu Mountain (route 1-A) | Oct 28 · 28 left | 20 of the next 30 days sold out | 2 hours ago |
| Machu Picchu citadel (Circuit 2) | Nov 1 · 201 left | 25 of the next 30 days sold out | 2 hours ago |
In-person sale in Machu Picchu town for Oct 8: Citadel: sold out · Huayna Picchu: sold out · Machu Picchu Mountain: sold out (4 hours ago)
When we checked on 6 October 2026, the first date with online tickets was 28 October for Machu Picchu Mountain and 16 November for Huayna Picchu.
Side by side
| Huayna Picchu (route 3-A) | Machu Picchu Mountain (route 1-A) | |
|---|---|---|
| Circuit | Circuit 3: lower royal sector plus the climb | Circuit 1: upper terraces plus the climb |
| Tickets per day | 400 (50 of them in person) | 350 (50 of them in person) |
| Entry slots | 07:00 and 10:00 | 07:00 and 09:00 |
| Round-trip distance | 2.4 km | 3.8 km |
| Average time between checkpoints | About 3 h | About 4 h |
| Summit rules | Leave the summit by 13:00 | Leave the summit by 13:00 and be back at the checkpoint by 14:00 |
| Maximum stay, including the citadel | 5 h 30 min | 6 h 30 min |
| Summit altitude | About 2,720 m, roughly 300 m above the citadel | No official figure published |
| Terrain | Steep, narrow stone steps, with exposed sections | Long stone staircase on a wider path |
The altitude of Huayna Picchu comes from a Ministry of Culture publication, and Andina describes the climb as about 300 metres and about an hour up. For Machu Picchu Mountain we found no official summit altitude: the figures you see online vary and come from tour operators, so we don’t quote them.
Huayna Picchu: the classic peak
Huayna Picchu is the sugarloaf peak that rises behind the citadel in almost every photo of Machu Picchu. Route 3-A combines the lower royal sector of the citadel with the climb to the summit, where there are Inca terraces and structures and a view down onto the whole site.
- The climb: short but steep, on narrow stone steps built by the Incas. Some sections are exposed, with long drops beside the path. In 2026 the Ministry of Culture installed steel-cable handrails during maintenance work.
- Time: about 3 hours between the checkpoints, and you must leave the summit by 13:00.
- Best for: fit travelers with no fear of heights who want the iconic summit.
- Not included: the Temple of the Moon is in the Great Cavern sector, which is a different route (3-C) with its own ticket, open only in high season.
Machu Picchu Mountain: the long climb
Machu Picchu Mountain rises on the opposite side of the citadel from Huayna Picchu. Route 1-A starts from the upper terraces, near the classic viewpoint, and climbs a long stone staircase to the summit, from where you see the citadel, Huayna Picchu and the Urubamba valley far below.
- The climb: longer and more sustained, but on a wider path with less exposure than Huayna Picchu.
- Time: about 4 hours between the checkpoints. You must leave the summit by 13:00 and be back at the checkpoint by 14:00.
- Best for: hikers who prefer a steady effort to steep exposed steps, and anyone who wants more time on the mountain.
Rules for both mountains
- One ticket, one route: each ticket is valid for its route, date and slot. The mountain ticket also includes the citadel sector of its circuit.
- No tolerance at the checkpoint: you can enter the citadel a little after your time, but the mountain checkpoints do not allow late entry.
- Register in and out: each mountain has its own checkpoint, where you sign in on the way up and out on the way down.
- Physical condition: the official rules say the climbs are voluntary and require good physical condition.
- Age: there is no official minimum age. Minors (3 to 17) pay a reduced ticket and must be accompanied by an adult. Whether a climb suits a child depends on their fitness and how they handle heights.
- Bags: the same rules as the citadel apply: no large bags, walking sticks, umbrellas or drones.
Climbing both mountains on the same day is not practical: each needs its own ticket and the entry slots overlap. If you want both, plan two visits.
Closures: check before you go
Both routes close for conservation work and after landslides. Huayna Picchu was closed from 5 March to 27 April 2025, after a rain-related slide and work on newly found Inca walls, and again for the whole of June 2026 for maintenance; it reopened on 1 July 2026. Machu Picchu Mountain was closed after a landslide on 8 March 2025. When a route closes, the Ministry of Culture announces it on its official channels.
When to go
Both mountains have the same small number of tickets all year, so in the busiest months (July to October in 2025) they can sell out weeks ahead. In the rainy season, from January to March, the stone steps are wet and slippery and the summits are often in cloud; in the dry season, from April to August, the climbs are safer but tickets are harder to get. Read our month-by-month guide to the best time to visit Machu Picchu.
If neither convinces you
- Huchuy Picchu (route 3-D): a short climb opposite Huayna Picchu, open only in high season. It costs the same as a citadel ticket, with no mountain supplement.
- Great Cavern (route 3-C): the trail to the Temple of the Moon, also high season only.
- Routes 1-B or 2-A: the classic viewpoint over the citadel without a climb.
Our Machu Picchu tickets guide explains all ten routes and their prices.
Add a mountain to your tour
On our Machu Picchu Day Trip, Machu Picchu & Sacred Valley, 2 days, Short Inca Trail and Classic Inca Trail, you can add Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain for USD 80 per person, subject to availability. Book them together with the tour: we buy the tickets at the same time, and your guided visit is planned around your climbing slot.
Frequently asked questions
Which is harder, Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain?
They are hard in different ways. Huayna Picchu is shorter (2.4 km round trip, about 3 hours) but steeper, on narrow and exposed steps. Machu Picchu Mountain is longer (3.8 km, about 4 hours) and more sustained, on a wider path.
Which has the better view?
From Huayna Picchu you look down onto the citadel from above and behind. From Machu Picchu Mountain you see the citadel with Huayna Picchu behind it, a wider view that includes the Urubamba valley.
Is Huayna Picchu dangerous?
It is steep and has exposed sections, so it is not for people with a fear of heights. The official rules require good physical condition, and steel-cable handrails were installed in 2026. Take your time and use the full time your ticket allows.
How many tickets are there for Huayna Picchu and Machu Picchu Mountain?
400 a day for Huayna Picchu and 350 for Machu Picchu Mountain, including 50 per route sold in person in Machu Picchu town.
Is there a minimum age for Huayna Picchu?
No official minimum age has been set. Minors (3 to 17) pay a reduced ticket and must be accompanied by an adult. The “12 years” figure on some websites is not an official rule.
Does the Huayna Picchu ticket include the Temple of the Moon?
No. The Temple of the Moon is in the Great Cavern sector, which is route 3-C, with its own ticket and only in high season.
Can I climb both mountains on the same day?
Not in practice. Each needs its own ticket and the entry slots overlap. If you want both, plan two visits.
How much does it cost to add a mountain?
The official ticket for a foreign adult is S/ 152 plus a S/ 48 mountain supplement. On our tours, Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain costs USD 80 extra, subject to availability.
