Huayna Picchu (route 3-A) is the pointed peak behind the citadel in the classic photo: the climb is shorter but very steep, and the ticket includes the temples of Circuit 3. Machu Picchu Mountain (route 1-A) stands on the opposite side: its trail is longer, about 3.8 km round trip, with views of the Salkantay and Pumasillo snow peaks. Both are sold as a ticket of their own, have few places (400 and 350 a day) and allow no late arrival at their checkpoint. In this guide we compare them with the official data so you can choose yours.
Data as of 19 October 2026. The official sources for every figure are listed at the end of the article.
- 400 · 350daily places for Huayna Picchu and Machu Picchu Mountain
- 2.4 km · 3.8 kmround-trip length of each route
- 0 minof tolerance at the mountain checkpoints
Huayna Picchu and Machu Picchu Mountain, side by side
| Huayna Picchu (Waynapicchu) | Machu Picchu Mountain | |
|---|---|---|
| Route and circuit | 3-A, Circuit 3 (Machupicchu Realeza) | 1-A, Circuit 1 (Panorámico) |
| Length (round trip) | About 2.4 km | About 3.8 km |
| Physical effort | High | High |
| Summit altitude | 2,720 m | No official figure published |
| Daily places (2026) | 400 | 350 |
| Entry times | 7:00 and 10:00 | 7:00 and 9:00 |
| Maximum time (with the citadel) | 6 h | 7 h |
| What else the ticket includes | Agricultural sector, Temple of the Sun, House of the Inca, ceremonial fountains, Three Doorways and, on the way back, the Temple of the Condor | The panoramic path of Circuit 1 |
| Fare for Peruvians and Andean Community | S/ 112 · student and minor S/ 80 | S/ 112 · student and minor S/ 80 |
Foreign visitors pay a higher fare, shown on the official platform when you choose the route. Children under 3 enter free.
Huayna Picchu (route 3-A)
It is the mountain behind the citadel in the classic photo. Its summit is at about 2,720 m, according to PromPerú, almost 300 m above the citadel (2,430 m). The official route is about 2.4 km round trip and the Ministry of Culture rates it as high effort: it is short, but with very steep stone stairs.
The ticket starts with Circuit 3 (agricultural sector, Temple of the Sun, House of the Inca, ceremonial fountains and Three Doorways), climbs the mountain and, on the way back, passes the Temple of the Condor. There are two entry times, 7:00 and 10:00, with 200 places each.
From 1 to 30 June 2026 Huayna Picchu was closed for conservation work (stairs, walls, drainage and safety cables) and reopened on 1 July. Before buying, check that the route is on sale for your date.
Machu Picchu Mountain (route 1-A)
It faces Huayna Picchu, on the other side of the citadel. Its trail is longer, about 3.8 km round trip, also high effort, and from the top you see the Salkantay and Pumasillo snow peaks as well as the citadel. There is no official altitude published for its summit.
There are two entry times, 7:00 and 9:00, with 175 places each, and the maximum time with the citadel is 7 hours, the longest of all routes together with the Great Cavern.
Which one should you choose?
- Choose Huayna Picchu if you want the most famous mountain, a shorter route and the temples of Circuit 3 as well. Keep in mind that its stairs are very steep.
- Choose Machu Picchu Mountain if you prefer a longer trail with more time overall (7 hours) and wide views of the citadel and the snow peaks.
- If you do not want to climb a mountain, the routes without a mountain (such as 1-B or 2-A) include the classic view of the citadel. In high season there is also route 3-D, Huchuypicchu: the Circuit 3 tour plus a short climb, medium effort, with 40 places a day.
For the Ministry of Culture both mountains are voluntary routes for people in good physical condition. If you suffer from vertigo, knee or heart problems, or have not acclimatized to the altitude, choose a route without a mountain (more about altitude in our article Altitude of Machu Picchu and Cusco).
Rules you should know
- No tolerance at the mountain. Entry to the citadel has 30 minutes of tolerance in regular season and 45 in high season, but there is none at the Huayna Picchu and Machu Picchu Mountain checkpoints: arrive on time.
- Registration. You must sign in at the checkpoint hut when you enter and leave the mountain.
- Your route only. The ticket is valid for one route and there is no re-entry.
- Not allowed, as in the whole citadel: walking sticks, backpacks larger than 40 x 35 x 20 cm, food, drones and hard-soled shoes. Wear comfortable hiking shoes.
How to buy the ticket
Tickets are sold on the official platform tuboleto.cultura.pe, with payment confirmed at the time of purchase. Of each mountain’s places, 50 a day are sold at the ticket office in Machu Picchu Pueblo (see Aguas Calientes); the rest, online. As they are the most limited places, buy them well in advance.
On our tours, Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain can be added as an extra, subject to availability: the details are on the Machu Picchu Full Day tour and the 2-day train tour pages. You can compare all the options in Machu Picchu tours from Cusco and see every route in our guide to visiting Machu Picchu.
Check the places available by date in this calendar, with data from the Ministry of Culture:
Machu Picchu ticket availability
Online spots by date and route. Choose a date to see entry times and book.
- Available
- Few spots
- Last spots
- Sold out
Choose a date in the calendar to see spots and entry times.
Source: official availability of the Ministry of Culture of Peru · last reading 26 Oct · 05:35 (Peru time)
Official sources (checked in October 2026):
- Routes, distances and effort: tuboleto.cultura.pe. Circuits, maps and maximum times: machupicchu.gob.pe. Tolerance: Entry times, DDC Cusco.
- Places and entry times 2026: RM 000285-2025-MC and annex. Fares 2026: RM 000284-2025-MC. Visit regulations: RM 000528-2023-MC.
- June 2026 closure: Ministry of Culture. Altitude of Huayna Picchu: PromPerú. Rules of conduct: machupicchu.gob.pe.
Frequently asked questions
Which is harder, Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain?
Both are high effort according to the Ministry of Culture. Huayna Picchu is shorter (about 2.4 km round trip) but with very steep stairs; Machu Picchu Mountain is longer (about 3.8 km round trip).
How many people can climb each day?
In 2026, 400 for Huayna Picchu (two entry times of 200, at 7:00 and 10:00) and 350 for Machu Picchu Mountain (two entry times of 175, at 7:00 and 9:00).
Does the Huayna Picchu ticket include the citadel?
Yes. Route 3-A includes the Circuit 3 tour (agricultural sector, Temple of the Sun, House of the Inca, ceremonial fountains, Three Doorways and Temple of the Condor) and the climb, with a maximum time of 6 hours.
How much does it cost to climb Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain?
For Peruvians, foreign residents and Andean Community citizens, S/ 112 general admission and S/ 80 for students and children aged 3 to 17 in 2026. Foreign visitors pay a higher fare, shown on tuboleto.cultura.pe.
What happens if I arrive late at the mountain checkpoint?
You cannot enter: there is no time tolerance at the Huayna Picchu and Machu Picchu Mountain checkpoints, unlike the entrance to the citadel.
How high is Huayna Picchu?
Its summit is at about 2,720 metres above sea level, according to PromPerú, almost 300 m above the citadel of Machu Picchu (2,430 m).
Is there an easier alternative?
Yes. The routes without a mountain, such as 1-B or 2-A, include the classic view of the citadel. In high season there is also route 3-D, Huchuypicchu, of medium effort.
