Written by:
peru.travel
Friday, September 4, 2020
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Reaching the top of Huayna Picchu is a must for anyone who considers himself a citizen of the world. From the top, you can witness a landscape that is breathtaking for its beauty and majesty. Many achieve the goal of climbing the Montaña vieja (Old Mountain) after an arduous and intense journey that involves a demanding physical test and, above all, a great passion for adventure.
With a maximum height of 2,720 meters, Huayna Picchu looks imposing in the classic and famous postcard of the Machu Picchu citadel. The mountain consists mostly of rocks on which the Incas carved their steps and paths to the top, so there is only one way for the ascent and the descent.
It is believed, according to historians, that it served as a surveillance point to look after the Machu Picchu sanctuary. With the construction of this place, the Incas had a complete vision of the valley and were alert to any eventuality such as a possible attack. From its top, you can see a large number of platforms used for cultivation, as well as a wonderful view of the Urubamba River and the Templo de la Luna (Temple of the Moon). If you are thinking of climbing the mountain, we share some recommendations so that you can live this great experience completely safely.
The best time to travel
The ideal time to visit the mountain is between April and October. During these months, the Cusco region goes through a dry time that is characterized for sunny days with temperatures ranging between 68 °F during the day and 44 °F at night. However, if you plan to travel between November and March, it does not mean that you will have a bad time. On these dates you can take advantage of a smaller number of visitors and also enjoy a great green landscape often accompanied by a shimmering rainbow.
How to get the entrance ticket?
Being one of the most impressive trekking routes in the world, the demand to get an entrance ticket is very high because the capacity is limited: only 400 people can enter, divided in two groups of 200. Reservations are made in advance. The ticket is bought on the website www.machupicchu.gob.pe. There you can also see the availability of places.
From Huayna Picchu the Incas had a complete view of the entire citadel of Machu Picchu. Credit: Luis Gamero / PromPerú.
Physical training before the trip
Although climbing Huayna Picchu does not require any special preparation, it is necessary that you condition your body so that you enjoy the walk more and do not go through any type of complication. If you are one of the people who usually exercise regularly, you will not suffer discomfort due to the lack of oxygen. On the contrary, if you think you are not in shape, you could do exercises like running or cycling during the two weeks before the trip, in order to improve your resistance. Also, we recommend that you have one or two days of acclimatization in Cusco before embarking on the tour to avoid soroche.
What to bring?
The climb to Huayna Picchu is demanding, so we recommend you bring light clothing, trekking shoes and a backpack with water, energy snack, mountain implements such as sunglasses, insect repellent, sunscreen and most importantly: a camera to record the beautiful scenery that you will see from the top.
Sources: Perurail / Cuscoperu / Boletomachupicchu
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