Top 6 Machu Picchu Hikes in 2022 & 2023
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Loading... - Amelia McPherson
- 30 Aug 2022
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There’s no doubt about it – Machu Picchu is Peru’s numero uno attraction and our list of top Machu Picchu hikes will get you there. Mysteriously hidden in the cloud forests of the Sacred Valley above the gushing Urubamba River, Machu Picchu has stood for over an astounding 500 years. For much of that time it was completely hidden away from humankind. That is until American explorer Hiram Bingham rediscovered the site in 1911 and travelers have been flocking to see Machu Picchu’s mystical temples and the legendary Incan Gate of the Sun since the 1970s.
These days, it’s possible to drop in for a day trip on the train, thanks to the scenic ride from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes, the town that sits at the base of Machu Picchu. However, we like the more adventurous options: Machu Picchu hikes. Some hikes will whisk you through lush Peruvian jungles on trails laid centuries ago by the Incas. Other hikes will scale soaring mountain passes where you can gaze at snow-capped summits far above the clouds. And there are even shorter day hikes that offer sweeping views over Machu Picchu itself. In no particular order, let’s take a look at six of the very best Machu Picchu Hikes.
1. Huayna Picchu
Huayna Picchu is the shark-fin of a peak that stands immediately behind Machu Picchu. You’ve probably already seen it somewhere – it’s a regular on postcards of the long-lost Incan city in the clouds. These days, Huayna Picchu is also a popular addition for those who visit Machu Picchu, offering some of the best views of the UNESCO World Heritage site and ‘New Seven Wonders of the World’ from high above.
Of our list of Machu Picchu hikes, the hike to reach Huayna Picchu isn’t the easiest out there though. It’s a steep 1,000-foot (300-meter) vertical ascent that begins on the north side of the main Machu Picchu citadel. You’ll have to get there by foot or by shuttle bus from Aguas Calientes before joining the main trailhead to Machu Picchu, which is marked by a warden’s hut. The first section of the trail goes through thick forest, peaking and troughing before there’s a sharp fork in the road. Here, you’ve got two choices for hiking this Machu Picchu hike: Go the short or the long way.
The short trail is a one-hour back-and-forth hike that zigzags straight up the front of the peak to the summit. It’s steep and has some narrow sections that require scrambling. The longer hike will take you around the back of the mountain to the mysterious Incan Moon Temple (thought to have been a royal tomb) and then up a rocky trail to the top.
The reward is a head-on panorama that takes in the slab of stone that is Phutuq K’usi in the east, the terraces of Machu Picchu below, along with the gleaming ice sheets of the Salkantay massif far on the southern horizon. There are currently two hiking slots for the Huayna Picchu trek, one at 7 am and the other at 10 am. The morning means fewer people on the route but also a higher chance of fog. The latter hike means it’s hotter, but the views are generally better. Also, it is important to note that you will need a permit to hike Huayna Picchu.
There are only 200 permits issued per day for Huayna Picchu so it is important to reserve your place well in advance of your visit to hike to this sacred mountain.
2. Machu Picchu Mountain
The namesake mountain of Machu Picchu looms over the south side of the ancient citadel. Machu Picchu Mountain is one of the highest in the immediate vicinity of Aguas Calientes, clocking up 10,112 feet (3,082 meters) above sea level. It’s also one of the less-visited Machu Picchu area day treks here, so you should encounter fewer people as you scale to the summit hut.
You’ll need to look for the guardhouse that’s on the south edge of Machu Picchu to get going. It’s along a wide dirt track that skirts the old stone terraces, around 30 minutes’ walk from the Sun Gate. That’s where you show your passes and passport and begin the path in earnest.
The start is wide, paved and well maintained, but Machu Picchu Mountain quickly steepens. Soon, the hiking route hugs huge rock boulders that jut out of the side of the massif, and then passes through clusters of ancient Incan ruins that can be particularly tricky to hike after heavy rainfall. The final push of this Machu Picchu hike breaks out into more exposed areas with the views of lush green mountains rising to the east. Finally, you follow an open ridge on a dirt path all the way to the summit hut. That’s where the stunning view of the Machu Picchu citadel with Huayna Picchu behind awaits, but also where you can gaze south to snowy Salkantay.
There’s a limit of 400 trekkers per day on Machu Picchu Mountain, so be sure to book in advance for this top hike. The whole trek takes about 3 – 4 hours to complete. We’d say it’s more of a purist hike than Huayna Picchu. We feel that Machu Picchu Mountain has better panoramas of the Andes that dominate the Sacred Valley. Read More…
