How to "Climb Huayna Picchu"

A few years ago you could wake up in Aguas Calientes, have breakfast and stroll down to where the buses depart, buy your ticket, have another coffee and easily get on the first bus at 6:30am arriving at Machu Picchu for just before 7am. You'd be one of the first people there. The next bus wouldn't arrive for another 20 minutes. Although officially sun rise at Machu Picchu is at about 5:30am the sun doesn't actually start to break out from behind the mountains until about 7:20am (give or take 10 minutes due to variations throughout the year). So arriving at Machu Picchu for about 7am in the morning is ideal as it takes about 10 minutes to walk up to the Watchman's Hut which offers the best views over Machu Picchu.

As from May 2007 the government has put a limit of 400 on the number of people who can climb Huayna Picchu, the mountain that you see rising up behind Machu Picchu. This means that during the peak season if you really want to be among the lucky 400 you really have to make the effort to get up early.

As soon as you enter Machu Picchu its recommended that you make your way over to the base of Huayna Picchu where you'll find a small hut handing out the tickets to climb. The tickets are free. The first 200 people can climb Huayna Picchu straight away, however they all have to be back down by 10am when the 2nd group of 200 can make the climb. It takes about an hour to reach the top climbing slowly not recommended for sufferers of vertigo. The narrow trail can be quite dangerous at times after wet weather. Unfortunately if you are arriving by the Inca Trail or by train the same day then it is becoming increasingly difficult to climb Huayna Picchu the same day. You'll just have to spend the night in Aguas Calientes and return early the following morning.