sd2007

Hi!
My husband and I are going to Peru next week and are contemplating hiking Huayna Picchu when we visit Machu Picchu. I was wondering if anyone has had this experience?
My biggest questions have to do with preparation for it (not the actual physical prep). Can you bring any food with you in a backpack? Do you recommend wearing hiking shoes or will tennis shoes be just fine? Any other "equipment" that we should bring? I am very interested in hearing feedback from those that have done it - what did you bring with you and what do you wish you had brought?... Thanks a bunch!

taitai

Never did Huayna Picchu as we had just hiked the Trail and I didn't want to get up early enough the next morning to make the cut off. I can tell you that you are not allowed to bring food into the MP site so that wouldn't be an option for you. I would absolutely wear hiking boots. If it is anything like the trail (and I assume it is), the steps will be very uneven and having strong ankle support and really good grip (especially if it has been raining) would be crucial.

I used a hiking stick for the Trail and it helped with some of the steeper steps. I don't think you can bring hiking poles with metal tips into MP, though, so if you chose to bring poles, make sure they have rubber tips. A waterproof windbreaker was key for our trip and lots of water.

I think one of the biggest things is getting their early enough to make the cutoff. They limit the number of hikers per day to a couple hundred.

Have fun.
taitai

Jeff_Costa_Rica

The official cutoff time for entry to the Huayna Picchu section is 1 p.m., but they will likely have reached the cutoff number before then this time of year. Go as early in the morning as you possibly can if for no other reason than to avoid the heat. Portions of it are a pretty tough walk.

I'd say don't even consider this if you are doing MP as a day trip from Cusco. You wouldn't have time, and it would be way too exhausting to pack the round-trip train travel and this into one day.

I remember thinking the whole hike "This can't get any worse. I must be through the roughest part by now," but it did keep getting tougher the closer I got to the top. Even once you get to the top, the first portion of the descent is not the way you came up. There's a part where you have scoot down this incline on your butt. And then you descend this flight of stairs that has no railing. The left side hugs a wall, but the right side is a sheer drop off. The steps are wide enough that you're not teetering on the edge, but still, I thought that was the scariest part.

You sign in at the gate when you enter and you sign out when you leave. They need to make sure that everybody is accounted for and made it back down all right. There seemed to be one official-type person at the top, but it's not like they post people along the way to help you with anything. You're really on your own, although you're encountering other hikers, and could get help if you had a problem.

When I finally made it back down, I did look back up and think, wow, I was all the way up there. I was glad I did it, but my legs really ached for a few days.

No food inside any part of MP, period.

AKR1

Our party of 7 (ages 10 to 48) climbed HP a few weeks ago. Bring plenty of water and maybe a snack (real food is not required). I recommend hiking boots and a lightweight hiking pole (which for my wife & I was a lifesaver).
The climb is only 1.1 km but is near verticle. No technical ability required but the fitter you are, the easier all those steps will be. Do not carry a heavy backpack- if the entrance control point hut has space they will store a backpack for you. Be there early as the strict limit is 400 people- although on the morning we went, by noon only 300 had crossed.

ricky1234

This is not a long journey, but it is steep. Would carry a drink, a light snack, a jacket and camera. If heights or steep places scare you, skip it. It is a magnificent place, was my favorite part of the visit to Macchu Picchu.

Tess_Durberville

I knew that climbing HP would not be my cup o' tea when I visited MP last year.

Besides signing in so they can account for everybody who goes up the peak, it's my understanding that you sign a release should you fall off and/or die. We were with a small group and 2 guys did scramble up the peak (younger & fitter than myself). Later in the day when we were at our hotel (Santuary Lodge, next to ruins), we learned from another hiker that a 60 yr old guy had a heart attack along the path. If you're not used to hiking at elevation (MP is about 8k) then do take it easy.

hamburger

So when you guys say no food in MP, how about power bars, granola bars, that type of thing? I noticed AKR1 said they did bring snacks . . . also, my husband and I are very active hikers/long distance runners. Think we could get away with a supportive pair of running shoes, or, do we really need to pack the hiking boots for the Huayna Picchu climb? we are going there in june when it should be dry . . . thanks

Jeff_Costa_Rica

Something you could fit in your pocket like a granola bar would technically violate the "No food" rule, but no one would likely ever know.

danu_dallas

Hiked HP on day 2 of 3 days in MP. LOVED it but it was scarey. Inca steps are small; early am dew made it a bit slippery but most of the way some form of handrail could be utilized. Exception: the top is like walking on top of a house (I crawled) slight pitch no rails, enter thru a hole (pull yourself up hand over hand using cable while "walking" the footholds). I would not carry anything that would not fit in a pocket. Jacket came off and tied around me, I needed both hands to hold on and crab-walk across the most awesome peak I've ever experienced. My hiking boots are low profile (good for small steps) and grippy. No slick shoes. My water container looks like a small backpack, collapses when empty, protein bar slips into pocket and after all you can eat upon return. I would love to do it again.

JC98

We did Huayna Picchu on our recent trip. Hope this response is not too late.

Although the official rules forbid many things, they're never enforced, as the case with airlines, train, etc. in Peru we found out. Do bring sandwiches, energy bars and water with you. That's what we did and many other people did too. Just carry out all your trash.

JC98

Also try to go early. We got there around 9 a.m. and got back around 11 a.m. (we took our time enjoying the magnificient scenery). And by then they almost ran out of numbers.