Wayna Picchu Hike

We got up early and left Aguas Calientes at 4:30 AM to walk for 25 minutes down to the lower entrance gate to Machu Picchu. After showing our passes and crossing the river we took the hiking trail up to Machu Picchu, 1,800 irregular stone steps about 1,500 ft up hill.

Looking down from Machu Picchu to the valley where are day began.

We enjoyed a two+ hour guided tour of the ruins before it was our time to hike up Wayna Picchu (the large peak seen to the right behind the ruins).












Only 400 people a day are allowed to climb Wayna Picchu, so it's important to purchase the pass ahead of time.

The climb is about 1,180 ft up mostly steep rocky steps. Some sections are very narrow and the drop off is steep!

Here we looked down to the valley where we hike up along the Urubamba River on our way yesterday.

The views from the top were fabulous, the ruins of Machu Picchu far below.

This last picture should be tilted slightly to the right. It was the a short crossing to the down ward trail.