Comments on: Peru Day 11 – Machu Picchu, Huayna Picchu, Cusco

By: jennifer

jennifer — Tue, 31 May 2016 19:01:23 +0000

Hi! I stumbled on this post all these years later, googling to see just how scary this hike is. You sound so much like me, I have every intention of scooting down the steps on my butt. I am absolutely petrified of being up top. I saw a video and even typing right now, my face is all squished up and I want to scream. Which leads me to ask: When you get to that cave before the ladder, can you turn around there to go back down? I get that I would be so close to the top, why not just go and be able to say I finished the hike. But I know I will die of fright.

Thank you!

By: josh

josh — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 04:34:45 +0000

YRP,

Definitely worth a try , go for it!

With respect to the camera, I do shoot an SLR and I found it was fine in Peru and on the hike. I kept a zoom lens on the camera (18-200mm) for most of the time and even carried around an extra lens (wide-angle) and it was very manageable. That said, if you have a lot of equipment I would suggest choosing only what you absolutely need for the hike. The other thing I would say is do what you can to keep your camera accessible at all times. You don’t want to be in a position where there’s a great scene of a bird on an Inca stone and you have to fumble through a backpack to get the camera. So a comfortable strap is essential. I have a blackrapid RS-5 (www.blackrapid.com) that might just be the absolute best investment I’ve made camera-wise. It goes over a shoulder, not around your neck, and allows the camera to slide easily up and down so you don’t need to take it off to shoot. When walking, the camera hangs down by your hip so it’s always easy to grab and shoot. It’s also super comfortable and has enough storage for an extra battery and some backup memory cards. I bought this strap before the Peru trip and I have used it on every vacation since (and also around home), it’s great for just walking around. If you are worried about the camera on the hike, I recommend something like this, just make the strap shorter than normal when you’re climbing so it doesn’t swing and hit a rock (also keep a filter and the hood on to protect your lens…). Then you’ll be able to use both hands when climbing and the camera wont be jutting out from the center of your stomach bouncing off stones on the ground.

I hope this was helpful and I really hope you enjoy your trip. You’re really in for an exciting adventure.

By: YRP

YRP — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 01:48:03 +0000

Hi Guys,

Really enjoyed your post. We are going to Peru in a couple of weeks and I too am terrified of heights, and wanted more info on the hike prior to officially committing. Your post really helped me understand it a bit better. You’re totally right, if I hate it I can just turn around- but I think it’s worth a try.

My question for you is in regards to the camera. We have an SLR that we would like to use but I don’t know how practical that would be. Your pictures are really beautiful and I was wondering if you guys used a regular pocket camera or if an SLR is manageable on the hike, or in Peru in general.

Thanks so much!

By: Prana Travelwhimsy

Prana Travelwhimsy — Tue, 01 May 2012 17:50:29 +0000

Hi, Josh and Virginia!
I am so happy I stumbled upon your blog while googling “huayna picchu difficult”. My husband and i are taking my mom along with us on a whirlwind trip to Peru later this year and we are trying to decide whether to climb HP or not. None of us are particularly fond of heights or danger, so that’s the big consideration for us. Your pictures are amazing and your commentary about the hike a delight to read. Thank you for sharing!

By: josh

josh — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 00:47:40 +0000

Cathy,
There were definitely folks in your age range on the trail. It’s not a race so you take it at your own pace. Just be sure to bring lots of water and some snacks if you expect to take several hours.
There are a few sections, especially at the very top, where you need to be on all fours. But there are great views from the plateaus just below that area, so if it didn’t appeal to you, you can skip that section (it’s crowded up there too).
I say give it a try. You can always turn around and head back if you decide half way it’s not for you.

By: Cathy

Cathy — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 19:01:47 +0000

I loved reading this! Can a 66 year old woman who regularly hikes up and down hills (but not tall mountains) do this hike?

By: virginia

virginia — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 01:00:22 +0000

Hi Jean – I think you are talking about two separate parts of the mountain. The large flat slab of stone you saw are at the very top. Basically the top is a bunch of large flat stones stacked together, and that’s where everyone sits and hangs out. I did have to shimmy across a few of them to get to the “exit”. The “exit” leads to the stairs at the side of the mountain, which were after we shimmied down off the flat rocks. There were just too many people coming up the ladder for me to go back down that way, though if you do you can avoid those stairs. The top and those stairs were really the scariest parts of the whole hike for me. The rest of the hike is tiring, but not terrifying. The view is totally worth it though, and the exhilarating feeling that you get knowing what you’ve just accomplished. Good luck, and let us know how it goes!!

By: Jean

Jean — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 02:05:00 +0000

Hi, great post! I stumbled upon your blog as I was looking up “scary parts, Huayna Picchu.” 🙂 I really enjoyed reading your post, although it made my knees weak just from reading it…but it also made me excited to climb the mountain. I’ve been looking through some Huayna Picchu pictures, and I’ve seen a couple that was basically stairs on the side of the mountain, and another one with this large flat, near vertical slab of stone. It looked as if people were shimmying down. Was this the alternate route you had to take because the ladder was unavailable? Thanks in advance!

By: josh

josh — Mon, 25 Apr 2011 16:58:29 +0000

In reply to Mike. Mike, There will be 2 or 3 guys stamping tickets as you get off the bus. There's no booth you need to go to for the stamp, but it is a somewhat organized process. There wont be racing and pushing to get the stamp once you're at Machu Picchu, if you made one of the early buses you'll be all set. Have a great time in Peru! Post a comment to let us know how it goes and if you found any other delicious spots in Cusco (or any other city you visit). In case you're looking for info on other cities, we posted about lots of other places too.

By: Mike

Mike — Mon, 25 Apr 2011 16:44:03 +0000

Hi:

This post is exactly what I’ve been looking for. My second day at Machu Picchu is now completely set. Not too mention that we’ll be using almost every one of your cusco recommendations since the finding the best local food is always are first concern when planning our trips.

We desperately want to get that 7am slot for Huayna Picchu as well. Where was the ticket stamper when you guys went. Is he just inside the main entrance or do we have to run over to the gate at Huayna Picchu as soon as we get in?

Thanks!