Machu Picchu: astonishing Huayna Picchu Mountain reopens to tourists

Huayna Picchu is the highest mountain at the back of the Machu Picchu Inca citadel. ANDINA/Difusión

11:47 | Lima, Apr. 29.

The renowned Huayna Picchu mountain which is part of the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu, once again welcomed tourists starting last Monday, after the restoration work on the path known as Route 3-A, indicated the Cusco Culture Directorate.

The astonishing high mountain which stands behind Machu Picchu, is located in the province of Urubamba, Cusco region.

On the first day of the reopening of this route on April 28, a group of 308 national and foreign tourists entered and walked the steep mountain.

The maintenance and rehabilitation work is already finished after a section of this path was hit by landslide due to heavy rains.

The entrance was in two shifts, the first at 7:00 a.m. and the second at 9:00 a.m. A total of 279 foreign tourists and 29 national visitors climbed the Huayna Picchu Mountain, with all safety measures.

Huayna Picchu (also known as Waynapicchu or “young mountain” in Quechua) is one of the main mountains located around Machu Picchu and appears in the background of the Inca citadel, providing the unique backdrop for the postcard photo every tourist long to have.

Huayna Picchu: A tendy destination

In recent years, the route to Huayna Picchu Mountain has been attracting an increasing number of visitors. From its top, the visitor can enjoy an impressive panoramic view of the Machu Picchu citadel.

This path is considered one of the most complicated, risky, and probably the most difficult to undertake, as it requires considerable physical strength, determination, and willpower to reach the summit.

The journey takes approximately one hour. The trail begins at the Sacred Rock among dense vegetation, then through a steep and narrow path, and granite stairs with uneven steps, so one must be very careful. The hike is one of the most incredible path in the world, according to foreign visitors.

Historians point out that Huayna Picchu, located at 2,700 meters above sea level, was the watchtower of the Machu Picchu citadel since this archaeological complex was threatened by other surrounding cultures because of its lands. With the construction of this site, the Incas remained alert to any eventuality or attack.

Route rehabilitation

Nino del Solar, head of the Machu Picchu Archaeological Park, explained that in order to rehabilitate the path, a technical proposal was evaluated and implemented, which involved rock cutting, the consolidation of a retaining wall, and the installation of steel cable handrails to ensure the safety of visitors.

“Structural stabilization work was also carried out on a pre-Hispanic wall that exists in the area affected by the landslide, in order to ensure its preservation,” he mentioned.

Finally, the official said that the entry of visitors took place normally during the various shifts.

“The surveillance and maintenance staff working on the Huayna Picchu Mountain provides guidance to visitors to help ensure their safety,” he explained.

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