The Huayna Picchu mountain (with an altitude of 2,667 meters above sea level) is part of the eastern foothills of the Salcantay massif, in Cusco, Peru. It is part of a large orographic formation known as the Vilcabamba Batholith, in the Central Cordillera of the Peruvian Andes and is mainly known for being the backdrop for most panoramic photographs of the Inca archaeological remains of Machu Picchu. However, it also houses important archaeological remains related to the famous Inca complex.

In order to avoid confusion, it must be taken into account that Machu Picchu in Quechua means old mountain, while Huayna Picchu means young mountain, so it is an analogy between the old man and the young man.

Thus, Huayna Picchu is the smallest mountain (in some photos that appear on the Internet this name is erroneously assigned to the highest mountain) and the largest mountain is Machu Picchu, which gives its name to the valley and the citadel. .

The Huayna mountain has a very steep and narrow path, which includes several sections with steps, stairways carved into the living rock and cables.

The ascent varies between 45 to 60 minutes, depending on the physical condition of each person, it has a height of 2,700 meters and the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu is at a height of 2,400 meters, so you climb 300 meters.

For its part, in the mountain of Machu Picchu the path is less steep and has stairs, so it is less dangerous, but this mountain is higher than Huayna Picchu with a height of 3,200 meters, with its peak at 800 meters over the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu.