The Peru Guides

Waynapicchu Mountain Closed Throughout June for Maintenance

· 2 min read Travel News
Huayna Picchu mountain above Machu Picchu Peru

Contents

  1. What remains open
  2. Booking tickets in June

Waynapicchu Mountain — also written Huayna Picchu — is closed to all visitors from 1 to 30 June 2026. The closure covers all three trails on Circuit 3, and is in place to allow conservation and maintenance work on the trails and the Inca archaeological structures on the mountain. This affects the most sought-after add-on hike at Machu Picchu and means the steep, dramatic ascent to the peak behind the citadel will not be possible this month.

Two additional closures apply from 19 June: access to the Great Cavern is suspended from 19 to 30 June, and Huchuypicchu admission is also closed 19–30 June. From 19 June onward, Machu Picchu also enters its high season, when the daily visitor cap rises to 5,600 per day.

What remains open

Machu Picchu itself remains fully open throughout June. The main site circuits — including the Classic Circuit and the panoramic viewpoints — are unaffected by the Waynapicchu closure. Machu Picchu Mountain, the larger peak on the opposite side of the site from Waynapicchu, is open year-round and provides a comparable high viewpoint over the citadel. The Machu Picchu Mountain trail is less crowded than Waynapicchu in normal months, making June an unusually good time to attempt it without the usual competition for limited tickets.

The Sun Gate (Intipunku), which marks the end of the Classic Inca Trail, also remains accessible and is particularly rewarding in June when dry season skies keep views clear.

Booking tickets in June

All Machu Picchu tickets must be purchased in advance through Peru’s official ticket platform. With Waynapicchu tickets cancelled for June, overall slot availability at the main site is slightly reduced. We recommend purchasing as early as possible — especially for any dates around Inti Raymi on 24 June, when demand in Cusco and the wider Sacred Valley is at its highest.

For those planning onward travel to the site from Cusco, our Cusco to Machu Picchu guide covers train schedules, the bus from Aguas Calientes, and recommended departure windows to reach the site before crowds peak mid-morning.