Wiñaywayna is an unforgettable stop on the spectacular 4 day Inca Trail Tour to Machu Picchu. This ruin is located in a magnificent natural environment, its design and construction are also very impressive.
From Wiñaywayna you can see the Urubamba River, which is 900 meters away as the crow flies. This site can be a great adventure for any traveler and one of the dozens of Andean attractions that can be seen from the Inca Trail, which is considered the difficult route to reach the wonder of the world. In addition, to cross it you must reserve a tourist quota months in advance and be physically prepared and properly acclimatized. Learn more about this attraction on the Andean route!
Wiñaywayna Important Data
Climate and altitude:
- Altitude of Wiñaywayna: 2,700 m
- Climate in Wiñaywayna: hot and humid. The rains from December to March.
How to get to Wiñaywayna:
- On foot, 2 walks on the Inca Trail
Location
Wiñaywayna is 2,650 m away. / 8,694 ft. 5 km southeast of the main Llaqta of Machu Picchu.
Wiñay Wayna is located on the Inca trail route, 3.3 km as the crow flies (in a straight line) south-southeast of Machu Picchu, between Puyupatamarca and Intipunku (the 'Puerta del Sol', entrance to Machu Picchu) .
Etymology of Winay Wayna Perú
Wiñaywayna is a Quechua word that means "Eternally Young". The name corresponds to an orchid that abounds in the place.
Ruins of Winay Wayna Perú
Winay Wayna Perú is an archaeological site belonging to the Inca period, built by the Inca Pachacutec, the maximum representative of the Inca Culture, known as the architect of the Inca period.
Its construction is really magnificent! It occupies an entire mountain slope, but in a way that is coupled with nature, respecting ecology as was the norm among the Incas, for mainly religious reasons. It is really a fantastic, spectacular view and a place full of tranquility, fresh air and natural energy. It is located about 2,700 meters above sea level, already in the vicinity of Machu Picchu.
It was mainly a center of agricultural production. In the Andes, there are not too many flat extensions of land, which is why the Incas used the famous platforms, which are staggered cultivation areas on the sides of mountains. This technique is shown at its best in Wiñaywayna. Stone buildings were also made that were administrative offices, lodgings and warehouses to store the abundant crops (coca, potatoes, corn, quinoa, among others).
This architectural complex of Winay Wayna Perú, corresponds to the plan of a small town, are a group of houses grouped together, in a single courtyard, in the manner of the current condominiums. The possible dwelling areas have trapezoidal-style niches and door openings with a single jamb. The buildings are arranged according to the Inca urban pattern of the Kancha type.
The architecture is of the same type as in Machu Picchu. The buildings are built with lithic granite elements. The main cover is double jamb and the others are single jamb. As is characteristic of Inca architecture, the covers, windows and niches are trapezoidal in shape; while the roof structures were supported by steep gables, supported by grids and rings.
The monument is surrounded by platforms of different sizes, which responded to the function, either for agriculture or containment to prevent soil erosion. You can notice the structures, the gables for the thatched roofs that were fastened with rings.
Likewise, they highlight the set of liturgical sources, on a strongly sloped surface, the entire small city is made of granite rock and seen from a high part, clearly, we can notice that it has the same architectural distribution as Machu Picchu.
From this place the Inca Trail, is shown almost horizontal, the path gets smoother, they rise up by long stairs that bring us closer to Inti Punku, the entrance door to Machu Picchu.
Winay Wayna Campsite in the route to Machu Picchu
The third point to camp is in Wiñay Huayna (3680 masl), 10 kilometers from Choquicocha, this camp is the most exciting because we will be only 4 kilometers from Puerta del Sol, this means that we will prepare for an early trek before sunrise and we will observe the sunrise through the Inti Punku. Although it is an exclusive place, it cannot be stated with certainty that we will camp in this place.
Winay Wayna campsite in Machu Picchu, is completely conditioned so that you can spend the night peacefully, it is also quite safe, it has more than 125 square meters of retaining walls.
It is said that youth is not a matter of years, wake up at Wiñaywayna and feel really renewed!
Tour to Winay Wayna and Machu Picchu
First of all, this impressive archaeological complex is part of two excellent packages that we offer, which are the Classic Inca Trail-4 Days and the Short Trail-2 Days. In both you can stop to know this ruin of the imperial era. Of course the tour is also done with detailed explanations from our professional guide.
The Wiñaywayna ruins tour allows you to climb the hill, explore the entire complex, enjoy the warm subtropical climate, be ecstatic with the views of the valley, mountains and the Urubamba river, as well as take extraordinary photos and videos.
How to get to Wiñaywayna?
The third day is reached through the traditional Inca Trail, another way to get there is by doing the short Inca Trail of 2 days, for this it is necessary to do the train route, and then start the ascent at km. 104th Chachabamba tourist checkpoint; This place is very cozy, it has basic services and a large garden where visitors can rest peacefully. The walk from this checkpoint to Wiñaywayna lasts 3 and a half hours.
For both accesses, it is necessary to make a reservation in advance and you must also be physically prepared for the walk; which is considered a difficult route to reach one of the wonders of the world.
Also, you can get to this beautiful archaeological attraction of Cusco, choosing the following routes of the Inca trail: Machu Picchu 3 day hike, 2 day Inca Trail with camping, one day Inca Trail.
Although it is reached in three days following the traditional Inca Trail that begins in the town of Piscacucho, there are other ways of arriving more directly, managing to reduce the journey time by up to two days. Depending on the route you decide to take, you will know the towns of Cusichaca, Huayllambamba, Qoriwayrachina or Chachabamba.
Another easier way to get there is that it is not necessary to do the Inca Trail four or eight days to get to know Wiñaywayna. It is possible to arrive from Machu Picchu Pueblo and following the section of the railway and then start the ascent at km. 104. The walk lasts 3 and a half hours.
The Inca Trail to Winay Wayna and Machu Picchu
It is built on a steep slope from where you can see the Urubamba River, which is 900 m as the crow flies (in a straight line). To go down to the river, you must walk a path 400 m to the northwest, to the "Wiñay Waina camp", where the path joins the Inca trail. From there it descends in a zigzag 2.3 km to the Urubamba River. There is an archaeological site there, from where the Inca trail skirts the river 0.6 km to a river dam. About 0.8 km later, the road forks and begins the 0.9-meter ascent to Inti Punku, and then 1.8 km to the entrance of Machu Picchu.
On foot, between Wiñay Waina and Machu Picchu there are 7 km.
