Last minute changes by the National Cultural Institute of Peru (INC) have caused some problems and issues for people entering Machu Picchu and climbing Huayna Picchu Mountain.

Cusco, Peru -- (SBWire) -- 08/08/2011 --Recent, last minute changes to the regulations regarding entry to both the UNESCO listed site of Machu Picchu, and its mountain viewpoint Huayna Picchu, have caused problems and in some cases disappointment for travelers to the Inca citadel in Peru.

The INC has decided to rigidly enforce a limit of 2500 people per day that can visit Machu Picchu, this figure includes people coming off the Inca Trail trek and those that wish to climb Huayna Picchu mountain for a reverse view of the site. Gary Sargent, Managing Director of Escaped to Peru comments "With virtually no notice the INC have changed the regulations putting hundreds of visits at risk where people had not pre-booked their tickets. In high season it will now be virtually impossible to rock up at the gate and get a ticket to visit the site".

He continues "Our clients do not have to worry about entry to Machu Picchu main site itself as we buy our tickets well in advance but the changes by the INC to the Huayna Picchu entry policy mean that it is now very difficult for operators like us to get people that extra ticket as they are so limited. If the INC had given operators at least some notice we could have satisfied everyone with regard to Huayna Picchu, as it is many people across all operators will be disappointed".

Gary goes on to say "Huayna Picchu is a steep 400m vertical ascent with some dangerous parts (a waiver form must be signed before climbing). Two groups of 200 people at a time are allowed to climb each day meaning that the climb is undertaken as a procession. The time brackets to set off are between 7 & 8am and 10 & 11am".

In Gary´s expert opinion whilst Huayna Picchu is a good climb it is by no means the only one or even the best one available at Machu Picchu. Walking back up the Inca Trail to Intipunku, the 'Sun Gate' is an excellent walk with the same climb in altitude but less steep and on a better path. The Sun Gate is the entrance to the site from the Inca Trail and the place where Inca Trail walkers get their first view of Machu Picchu.

Machu Picchu mountain itself is a more challenging climb with a vertical ascent of 600m and has probably the best views of all with much fewer people ascending. Your guide can tell you more about each of these walks and show you the start points. Neither of these alternatives have entrance fees to pay or set times to begin, and with fewer people on the pathways, this often makes them preferential to Huayna Picchu.

So even though the INC have made it difficult for a number of recent visitors as long as you get a ticket to the main site there are plenty of things to see and do which don´t involve paying more and having the extra hassle that Huayna Picchu now presents.