The Huayna Picchu mountain, or Wayna Pikchu in Quechua, is part of the eastern spurs of the Salkantay massif, in Cusco, Peru.
It is part of a great orographic formation known as the Vilcabamba Batholith, in the central mountain range of the Peruvian Andes.
In order to avoid confusion, it should 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.
One of the trails goes towards the back of the mountain and leads to one of the most remarkable complexes of underground constructions in the region, comprising several caves, some of which have been lined with blocks of fine stonework that have been carved to fit accurately with the irregular contours of the great rocky outcrops that serve as their roof.
The walls, clearly ornamental in nature, include false doorways and trapezoid double and triple jamb niches; although its specific function is unknown, it is clear that it is a set of elite constructions due to the effort it took to make them. It is believed that it may have had funerary uses and that all the tombs were looted at some point in the history of the region.
Getting there takes about an hour and a half by walking from the city, and from there starts another trail downhill towards the Urubamba River.
