Changes to the Machu Picchu entry began to be implemented on June 2024.
Visiting Machu Picchu is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, the fulfillment of a childhood dream for many! But these days, it’s highly regulated by the government, with a lot of rules about when and how you can tour the ruins. (For more details on planning your trip to Machu Picchu, check out our complete Machu Picchu travel guide).
If you want to experience the greatness of the famous Inca citadel, you have to choose one of the four types of entrance tickets that are available:
- Machu Picchu Ruins only: Tour the ruins for a maximum of 2 hours and 30 minutes.
- Machu Picchu Ruins + Huayna Picchu Mountain: Climb Huayna Picchu and tour the ruins, in a maximum of 3 hours.
- Upper Terrace + Machu Picchu Mountain: Hike Machu Picchu Mountain and tour the Upper Terraces (no access to the ruins). Maximum of 4 hours.
- Machu Picchu Ruins + Huchuy Picchu Mountain: Hike the Huchuy Picchu Trail and tour the ruins in a maximum of 3 hours and 30 minutes at the site.
Note: Some routes have had temporary closures. Check the official website or contact us for the latest updates.
Machu Picchu Tickets & Routes
Every Machu Picchu entrance ticket is tied to a specific circuit, which you must follow as it appears on your ticket. These defined paths take you through different sectors of the site, stopping at various attractions, so it’s important to choose the circuit that best suits your interests. All routes start at the entrance and end at the exit, and once you reach the end, you must exit the site. Unless you have an additional ticket, you cannot re-enter once you exit.
If you want to know more about the different sub-routes and tickets you can buy and the inclusions of each route, then read our guide about all the Machu Picchu updates here.
When is the best time of the day to visit Machu Picchu?
Plenty of glossy brochures talk about ‘being at Machu Picchu at sunrise.’ In our experience it’s over rated as the site seems shrouded in mist in the very early morning and the sunrise comes up over one of the neighbouring mountains. Not with-standing the point above about Sunrise (change your expectations and you will be fine!), by going early in the past you were be rewarded by less people and some stunning clouds over the site. The site opens at 6am, and by 9am there are a lot of crowds. BUT generally our favourite time for people free photography has been about 4pm when most people have gone home and the site is blessed with a gentle light… the afternoon has traditionally seen much less visitation (35% vs 65%in the morning) and so if that trend continues some people may opt for this option.
In short, we think that there will be pros/ and cons to the new system as it begins to roll out.
And – ultimately – we support these new regulations which will better regulate the flow of people and help contribute to the site’s longevity.
Keep reading:
Hikes at Machu Picchu
Guide to Traveling to Machu Picchu
Things to Do at Machu Picchu
DISCLAIMER: For 2 months we have been attempting to collate an accurate and helpful memo regarding the changes. Each day, the governing bodies of Machu Picchu make small adaptations to the information – presumably as more cases and scenarios get asked- and we are left unsure of what the day by day entries will look like. This information may change tomorrow; with that in mind, please understand that we are doing our utmost to get the best experience for you.
