Machu Picchu : Important Rules and Considerations
Personal Data Required for Purchase
Entrance tickets to Machu Picchu are issued based on personal data and are non-transferable or refundable. The following details are needed to buy tickets:
Full name
Gender
Passport number
Nationality
Date of birth
Due to the limited number of visitors, we recommend buying tickets at least 40 days in advance.
There is no sales point at the entrance to Machu Picchu itself!
Price Reduction for Children & Students
Children under 3 years of age do not have to pay admission.
A reduced price applies to children/teenagers up to the age of 17.
Students up to 25 years of age receive a discount on the presentation of a valid student ID from their university (an ISIC student ID is not sufficient).
Visiting rules
At the entrance, every visitor must show their ticket and passport. Students must also present their valid student ID.
Visit duration is generally limited to a maximum of 2,5 hours.
The only exceptions are tickets for the surrounding mountain peaks Wayna Picchu, Machu Picchu Mountain, and Huchuy Picchu, which allow for a longer entry.
The entry ticket entitles you to a single entry. It is not possible to leave and re-enter the citadel with the same ticket (exception: ticket for Machu Picchu Mountain for visiting Route 3).
It is recommended to have a tour guide accompany you on your first visit to Machu Pichu. However, it is not mandatory. For groups of 10 travelers or less, one or more accompanying guide(s) are required. One tour guide must accompany the group for every 10 guests (larger groups are not allowed).
Restrictions
You may not take large bags, groceries, and disposable bottles into the citadel.
You can only carry one small bag with you.
Walking sticks are only allowed for physically challenged and elderly visitors.
Machu Picchu Map & Routes
The routes explained below will change according to the latest resolution by the Ministry of Culture released on December 30th, 2023.
The resolution does not specify concrete dates for the implementation of the new routes. Authorities are aware that visitors may have purchased Machu Picchu tickets prior to the introduction of these routes. In such cases, the authorities will apply the most suitable option, taking into consideration the most similarities between the old and new routes
There are fixed routes through the facility with limited capacities to visit Machu Picchu. Below is an overview of the 4 official routes. There is also a 5th route, but this is only valid in combination with the 2-day Inca Trail, which we have included for your information:
Route 1 (upper short tour, red)
This route leads from the entrance through the upper sector, over agricultural terraces, past the guard's house, through the main entrance to the urban sector, to the sun temple, and from there over the water mirrors in the lower sector back to the exit.
Route 2 (upper long tour, dark blue)
This is the most comprehensive route and is the most complete exploration of the citadel. The route leads from the entrance through the upper sector, over agricultural terraces, past the guard's house, through the main entrance into the urban sector, to the temple of the sun. From there it continues over the temple square and the Intiwatana in the upper sector to the sacred rock in the rearmost part of the citadel, and then through the lower sector past the Condor Temple to the exit.
For travelers with reduced mobility, you can walk along the route to the guard house where you can decide, together with your guide, if you wish to continue along the circuit, go to the lower part of Route 2 or end the visit and go to the exit.
Route 3 (lower short tour, yellow)
This is the shortest of all routes and includes only a small, limited part of the citadel. The route leads over agricultural terraces directly into the lower sector, past the Temple of the Sun, to the house of the Inca, and from there over the water mirrors in the lower sector back to the exit.
This route only requires you to navigate a few stairs and is particularly suitable for people with reduced mobility.
Route 4 (lower long tour, turquoise)
This route also only includes the lower sector, but leads to the rear area of the citadel. The route leads over agricultural terraces directly into the lower sector, past the Temple of the Sun, to the house of the Inca, and on to the sacred rock, and from there to the lower sector past the Condor Temple and back to the exit.
Route 5 (applies to the 2-day Inca Trail)
For those who decide to hike along the 2-day Inca Trail, you will journey along a section of the famous Inca Trail on the first day. However, this hike does not end in Machu Picchu like the classic Inca Trail.
On the 2nd day of this option for the Inca Trail, you will make use of the regular entrance to Machu Picchu. Once you enter, you will conduct your visit along the so-called Route 5 within the citadel. Route 5 is similar to Route 3 described above and leads directly to the lower sector via Agricultural Terraces, past the Sun Temple to the House of the Inca. From there it continues to the Three Gates (No. 9 on the map) and back around to the exit.
With this ticket, you are not tied to a fixed time window and are permitted to enter the citadel anytime between 06:00 and 11:00 hrs.
If you are looking for a more comprehensive visit to the citadel or want to see something specific along routes 1 through 4 above, you will have to purchase an additional entrance ticket to Machu Picchu for that day.
Admission times
Machu Picchu is open to visitors daily from 6:00 to 17:30
Visits are not possible outside of these times.
When purchasing the admission ticket, a fixed time slot of 60 minutes must be selected for admission.
This can no longer be changed after it has been issued.
The last slot starts at 15:00 hrs
With the classic Machu Picchu ticket, you can choose from one of the 4 possible routes on site, explained above.
We usually recommend Route 1 or Route 2 to our customers, as these allow the most extensive visit to the facility. There are 9 entry time slots of 60 minutes each with a limited number of visitors to choose from.
Trains and Shuttle Buses
You can reach Aguas Calientes, the starting point for visiting Machu Picchu, by train from Cusco or Ollantaytambo. Trains operated by PeruRail and IncaRail, which offer different categories and frequencies, run on the route.
Train tickets are issued based on personal data and are only valid for the selected departure. A refund of already issued train tickets is not possible.
Due to limited space onboard the trains, baggage restrictions apply to passengers. You can only bring one piece of hand luggage on the train (one bag per person) with a maximum weight of 5 kg.
Shuttle buses, subject to an additional charge, run between the town of Aguas Calientes and the Machu Picchu citadel. The buses to Machu Picchu run between 5:30 and 15:30, the return trip is possible from 6:00 to 18:00. The journey takes around 30 minutes.
When there are high numbers of visitors, queues for the shuttle buses can form. You should therefore plan a sufficient buffer time. Visitors should take the shuttle bus from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu at least 30 minutes before the booked visit slot.
Surrounding Mountain Peaks
There are also tickets that allow a visit to the surrounding mountain peaks, but in return only include a limited visit via route 3 or route 4 through the citadel. You can find more details here:
Wayna Picchu
Wayna Picchu is one of the mountain peaks that surround Machu Picchu. It is probably the most famous as it towers over Machu Picchu in the background in many photos. The ascent takes place on a narrow and extremely steep path and takes around 45 - 60 minutes, depending on the pace. Once at the summit, a fantastic view of the whole of Machu Picchu and the surrounding mountains awaits.
Since the path is very narrow and exposed in some places, we recommend this hike for experienced and sure-footed hikers. We highly recommend sturdy shoes.
Access is direct via Route 4 to the checkpoint near the Sacred Rock. With the ticket for the Wayna Picchu visitors may not take the long route 2 to the checkpoint. After the descent, follow Route 4 again to the exit.
Due to the duration of the hike, the maximum time limit of 3 hours for visiting Machu Picchu does not apply to this route.
Huchuy Picchu
Huchuy Picchu is something like the little brother of Wayna Picchu. Huchuy Picchu is right next to the checkpoint at the Sacred Rock and can be reached on a hike of around 15 minutes. Compared to the other options, this hike is significantly easier and shorter and therefore also possible for less experienced travelers.
As with Wayna Picchu, access is via Route 4. After the descent, Machu Picchu must also be exited along this route.
Machu Picchu Mountain
Machu Picchu Mountain, which is also the Apu (sacred mountain) for the complex, is located south of the citadel, opposite Wayna Picchu. The hike partly leads through dense vegetation, but always rewards you with great views of Machu Picchu and the surrounding area.
It takes about 90 minutes to get to the top of Machu Picchu Mountain, depending on your pace. The path leads over a lot of stairs. We recommend having a good physical condition and sturdy shoes for this route.
Due to the duration of the hike, the maximum time limit of 3 hours for visiting Machu Picchu does not apply to this route.
Access to Machu Picchu Mountain is directly via the first part of Routes 1/2 to the control point. After the descent, however, it is not possible to continue along these routes and you have to leave Machu Picchu along the same path (as do the guests who reach Machu Picchu on the Inca Trail from the Sun Gate).
Then you can enter the facility again with the Machu Picchu Mountain ticket to complete the short tour along Route 3.
If you can't decide between visiting Machu Picchu Mountain or Wayna Picchu while planning your journey to Machu Picchu, our article has 5 questions that you need to ask yourself to help you make up your mind.
Inca Trail
The Inca Trail entrances have a daily limit of 500 visitors, including 200 tourists and 300 trekking staff.
Reservations should be made well in advance, preferably 3-4 months before the desired trekking date.
The permit allocation follows a first-come, first-served (FIFO) basis, so early booking is essential.
The 4-day/3-night trek is the most popular option and tends to sell out rapidly.
Peak season for the Inca Trail is during the dry season from May to September.
Booking the Inca Trail requires providing comprehensive information, including full names, citizenship, date and place of birth, and passport numbers of all passengers.
The entrance fee is personal and non-transferable to prevent black market activities.
Changes in names or passport numbers are not accepted by the authorities in Cusco.
If a new passport has been obtained, presenting the old passport or a notarized copy is necessary at the trail's access control station.
The Inca Trail is closed for maintenance and during the rainy season in February.
It is recommended to visit the official site for the most up-to-date information regarding availability, ticket types, and any recent changes in the booking process.
Last minute purchase in Aguas Calientes
A daily quota of 1000 last-minute tickets for Aguas Calientes is available for purchase. Sales for these tickets will be exclusively conducted through the online platform at https://tuboleto.cultura.pe.
