Machu Picchu Peru: All you need to Know (Update July 2019)

This is a dynamic post. We'll be constantly updating it. In that way, you'll always have the fresh information about Machu Picchu Peru.

How to get tickets

There are three ways to get tickets to Machu Picchu:

Via Online from whatever you are.
Personally here in Cusco or Aguas Calientes or,
you leave it all to us; we’ll do all the planning and checking for you

Here you can find all the information about it.

Different kind of tickets

The entrance tickets to visit the archeological site can be combined with climbing Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu mountain. Plus the Machu Picchu Museum.

Machu Picchu (only the Citadel)

This entrance ticket allows you to make the tourist visit through one of the three established circuits that start at the entrance control and converge on the Plaza de Los Templos. The circuit Nº 1 is the most complete and ascends to the Casa del Guardián from where you get the classic view of the llaqta. Circuit No. 2 enters through the middle of the llaqta, while circuit No. 3 - which is the shortest - enters the llaqta through the lower part of the monument.

There are two shifts to visit the llaqta de Machupicchu. The entry of the first shift is between 06:00 and 12:00 hours, while that of the second shift is between 12:00 and 16:30 hours. The corresponding shift is printed on the top of the ticket.

To enter the llaqta, the visitor must present their ticket and identity document. The length of stay is a maximum of four hours, and re-entry is not allowed.

These are the prices:

Foreigners

ADULTS PEN152.00
STUDENTS PEN77.00
SCHOOLCHILD PEN70.00

Machu Picchu + Climb Machu Picchu Mountain

This entrance ticket allows you to enter to the alternate route of Mountain Machupicchu.

The first shift (400 visitors) is between 7:00 and 8:00 hours, the second shift (400 visitors) is between 9:00 and 10:00 am.

The route starts at the circuit No. 1 that leads directly to the entrance control of Machupicchu Mountain. The visitor must have their ticket, identity document, and sign down manually in the logbook both on entry and exit.

The trek ascends progressively to the top of the mountain (3061 masl) where you get an impressive view of the valley of Machu Picchu and the Vilcanota River that surrounds it. Depending on the shape of the visitors, the trek last approximately four hours, so together with the visit to Machu Picchu previous 6 hours.

Prices:

Foreigners

ADULTS PEN200.00
STUDENTS PEN125.00
SCHOOLCHILD PEN118.00

Machu Picchu + Climb Huayna Picchu Mountain

This entrance ticket allows you to enter to the alternate route of Mountain Huayna Picchu. The first shift (200 visitors) is between 7:00 and 8:00 hours, the second shift (200 visitors) is between 10:00 and 11:00 am.

The 3rd circuit leads directly to the entrance control to Waynapicchu Mountain. The visitor must have their ticket, identity document, and sign down manually in the logbook both on entry and exit.

The trek ascends progressively to the top of the mountain (2681 masl) from where you get an impressive view of the valley of Machu Picchu and the Vilcanota River that surrounds it. Depending on the shape of the visitors, the trek last approximately four hours, so together with the visit to Machu Picchu the tour last 4 hours.

Prices:

Foreigners

ADULTS PEN200.00
STUDENTS PEN125.00
SCHOOLCHILD PEN118.00

Best Time to Visit Machu Picchu

Let's be honest, any time of the year is the perfect time to visit Machu Picchu because it’s YOU who makes it perfect. But when we say “Best Time” we mean the best weather. It’s not cloudy at all, and you’ll have a better terrain to hike and the perfect picture to take.

The best time is from June to August.

But, you won’t be the only one who knows this secret. So these months are also really crowdy.

To guide or no to guide

According to the Direction of Culture (The institution in charge of Machu Picchu administration), From this year on (2019), it’s mandatory to have a guide to enter Machu Picchu. Well, this is not that true.

Or better say, it depends on your Karma.

Most of our friends said: The guide requirement is not enforced. They visited Machu Picchu, and no one told them about the mandatory guide. No on the official web, no when they bought their tickets and no when they entered the archeological site. The Guides offering their service at the entrance of the citadel from $8, but that’s it, there was nothing enforced.

Ways to get to Machu Picchu

There are several roads to get to the great Inca Citadel Machu Picchu. The most famous is the Inca Trail, but many more can be used to trek there:

Rules 2019

The UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE has two lists the good one where they put the World Heritage Places and the bad one where they put the World Heritage Places in Danger.

Machu Picchu is in the first list since 1983, but it is so close to getting in the second.

To avoid this, our government is making some changes in the way we can visit the Inca citadel. However, today, July 2019; the reality is a bit different. So here we got the new rules and their real implementation.

You must enter with a guide | This means the only way to enter the site is together with an official guide. Right Now it’s not happening. Some friends who have entered by themselves (Remember if you travel with us, you won’t have this problem) told us that the use of a guide is not mandatory. But with think is a matter of karma, so be ready to hire one in case they ask you to.

There is a route you must follow | This means you must keep “with your guide” follow any of the three circuits they have delimited to visit the citadel. It’s not happening. Most of the time you can skip the road; especially when you are by yourself.

You have a scheduled time to visit | Supposedly you only have 4 hours to do the whole tour in the citadel. But What happens if you bought a Huayna mountain + Machu Picchu ticket and you decide to go first for the mountain hike? Well, in fact when you get down, you will be asked to go out the site. Once out, there are signs: NO RE-ENTRY. But don’t worry, you can re-enter because you have the ticket to visit both attractions.

All the situation with the new rules it’s a bit messy. Our general recommendation is to be prepared to be asked to follow the rules; at the end, it’s for the preservation of the ancient site.

Thank you for reading to us!

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