Peru · Americas
Machu Picchu
Machu Picchu is a 15th-century Inca citadel in the Cusco region of Peru, set on a ridge above the Urubamba Valley at about 2,430 metres elevation. It is Peru's biggest tourist attraction, drawing more than 1.5 million visitors in 2024, and is part of a UNESCO mixed cultural and natural World Heritage site. Access is now controlled by timed circuits, daily caps, and ticket sales through the Ministry of Culture's tuboleto.cultura.pe platform, and the site has faced repeated protests, transport blockades, and warnings from the New7Wonders Foundation over its management.
Saturation snapshot
Last updated: 2026-05-07
Movement through central areas is slow — expect to dodge and wait. Lines at major sights routinely exceed 1–2 hours without pre-booking. Iconic views are difficult to photograph without crowds in frame. Local residents have publicly raised concerns about visitor volume.
Restrictions, taxes & fees
| Fee | Amount | When | Source | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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Llaqta de Machupicchu Entry Ticket Recently changed
Standard entry ticket to the Llaqta de Machupicchu archaeological site for foreign adults. Covers one of the timed circuits (Circuit 1, 2, or 3) set by the Ministry of Culture. Children, students, and Peruvian nationals pay reduced rates.
How: Online at tuboleto.cultura.pe (official Ministry of Culture platform), or in person at authorized sales points in Cusco and Aguas Calientes
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152.00 PEN | Year-round, time-slotted entry; visitors must follow the circuit printed on their ticket and cannot move freely through the site | Plataforma del Estado Peruano - Ministerio de Cultura (official, Spanish) |
2026-05-05
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Huayna Picchu Mountain Add-on Recently changed
Premium ticket combining Llaqta de Machupicchu entry with the steep Huayna Picchu mountain hike. Daily quota is strictly limited, and the hike is sold as part of Circuit 3 / Route 3-A in 2026.
How: Online at tuboleto.cultura.pe; must be booked well in advance due to limited daily quota
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200.00 PEN | Year-round; only ~400 hikers per day across two morning entry windows | Machupicchu.gob.pe (official) |
2026-05-05
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Machu Picchu Mountain Add-on Recently changed
Premium ticket combining Llaqta de Machupicchu entry with the longer Machu Picchu Mountain hike (Route 1-A). Higher-altitude alternative to Huayna Picchu, also subject to a daily quota.
How: Online at tuboleto.cultura.pe; must be booked in advance
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200.00 PEN | Year-round; daily quota with two morning entry windows | Machupicchu.gob.pe (official) |
2026-05-05
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Inca Trail Permit (Daily Cap) Recently changed
The Ministry of Culture caps the Camino Inca / Inca Trail at 500 permits per day, covering trekkers plus all guides, cooks, and porters - which leaves roughly 200-300 trekker spots daily. Permits are sold only through licensed tour operators, never to independent hikers, and are bundled into trek packages that typically run several hundred to several thousand USD. From 2026 the Llaqta entry on the final day is no longer included and must be purchased separately as a Camino Inca / Circuit 3-B ticket at S/152.
How: Through a licensed tour operator only; permit fee is bundled into the operator's package price
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— | Year-round except February, when the trail closes for maintenance | Plataforma del Estado Peruano - Ministerio de Cultura (official, Spanish) |
2026-05-05
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Daily Visitor Cap Recently changed
Hard daily cap on the number of visitors allowed into Llaqta de Machupicchu. Standard daily limit is 4,500 visitors, raised to 5,600 on peak-demand dates including January 1, April 2-5, June 19 to November 2, and December 30-31. Tickets sell out for popular dates, especially during the dry season.
How: No fee; cap enforced by ticket availability on tuboleto.cultura.pe
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— | Year-round; 5,600 cap on official peak dates, 4,500 cap on all other dates | CNN |
2026-05-05
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