Peru government launched new website for booking Machu Picchu entry tickets in 2019. They eliminated the half-day morning and afternoon ticket option and replaced it with tickets for entry on the hour. 

Get ready. All of this info could change in 2020. Click here to see the latest info about changes to Machu Picchu entry tickets next year.

Vidal tells me that the general idea for the new hourly entry times is to distribute visitors to avoid congestion mainly in the early morning. There's no intention to rigidly adhere to entering at the exact time of your ticket. You can enter for some time after the hour stamped on your ticket. But you cannot enter even 1 minute earlier than the time on your ticket. How late you can enter after the time of your ticket is up for discussion. I've seen other operators say that there is early morning wave from 6-9AM, then late morning wave from 9AM-12N and afternoon wave from 12N-3PM. But our guides have not heard of this nor have they seen it happen. Note that morning tickets will not carry over to afternoon in case you're wondering. They seem to be trying to figure out how the new system is going to affect flow of traffic, so it's wise to plan to enter Machu Picchu as close to the time stamped on your entry ticket as possible, as long as it's not before that time.

Some websites are saying that the tickets are only good for one hour inside the ruins. That is simply not true. The hourly entry affects the time you enter, not how long you stay. A guided tour with "pickup" guide at the entry should be about 2 hours. Once you exit, you cannot re-enter. Adios guided tours are 3-4H. Follow this link to see more about hiring guide service at Machu Picchu.

Things that changed:

  • Machu Picchu tickets - official government website has brand new layout
  • Entry tickets are purchased for the hour you want to enter. You cannot enter even 1 minute before the time on your ticket.  But you can enter after the hour on your morning ticket. How late we don't know. Vidal has discussed this with several ticket agents and rangers and is confident that all morning tickets are valid for 1 entry up to 12N.
  • Visitors with early entry tickets will have precedence for boarding buses in Aguas Calientes. If you attempt to board the bus more than 1H before your entry time, you may be asked to wait. And if someone with an earlier entry ticket shows up they may get priority to board the bus over you. 
  • There were 3 circuits to choose from but the middle circuit was not used much, so it's been eliminated. There are currently 2 circuits. The easy lower circuit is through the bottom portion of the ruins, and the more challenging circuit goes up to the guardshack and takes you through the Machu Picchu City Gate to enter the citadel.
  • The website shows the number of tickets available for each hour. Choose the hour you want to enter if you see tickets available. Begins with 6AM. Ends with 14:00PM
  • The total number of visitor tickets available per day is 5600 broken down as follows:
    6AM=800, 7AM=800, 8AM=800, 9AM=560, 10AM=600, 11AM=600, 12N=360, 1PM=540, 2PM=540 (does not include any hikes)
  • The 2nd Huayna Picchu hike start time changed to 10:30AM then back to 10AM (Apparently they were just kidding)
  • If you bought your HP ticket in early January 2019 and it says entry at 10:30AM, be aware that it is now changed to 10AM
  • Student rate applies to foreign undergrad students up to age 25 with official photo student ID card (ISIC)
  • Student rate applies to Peruvian undergrad students with SENEDU or MINEDU card 
  • Student tickets can be obtained in person 3 ways: through an agency/operator, by asking your local hotel or in person in Cusco offices
  • Visitors in poor health or advanced stages of pregnancy may be denied entry

New Entry times at the main gate for Machu Picchu Hikes:

Machu Picchu Montana Hike - 

  • 100 people can enter main entry at 6AM and 100 people can enter at 7AM, both for the 7AM Hike
  • 200 people can enter main entry at 8AM for the 9AM hike

Huayna Picchu Hike - 

  • 100 people can enter main entry at 6AM and 100 people can enter at 7AM, both for the 7AM Hike
  • 200 people can enter main entry at 8AM for the 10:00AM hike (changed back to 10AM in late January)

Things that didn't change:

  • Cost is the same. Adults are 152 soles for Machu Picchu, and 200 soles for Machu Picchu with hike to Montana or Huayna Picchu
  • No senior discount offered
  • Machu Picchu National Park Hours of operation are the same.  Open at 06:00am / Closes at 17:30pm. Every day of the year
  • Inca Trail hikers who return to Machu Picchu the day after their hike can enter anytime in the morning.
  • After entry visitors can choose from 2 circuits** and you can take as much time as needed to complete the circuit. Most tours are 1-2 hours. (Adios tours can be 3-4H for our groups and for our a la carte 1 day guide service)
  • Once you exit the ruins you cannot re-enter. (not even to powder your nose. Here's a link to read up about the restroom situation)
  • Montana & Huayna Picchu hikers should tour the citadel first, then re-enter for the hike as scheduled on your tickets.
  • Students under the age of 17 can qualify for school student discount which is less than the discounted rate for college students
  • 2 ticket offices are open in Cusco and 1 office is open in Aguas Calientes. No tickets can be purchased at the entry to Machu Picchu
  • Availabiity for both 4 day and 2 day Inca Trail hikes are posted on the official government website. Search under the tab QUERIES, drop down to AVAILABILITY

Things we don't know: 

  • No mention of additional buses being provided to alleviate congestion at the bus stops. We hope that with crowds distributed throughout the morning, this will alleviate the crush to board the early buses to arrive at the main entry by 6am.  There is no advantage to rushing to the main entry to enter first.
  • Visitors with tickets to hike Montana or Huayna Picchu are expected to tour the ruins before the hike. But for hikes that start at 7AM with 7AM main gate entry, there is not enough time to see the citadel before the hike. Vidal tells me that the rangers say that people with THAT 7AM ticket will have to decide if they want to choose the hike or the visit of the ancient city. We're still figuring out what the limits are. 
  • They have never tried to limit the amount of time you can spend once you are inside the ruins. We don't see any indications that they will limit your time inside. The only restrooms are located by the main entry. Most people end up leaving because they've finished their circuit.

We'll keep you updated as new information becomes available.  

What else is new at Machu Picchu? Link to Machu Picchu News