In November 2020, the Peru government reopened the ancient Inca citadel for local tourism. This was welcome progress for plucky travelers willing to jump through the necessary hoops to see one of the New 7 Wonders of the World, without crowds. (Follow this link to see our page that explains the Peru arrival protocols) In December and over the New Year holidays, borders were open to foreigners, and I was able to hike the 1-day Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. We saw freshly groomed trails and new footbridges. As of March 2021, Machu Picchu and the 1-day Inca Trail have been open every day. (except for a few Sundays like Mother's Day and Father's Day)

We're happy to report that the permits for the 4 and 5-day Inca Trail were released on June 25, 2021 and the first 4-day Inca Trail hike will begin on July 15. 

Here's what you need to know about the Machu Picchu entry tickets in 2021:

• Machu Picchu entry tickets for 2021 are now available online for entry through December 31, 2021
• Machu Picchu tickets must be reserved online in advance or purchased in person at the office in Cusco or the village of Aguas Calientes.
• Anyone can buy Machu Picchu entry tickets online at the official government website. (Here's a link to the official Machu Picchu website)
• there are 3 categories of tickets: General for foreigners, CAN for Peruvians and citizens of other South American countries, and Cusquenos (Free entry every Sunday)
• CAN travelers can use their state ID, and foreigners must use their passports to buy tickets that cannot be transferred. You must show the same passport / ID with your ticket when you enter the citadel. 
• Tickets are available for entry by the hour from 6AM to 2PM. Our tour guides report that they are not adhering to strict entry time. If your ticket is for entry from 6am to 7am, you can probably enter at 7:30am. But it's best to choose the entry time based on your itinerary. Just to be clear. If you  arrive early, you cannot enter Machu Picchu even 1 minute before the time stamped on your entry ticket.
• tickets are only available for Machu Picchu main city. There is no availability to explore Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu mountain. 
• it appears that eventually they to will restrict access to the Sungate and Inca Bridge by requiring tickets. At this time, they're not available. (People who hike the easy 1-day Inca Trail will hike through the Sungate)
• Train service is subject to change from time to time. Make sure trains are available for the dates and times you need. We generally choose the train that has the best departure time rather choosing by class of service. (Unless it's the Hiram Bingham Luxury service). People think that Vistadome is better than Expedition, but they're about the same. The snacks are the main diffference. Here's a link to a virtual tour of each class for comparison.
• Machu Picchu visitor capacity has been increased from 30% to 40% beginning in December.
• you can only reserve 5 tickets at a time
• it's advised to confirm your train availability before you buy your Machu Picchu entry ticket
• Here's details about how to get a covid test for all US-Bound travelers

Here's what you need to know about Inca Traill Hiking permits in 2021:

• permits for the 1-day, 4-day and 5-day Inca Trail hikes are available at 50% reduced capacity thorugh December 31, 2021
• Permits are sold on first come basis.
• The Classic 4-day Inca Trail hike reopens on July 15, 2021.
• Inca Trail Hike permits can be obtained through a licensed tour operator.
• when we buy your permits for the 1-day Inca Trail hike we will confirm train tickets are available since that is the only way to get to KM 104, which is the beginning of the hike.
• Inca Trail hike groups are limited to 7 people for 1 guide. (for larger groups, we will provide another guide)
• Permits are non-refundable, cannot be transferred, and dates cannot be changed.
• Permits for hikes in 2022 are still in the dream stage. No one knows when they will be released. We're taking reservations now. We recommend that you select 1st choice and 2nd choice dates.

Contact:

Adios Adventure Travel US office - 757 - 714-6649 / info @ adiosadventuretravel.com

I try to stay up to date on reopening and other news related to traveling again in South America. Check back or follow our facebook link.