How to Book Your Trip to Machu Picchu: Last Minute

Traveling last minute? It can be done. We do it all the time. Organizing last minute vacations to Machu Picchu any time of the year can be an adrenalin-pumping ride as you scale the ups and downs in search of hotels, train schedules and precision coordinating that would make a military general proud. The first step is to get to Cusco, Peru, which usually takes at least 2 travel days. Once you've made it, the 5-6 hour journey to Machu Picchu begins with a 4 hour trip by train (or 2 hrs train + 2 hrs by car) to the gateway village of Aguas Calientes, and then a 30 minute shuttle bus ride to the main entry. Each stage of the journey must be synchronized with the others, and appropriate tickets must be purchased.

What is the single most essential detail that determines if you can set up a last minute trip to Machu Picchu?

Here it is. The expiration date of your passport. In order to travel abroad your passport needs to be valid for at least 6 months after your travel dates. Although the expiration date for US passports is 10 years, our passports are only valid for internatoinal travel for 9 years, 6 months. I've had reports from travelers who didn't realize this and were sent home the day after they arrived in Lima, Peru.

Next on the list of importance is to confirm that Machu Picchu entry tickets are available. If not, well then, the only option left is to reschedule your dates when tickets are available. Or. Travel to the village of Aguas Calientes and stand in line with hundreds of people trying to snag a ticket in person. Be aware that there is a limit of 1000 tickets sold per day and out of that 1000, only 600 offer entry to the actual ancient Inca city on circuits 2 or 3. The other 400 tickets are for the upper terraces circuit 1, which has a couple of hikes along with the view of Machu Picchu. Then you're done. You don't get up close to the actual Inca city on circuit 1. You get to enjoy the panoramic view. So. This is why you need to check your passport. No one can buy a ticket to Machu Picchu without a passport that is valid for at least 6 months after your travel dates.

Before you book that fantastic deal you found on flights to Peru, make sure that Machu Picchu entry tickets are available. Latam Airlines often has bargain rates for flights. That's the first clue you need to check to see if Machu Picchu tickets are available. Follow me? Once you have the Machu Picchu entry tickets and the international flights, we're confident we can put together a trip for you, worthy of the effort it takes.

What do you need to know about booking your entry tickets to Machu Picchu with the new circuits starting June 1 CLICK HERE

Here's what you need to know about booking last minute trips to Machu Picchu:

Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months after your arrival date. Passports are the only documentation required for buying train tickets and entry to Machu Picchu. For citizens from most western countries, no visas or special vaccinations are needed.
Tickets for entry to Machu Picchu need to be available on your travel dates. All the previous loopholes for getting tickets have been shutdown since June 2025, Except for buying in person in the village of Aguas Calientes. 1000 tickets per day available. It's not ideal.
Be flexible with your budget for trips booked 30 days or less from the day of arrival in Peru. This gives us the option to mix and match hotels and train schedules with variations in cost.
A booking is considered "valid" once we have 3 things: photo copy of valid passport for each person in the group, full payment, and confirmed dates and itinerary.
Here's why it can cost more to travel to Machu Picchu last minute. Train tickets, entry tickets and hotels have various rates. Usually the cheapest rates sell out first.
Trips booked less than 45 days from arrival must be paid in full and have a no cancellation policy. Here's a link to our cancellation information.
We make conservative choices with transportation reservations based on our knowledge of local traffic conditions. This is to avoid problems that affect logistics and to minimize risk of missed connections.
You are welcome to make some of your own reservations and we will try to synchronize with them.
We cannot guarantee certain hotels or trains. This is why your budget needs to have some flexibility to allow us to mix and match your reservations for trains and hotels that have variations in cost. Don't worry about the luggage. We will assist with luggage transfers. Keep in mind that hotel upgrades cost more and it may be necessary to book an upgraded hotel if standard hotels are not available. Unless you're traveling last minute during a holiday or popular festival, we can usually always find affordable hotels.
Good news. We realize you're in a position where you have to put your trust in us. We don't take this responsibility lightly. We're experts. We know what we're doing and we have streamlined the process as much as possible. We're not magicians, but you can count on us to do our best! It's in our best interest to help you have the trip-of-a-lifetime to your dream destination!