Machu Picchu availability: how often do tickets sell out?
Many of us, including tour operators, guides, hotel owners and government officials, speculate about the number of visitors to Machu Picchu. It seems like the number of visitors increased this year. Or is it just our imagination? One way to satisfy curiosity is to analyze the actual numbers. What months sell out? Do the same months sell out every year? Is there an increase in the actual number of visitors per year? When do most visitors travel? Are there any slow months?
To analyze the ticket sales trends at Machu Picchu, we went to the official government website and downloaded three years of monthly ticket sales data beginning January 2014 through August 2016. The chart below compares the number of tickets sold per month for the years 2014, 2015 and through August of 2016.
In December 2018, the Peruvian government launched a new website for booking Machu Picchu tickets. Entry tickets in 2019 will be sold based on the hour of entry. Beginning at 6am and each hour up to 14:00. The hours of operation remain the same from 6am-5:30pm daily year-round. Follow this link to see more details about the new website and ticket availability in 2019
Tickets for morning and afternoon shifts are no longer being sold in 2019.
Changes to Ticket availabilty per day:
2016 - 2500 tickets
2017 - 6400 tickets
2019 - 5600 tickets
The baseline of the chart represents 0 availability. Meaning 100% of available tickets were sold that month.
It is quite clear that there has been a noticeable increase in ticket sales every month in 2016, over 2014 and 2015.
What does this mean for people planning to travel to Machu Picchu?
- book entry tickets in advance. Don't wait until you arrive in Peru
- choose the day of the week that works best for you. All days of the week are subject to sell out. It won't matter.
- plan 2 days and 1 night in Aguas Calientes and buy entry tickets for 2 days if you want to spend more time in the ruins.
- avoid the ruins in the early morning and plan to visit in the afternoon when crowds are thinner.
- consider splurging for a private guide to accompany you inside the national park. They have tested strategies to improve the overall visitor experience.
- active travelers of all ages might enjoy hiking the easy 1-day Inca Trail which includes 1 night hotel in Aguas Calientes and re-entry to Machu Picchu on the 2nd day of the 2-day trip.
Trips that fit this topic
- Short 2-Day Inca Trail Hike
Experience the magic of the Inca Trail in just one day. Hike the final scenic section from Km 104 to Machu Picchu via the Sun Gate on a 2-day package trip. Or insert this unforgettable mini-adventure into your longer family vacation to Peru.
- Cusco and Machu Picchu by Train
Choose 5 or 7 days. Guided tours begin in the exotic city of Cusco, followed by the treasures of Peru’s Sacred Valley, ending with a grand guided tour of Machu Picchu. 1-Day Inca Trail Hike can be included if requested in advance.
Want Adios to handle tickets, trains, and a guide?
We book Machu Picchu tickets and trains for your dates so you are not piecing it together. Buying last-minute tickets in the village is unpredictable. Pick the button that matches your group size.