Tips About New Machu Picchu Limited Time Shifts

Machu Picchu

The Ministry of Culture has decreed that as of July 1st, 2017, the entry to the Machu Picchu citadel will now be split into two separate time shifts:

Morning Shift: 06:00-12:00

Afternoon Shift: 12:00-17:30

It has been agreed that the time spent in the citadel of Machu Picchu will be held to a maximum of 4 hours from the hour of entry. Huayna Picchu and Machu Picchu Mountain will remain the same as they are; they have not been modified.

The implementation of this new regulation will go through a 4-month transition period, during which authorities will act accordingly with discretionary flexibility until gradually enforcing the totality of the new ruling.

Today 70% of daily visitors stay between 06:00 to 10:00, while only 11% visit during 12:00 to 16:30. The adjustments will ensure a better flow and experience for tourist visits and ultimately greater conservation of the Incan ruins.

The new tickets sales commenced on May 29, 2017.

AWR Notes on this new decree:

• For group guided tours, they will now all have to be during the morning
• Guided visits in the afternoon must be done on a private basis
• If guests want to stay for part of the afternoon, they need to buy another entrance ticket.  However, it IS permitted to do a guided tour in the morning and then climb Huayna Picchu or hike to IntiPunku, and run over the “noon deadline” for the time being.
• We are highly encouraging our travelers to extend their Machu Picchu visit to two days now so that they have one day to get there and have the second day with a full morning at Machu Picchu
• Should passengers want to do a 1-day visit of Machu Picchu from Cusco, they will have to depart Cusco between 6:30AM-7:30AM (depending on the train line they prefer) to arrive in time for the noon afternoon shift start
• Passengers wishing to visit Machu Picchu in the morning MUST spend the night in Aguas Calientes the night before
• Inca Trail Trek schedules are not affected

Want to plan your next adventure to Machu Picchu? Contact us!

Your friendly Peru experts,

Gretchen and Barb