Machu Picchu Entry Ticket Rules: Capacity and Time Limits
A Machu Picchu entry ticket is sold only by Peru's Ministry of Culture, through its official platform (plus a limited daily number in person in Machupicchu Pueblo), for one date, one entry time, one circuit and one route, in the visitor's name, and it is issued only once payment is confirmed. The citadel admits up to 5,600 visitors a day in high season and 4,500 in low season, and a standard visit lasts at most 2 hours 30 minutes from entry.
Each rule below names the official text it comes from, linked, with the date we last read it.
Rule by rule
| Rule | What it says | Official source | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|
| How many people can enter each day | The citadel admits up to 5,600 visitors a day in high season and 4,500 in low season. | Ministry of Culture notice, Sep 22, 2026, Ministerio de Cultura del Peru | |
| Daily capacity in 2027 | For 2027, Ministerial Resolution 408-2026-MC keeps the citadel at up to 5,600 visitors a day on 147 high-season dates (January 1 to 3, March 25 to 28, June 19 to November 2, and December 29 to 31) and 4,500 a day on every other date. | RM 408-2026-MC, Ministerio de Cultura del Peru | |
| Where and how tickets are sold | Entry tickets are sold only by Peru's Ministry of Culture. Online sale runs through the Ministry's official ticket site by direct sale: a ticket is issued in the visitor's name only once payment is confirmed, within a 15-minute purchase window, and an unpaid place goes back on sale. Direct sale began on September 22, 2026, and on October 14, 2026 the Minister of Culture said tickets will be sold this way from now on, with confirmed payment and no reservations. | Ministry of Culture notice, Sep 22, 2026, Ministerio de Cultura del Peru El Peruano, Oct 14, 2026, El Peruano (Editora Peru) | |
| Buying in person in Machupicchu Pueblo | A limited number of entry tickets is also sold in person at the Centro Cultural in Machupicchu Pueblo (Aguas Calientes), up to 1,000 a day. They can sell out: in-person tickets for October 14, 15 and 16, 2026 were gone in advance, and the Cusco office of the Ministry of Culture said the number could not be increased. | Andina, Oct 15, 2026 (DDC Cusco), Agencia Andina (Editora Peru), reporting the Direccion Desconcentrada de Cultura de Cusco | |
| What a ticket covers | The citadel is visited on 3 circuits holding 10 routes, and every ticket is sold for one circuit, one route, one date and one entry time. | RM 528-2023-MC, Ministerio de Cultura del Peru RM 284-2025-MC, Ministerio de Cultura del Peru (El Peruano) | |
| Entry times and how long you can stay | A citadel visit lasts at most 2 hours 30 minutes from entry, with entries between 6:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. | RM 528-2023-MC, Ministerio de Cultura del Peru | |
| The mountain climbs | The two mountain routes allow longer: Huayna Picchu (route 3-A) up to 5 hours 30 minutes in total and Machu Picchu Mountain (route 1-A) up to 6 hours 30 minutes, each with the citadel included, on two morning entry windows. | RM 528-2023-MC, Ministerio de Cultura del Peru | |
| The mountain climbs from January 1, 2027 | From January 1, 2027, Ministerial Resolution 407-2026-MC sets entry to Machu Picchu Mountain (route 1-A), Huayna Picchu (route 3-A) and the Great Cavern (route 3-C) until 10:00 a.m., and visitors start back from the summits and the Great Cavern by 12:00 noon; climbers sign in at the control point from 7:00 to 8:00 a.m. or from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m. The total time allowed stays at 6 hours 30 minutes for Machu Picchu Mountain and 5 hours 30 minutes for Huayna Picchu, citadel included. Visits dated through December 31, 2026 keep the earlier timetable. | RM 407-2026-MC, Ministerio de Cultura del Peru RM 408-2026-MC, Ministerio de Cultura del Peru | |
| Routes that run only in high season | Four of the 10 routes run in high season only: the Sun Gate (1-C), the Inca Bridge (1-D), the Great Cavern (3-C) and Huchuy Picchu (3-D). High season in 2026 runs January 1, April 2 to 5, June 19 to November 2, and December 30 to 31. | RM 284-2025-MC, Ministerio de Cultura del Peru (El Peruano) RM 285-2025-MC, Ministerio de Cultura del Peru | |
| Fares | Ministerial Resolution 284-2025-MC sets the 2026 promotional entry fares, by circuit and route, for Peruvians, foreign residents of Peru and citizens of the Andean Community (CAN), with the mountain routes in a higher fare band than the standard circuit routes. It does not set the fare for other foreign visitors. | RM 284-2025-MC, Ministerio de Cultura del Peru (El Peruano) | |
| School group discounts | Primary and secondary school groups from areas of extreme poverty can apply for discounted entry under Ministerial Resolution 334-2026-MC. The school must apply at least 60 business days before the visit, with a list of students signed by the head teacher and endorsed by the local education office (UGEL). | Andina, Oct 16, 2026 (DDC Cusco, RM 334-2026-MC), Agencia Andina (Editora Peru), reporting the Direccion Desconcentrada de Cultura de Cusco | |
| Arriving on the Inca Trail | Hikers arriving on the Inca Trail enter the citadel on route 3-B, under a daily allocation of their own reserved through the licensed operator; a visit on Circuit 2 is a separate ticket. | RM 306-2025-MC, Ministerio de Cultura del Peru |
In brief
Machu Picchu entry is rationed by a daily visitor cap: up to 5,600 visitors a day in high season and 4,500 in low season (Ministry of Culture, September 2026). Every ticket is sold for one circuit, one route, one date and one entry time (Ministerial Resolution 528-2023-MC), and a standard visit lasts at most 2 hours 30 minutes from entry.
Tickets are sold only by Peru's Ministry of Culture, through its official platform, by direct sale: a ticket is issued in the visitor's name only once payment is confirmed, within a 15-minute purchase window, and an unpaid place goes back on sale. Direct sale began on September 22, 2026, and on October 14, 2026 the Minister of Culture said tickets will be sold this way from now on.
For 2027, Ministerial Resolution 408-2026-MC keeps the cap at up to 5,600 visitors a day on 147 high-season dates (January 1 to 3, March 25 to 28, June 19 to November 2, and December 29 to 31) and 4,500 a day on every other date. From January 1, 2027, Ministerial Resolution 407-2026-MC sets entry to Machu Picchu Mountain, Huayna Picchu and the Great Cavern until 10:00 a.m., and visitors start back from the summits and the Great Cavern by 12:00 noon. Visits dated through December 31, 2026 keep the earlier timetable.
Change history
Material changes to this rule, newest first, each with its official source.
Oct 31, 2026
2027 high season and daily capacity
Ministerial Resolution 408-2026-MC sets 147 high-season dates in 2027 (January 1 to 3, March 25 to 28, June 19 to November 2, and December 29 to 31) at up to 5,600 visitors a day, with 4,500 a day on every other date.
What this means for your trip: The high-season dates move with Easter and the New Year: 147 days in 2027, against 144 in 2026.
Source: Resolucion Ministerial N° 408-2026-MC (2027 maximum daily capacity and high-season dates)
Oct 31, 2026
New mountain and Great Cavern timetable from 2027
Ministerial Resolution 407-2026-MC rewrites article 12 of the visitor regulation: from January 1, 2027, entry to Machu Picchu Mountain, Huayna Picchu and the Great Cavern runs until 10:00 a.m., and visitors start back from the summits and the Great Cavern by 12:00 noon.
What this means for your trip: Mountain climbs in 2027 start and end earlier. Visits dated through December 31, 2026 keep the earlier timetable, and the total time allowed stays at 6 hours 30 minutes for Machu Picchu Mountain and 5 hours 30 minutes for Huayna Picchu.
Oct 14, 2026
Direct sale to continue with confirmed payment
The Minister of Culture says Machu Picchu tickets will be sold from now on with confirmed payment and no reservations.
Source: Ministro de Cultura: entradas a Machupicchu se compraran con pago confirmado y sin reservas
Sep 22, 2026
Direct sale with confirmed payment begins
The Ministry of Culture replaces the three-hour reservation hold with direct sale: a 15-minute purchase window, the ticket issued in the visitor's name once payment is confirmed, unpaid places released back to sale.
Oct 30, 2025
2026 promotional fares by circuit and route
Ministerial Resolution 284-2025-MC sets the 2026 promotional fare for each circuit and route, for Peruvians, foreign residents of Peru and Andean Community (CAN) citizens.
Oct 30, 2025
2026 high season and daily capacity
Ministerial Resolution 285-2025-MC sets the 2026 high-season dates and the daily capacity.
Source: Resolucion Ministerial 285-2025-MC, 2026 daily capacity and high-season dates
Dec 30, 2023
Visits move to 3 circuits and 10 routes
Ministerial Resolution 528-2023-MC rewrites the visitor regulation: every ticket is for one circuit and one route, with the standard stay capped at 2 hours 30 minutes. The new scheme applied from June 2024.
- Every circuit and route, sourced, in one table
- Latest observed availability
- Inca Trail permit rules
- Huayna Picchu: how hard the Route 3-A climb is
- Circuit 2 vs Circuit 3: which circuit to book
We design your whole Peru trip and arrange every part of it around the right Machu Picchu access, with every entry confirmed as part of it.