Machu Picchu is one of the main, if not the main destination in the world today. Thousands of people arrive every day to this amazing Inca city in the mountains. In the mornings, visitors wait in long lines to be the first to enter Machu Picchu, first to board the buses, then to enter the Inca city. That is why visiting in the afternoon is a great option. The afternoon visit offers more scenery free from the intense traffic of people. Also, there is less chance of heavy rains. In other words, the afternoon schedule is ideal to get the best pictures of the Wonder of the World. Learn more!

• The schedule of Machu Picchu visit in Cusco
• Machu Picchu visiting hours: morning and afternoon
• Who should go to Machu Picchu in the afternoon?
• Advantages of visiting Machu Picchu in the afternoon
• Questions and answers about Machu Picchu in the afternoon

Tourist on his way to the Inca citadel

Why do most people visit Machu Picchu in the morning?
Machu Picchu looks more crowded in the mornings. Most visitors want to make a one-day visit leaving very early from the city of Cusco and return to their hotel the same day. That is why the time when there are more tourists in Machu Picchu is between 10 am and 1 pm. This is especially during the months of high tourism, such as May, June, July and August. After 1:00 pm, visitors return to the town of Aguas Calientes to board their train and make the return trip to the city of Cusco. Fewer visitors prefer to take a trip of two days or more to the Wonder of the World.

The schedule of Machu Picchu visit in Cusco

The Inca city of Machu Picchu is open to the public every day of the year from 6 am to 5 pm. It only closes its doors in cases of unforeseen emergencies such as social protests and natural disasters that prevent travel to the archaeological site.

In the morning shift Machu Picchu is full of visitors, because not only people who will see Machu Picchu, but also people who booked tickets for the mountains, which can only be accessed in the morning shift, and those who will enter by the Inca Trail.

This incredible amount of people in the morning shift makes the afternoon shift one of the best times to be in Machu Picchu.

View of Machu Picchu and the Guardian’s House

Machu Picchu visiting hours: morning and afternoon

These are the different visiting hours to Machu Picchu:

• Ticket Machu Picchu Classic Photo / Ticket Machu Picchu Classic Photo / Ticket Machu Picchu Classic Lower Terrace / Ticket Machu Picchu Lower Machu Picchu Temples.

  Admission hours: Group 1 (from 6 to 7 am) Group 2 (from 7 to 8 am) Group 3 (from 8 to 9 am). Group 4 (from 9 to 10 am) Group 5 (from 10 to 11 am) Group 6 (from 11 to 12 pm). Group 7 (from 12 to 1 pm) Group 8 (from 1 to 2 pm) Group 9 (from 2 to 3 pm) Group 10 (from 3 to 4 pm).

• Ticket Machu Picchu with Huayna Picchu:

  Group 1: to Machupicchu from 6 am to 6.30 am / to Huayna Picchu until 8 am. Schedule 2: to Machupicchu from 9 am to 9.30 am / to Huayna Picchu until 11 am.

• Ticket Machu Picchu with Mountain:

  Schedule 1: to Machupicchu from 6 am to 6.30 am / to Mountain until 8 am. Schedule 2: to Machu Picchu from 8 am to 8.30 am / to Mountain until 10 am.

• Ticket Machu Picchu with Huchuy Picchu:

  Schedule 1: to Machupicchu from 11 am to 11.30 am / to Huchuy Picchu until 12 am. Schedule 2: to Machupicchu from 1 pm to 1.30 pm / to Huchuy Picchu until 2 pm.

• Machu Picchu ticket with Intipunku:

  Entrance hours: Group 1 (from 8 to 9 am) Group 2 (from 9 to 10 am) Group 3 (from 10 to 11 am) Group 4 (from 11 to 12 am).

• Machu Picchu ticket with Inca Bridge:

  Entrance hours: Group 1 (from 8 to 9 am) Group 2 (from 9 to 10 am) Group 3 (from 10 to 11 am) Group 4 (from 11 to 12 am).

• Ticket Machu Picchu with Temple of the Moon:

  Schedule 1: to Machupicchu from 6 am to 6.30 am / to Gran Cavern until 8 am. Schedule 2: to Machupicchu from 9 am to 9.30 am / to Huayna Picchu until 11 am.

Circuits in Machu Picchu

Who should go to Machu Picchu in the afternoon?

The visit to Machu Picchu in the afternoon is recommended for older adults since it allows them to enjoy the Inca city with more patience, at a slower pace without haste.

The same is true for children. As Machu Picchu is less crowded, children can walk more freely and even have fun surrounded by the wonderful nature of the Inca city.

Finally, the afternoon shift is recommended for photography lovers. The afternoon light is ideal to get the best pictures of Machu Picchu.

In any case, the visit to Machu Picchu is recommended for all people who have enough time to visit with more patience. After the visit to Machu Picchu it is recommended to spend the night in one of the tourist hotels in Aguas Calientes.

How Machu Picchu looks like in the afternoon

Advantages of visiting Machu Picchu in the afternoon

There are many advantages to entering Machu Picchu in the afternoon, and unless you wish to enter the Machu Picchu mountains, this is the recommended time to enter the Inca city of Machu Picchu.

• Fewer people

  Actually, this should be enough to choose to come to Machu Picchu in the afternoon shift. Many people choose to come to Machu Picchu on the morning shift; that huge number of visitors around you can detract from the magic of the Machu Picchu experience, and add dozens of heads, from a lot of strangers, to your photos at Machu Picchu.

• You can choose where to spend the night before

  If you choose the afternoon shift, you will not have to get up early to board the train services to Machu Picchu. Nor will you have to spend the night before your visit in the town of Aguas Calientes. However, if you arrive at Machu Picchu early, you can gain more time in the afternoon to get to know the town of Aguas Calientes, where you will spend the night.

• You can enter Machu Picchu without setbacks

  Entering Machu Picchu from 2:00 p.m. will allow you to be inside Machu Picchu, when the morning shift people are finishing their visit and before the afternoon people start theirs, so it is the best time to visit the Inca citadel.

• The best time to photograph Machu Picchu is in the afternoon.

  Yes, say professionals and amateurs of photography and Machu Picchu; the time around 4 pm is considered one of the best times to photograph Machu Picchu. The sun is in the right position, generating the ideal light to photograph this amazing wonder. In rainy season, the afternoon shift at Machu Picchu offers you the possibility to see and photograph it, decorated by rainbows, sometimes multiple rainbows.

• Waiting times and queues

  The people of the morning shift go into “competition” mode; everyone wants to be the first to enter Machu Picchu and the mountains, this causes very long lines to form at the ticket booths of the buses heading to the archaeological site. Other equally long lines before boarding the buses and not to mention the one that has to be done at the entrance to Machu Picchu. That is to say, during the afternoon visit everything is calmer.

Constructions in Machu Picchu

Questions and answers about Machu Picchu in the afternoon

• 1) What are the hours of the tourist visit in Machu Picchu?

  The Inca city of Machu Picchu is open every day of the year from 6:00 am to 5:00 pm.

• 2) What are the advantages of visiting Machu Picchu in the afternoon?

  Visiting Machu Picchu in the afternoon allows you to enjoy the Inca city with less traffic. In addition, it allows you to visit with more patience and with better chances of getting excellent pictures (no clouds).

• 3) At what time are there more visitors touring Machu Picchu?

  Machu Picchu shows more traffic from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm. At those hours people who arrived from Cusco and want to return the same day make their visit.

• 4) At what time is there less visitors touring Machu Picchu?

  Machu Picchu shows less traffic from 3 to 5 in the afternoon. At those hours most visitors have left the archaeological site leaving the tourist circuits more free.

• 5) What is the perfect time to get the best photos in Machu Picchu?

  4 pm is considered the best time of the day to get a postcard photo of Machu Picchu. At that time the sunset light tinges the Inca city with a special magic. In addition, there is less chance of rain and clouds that prevent getting the dreamed photo.

• 6) At what time are there fewer tourists queuing to enter Machu Picchu?

  The queues to Machu Picchu start at 6:00 am and intensify from 9:00 am until noon. At departure time the queues intensify from 1:00 to 2:00 in the afternoon.

• 7) At what time should visitors leave Machu Picchu?

  The sirens announcing the departure from Machu Picchu sound at 5:00 pm. This is the time when all visitors must leave. The last bus that takes visitors from Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes leaves at 5.45 pm on average.

• 8) What to bring to visit Machu Picchu in the afternoon?

  To visit Machu Picchu in the afternoon it is recommended to bring a hat, mosquito repellent, a windbreaker jacket, a poncho in case of rain, water, snacks and a camera to get the best pictures at the best time of the day.

• 9) Who should choose to visit Machu Picchu in the afternoon?

  In any case, the visit to Machu Picchu is recommended for all people who have enough time to visit with more patience. After the visit to Machu Picchu it is recommended to spend the night in one of the tourist hotels in the town of Aguas Calientes.

• 10) Can I visit Machu Picchu at night?

  No, the visiting hours to Machu Picchu are from 6:00 am to 5:00 pm. There are no tours at the archaeological site at night.

Advice from people who have been there

Machu Picchu

By: Jean A.

“The city in the clouds“

“Machu Picchu is one of the best places you can visit in life; you can go alone, as a couple, with family, with friends; as you please.“

By Ticket Machu Picchu – Last updated, October 31, 2024