The Sanctuary of Machu Picchu is home to more than 32 thousand hectares of nature, archaeological sites and incredible landscapes. With the basic ticket ‘Machupicchu Only’ each tourist can stay a maximum of 4 hours in the Inca city. However, there are also tickets that allow more days of adventure inside the Sanctuary. Find out how many visiting days are ideal for your trip.

• What to see in Machu Picchu?
• These are the schedules
• These are the times that you can stay in Machu Picchu
• How long does the Machu Picchu tour last?
• How much vacation time to choose?
• If you have only one day in Machu Picchu
• If you have 2 days in Machu Picchu
• If you have 3 days in Machu Picchu
• If you have 4 days in Machu Picchu
• More information

What to see in Machu Picchu?

Here is a list of the most visited places within the Machu Picchu National Park:

• The llaqta or Inca City of Machu Picchu.
• The Huayna Picchu mountain.
• The mountain of Machu Picchu.
• The Classic Inca Trail.
• The Short Inca Trail.
• The gardens and waterfalls of Mándor.
• Treks to Salkantay and Lares.
• Visit to the town of Aguas Calientes and its surroundings.

Machu Picchu is a place where there are many things to do and see. Review the alternatives described and decide how long to stay in this fascinating place.

These are the schedules

The new schedules in the Inca City of Machu Picchu allow a limited time to visit. The entry must be at the time indicated on your ticket.

• Ticket Machu Picchu Only
  • 1st. Group: from 6 am
  • 2nd. Group: from 7 am
  • 3rd. Group: from 8 am
  • 4th. Group: from 9 am
  • 5th. Group: from 10 am
  • 6th. Group: from 11 am
  • 7th. Group: from 12 pm
  • 8vo. Grupo: from 1 p.m.
  • 9no. Grupo: from 2 p.m.

• Ticket Machu Picchu + Huayna Picchu
  • 1st. Group: entrance to Machupicchu from 6 am / entrance to Huaynapicchu from 6 am to 7 am
  • 2nd. Group: entrance to Machupicchu from 8 am / entrance to Huaynapicchu from 8 am to 9 am
  • 3rd. Group: entrance to Machupicchu from 10 am / entrance to Huaynapicchu from 10 am to 11 am
  • 4th. Group: entrance to Machupicchu from 12 pm / entrance to Huaynapicchu from 12 pm to 1 pm

• Ticket Machu Picchu + Mountain
  • 1st. Group: entrance to Machupicchu from 6 am / entrance to Mountain from 6 am to 7 am
  • 2nd. Group: entrance to Machupicchu from 8 am / entrance to Mountain from 8 am to 9 am

• Ticket Machu Picchu + Huchuy Picchu
  • 1st. Group: entrance to Machupicchu from 6 am / entrance to Huchuypicchu from 6 am to 7 am
  • 2nd. Group: entrance to Machupicchu from 7 am / entrance to Huchuypicchu from 7 am to 8 am
  • 3rd. Group: entrance to Machupicchu from 8 am / entrance to Huchuypicchu from 8 am to 9 am
  • 4th. Group: entrance to Machupicchu from 9 am / entrance to Huchuypicchu from 9 am to 10 am
  • 5th. Group: entrance to Machupicchu from 10 am / entrance to Huchuypicchu from 10 am to 11 am
  • 6th. Group: entrance to Machupicchu from 11 am / entrance to Huchuypicchu from 11 am to 12 pm
  • 7th. Group: entrance to Machupicchu from 12 pm / entrance to Huchuypicchu from 12 pm to 1 pm
  • 8th. Group: entrance to Machupicchu from 1 pm / entrance to Huchuypicchu from 1 pm to 2 pm
  • 9th. Group: entrance to Machupicchu from 2 pm / entrance to Huchuypicchu from 2 pm to 3 pm

These are the times that you can stay in Machu Picchu

• Ticket Machu Picchu Only
  • The tourist has 4 hours to visit.
  • If the tourist enters in the last hour (2 pm); You can stay in Machu Picchu until 5 pm

• Ticket Machu Picchu + Huayna Picchu
  • The tourist has 6 hours to visit.
  • If the tourist visits the Temple of the Moon, they have up to 7 hours to visit.

• Ticket Machu Picchu + Mountain
  • The tourist has 8 hours to visit.
  • This ticket is the only one that allows you to leave and re-enter Machu Picchu for the only time.

• Ticket Machu Picchu + Huchuy Picchu
  • The tourist has 4 hours to visit.
  • The Huchuy Picchu is one of the new short hiking trails within Machu Picchu. The walk to its summit takes approximately 1 hour.

How long does the Machu Picchu tour last?

• The best way to visit Inca streets, squares, temples and buildings is in the company of a tour guide.
• The guided tour in Machu Picchu lasts 2 hours and 30 minutes on average.
• In total, an ideal visit to Machu Picchu can last 3 hours and 30 minutes. Each tourist has up to 4 hours to visit.

How much vacation time to choose?

You can visit Machu Picchu if you have 1 day. However, to fully enjoy everything this place has to offer, you should set aside 2 or 4 days of vacation.

If you have only one day in Machu Picchu

• If you only have one day to visit Machu Picchu, we recommend you board the first train from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes.
• You can board the train that leaves at 7 am from Ollantaytambo. Once in Aguas Calientes you must board the bus that will take you at the door of Machu Picchu.
• For the 1-day visit you can buy the ticket ‘Machu Picchu Only’ from 11 am or the hours that follow.
• The return to Cusco must be by train in the afternoon.

If you have 2 days in Machu Picchu

• People who have two days usually decide to stay to sleep in Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu pueblo).
• This town is completely dedicated to tourism. You can find hotels, restaurants and an assorted artisan market.
• In addition to visiting Machu Picchu, these are some of the things you can add to your visit during your stay in Aguas Calientes:
  • Short Inca Trail (2 days).
  • Hike to the Mándor waterfalls.
  • Thermal baths of Aguas Calientes.
  • Visit to the Machu Picchu Site Museum ‘Manuel Chávez Ballón’.

If you have 3 days in Machu Picchu

• People who have 3 days can visit the Sacred Valley of the Incas on their way to Machu Picchu.
• Many tourists prefer to use two different days to visit Machu Picchu: on one day they visit the Inca City and on the other the Huayna Picchu mountain.
• In Aguas Calientes you can also take the time to visit the thermal baths, the Mándor waterfalls or the Machu Picchu Site Museum.
• During a 3-day visit, the tourist can take advantage of a better tour of the famous town of Aguas Calientes.

If you have 4 days in Machu Picchu

• If you have 4 days available in Machu Picchu, definitely We recommend doing the Inca Trail (4 days and 3 nights).
• The Inca Trail is a hiking route that crosses 39 kilometers of ancient Inca trails and archaeological sites.
• This route includes 3 nights of camping. On the morning of day 4, the tourist will arrive at Machu Picchu through Sun Gate, an ancient access road used by the Incas.
• To enter Machu Picchu through the Inca Trail, you must reserve access tickets 6 months in advance.

In addition to Machu Picchu, Cusco has several tourist attractions such as the Sacred Valley of the Incas, the South Valley of Cusco and the city of Cusco itself.

More information

• Buy tickets in advance. In the case of the Huayna Picchu ticket, you must buy it 3 months before.
• Book train tickets immediately after knowing the time you will enter Machu Picchu.
• On the same day of your visit you can purchase bus tickets in the town of Aguas Calientes.
• You will not be able to enter with selfie sticks, food, drinks, umbrellas, umbrellas, animals, high heels, musical instruments, baby carriages.

By Ticket Machu Picchu – Last updated, August 15, 2024