Machu Picchu is considered a World Heritage Site by UNESCO since 1983. It is protected by the Peruvian State not only in the archaeological site that thousands of tourists visit every day, but an immense area of flora, fauna and Inca constructions called Machupicchu Historic Sanctuary covering 32,592 hectares. However, the efforts to protect the Inca city are increasingly arduous as the number of tourists increases every day. Thus, every year Unesco intends to add the Inca llaqta to the list of Unesco’s endangered heritage sites. What can be done to preserve it for the future? Learn more!

• Machu Picchu, a World Heritage Site
• The conservation of Machu Picchu over the years
• Is Machu Picchu in danger according to Unesco?
• What is the future of Machu Picchu conservation?
• More information about the conservation of Machu Picchu
• Frequently asked questions about the conservation of Machu Picchu

Seated tourist observing the Inca Citadel

Machu Picchu off the Unesco list
Millions of people want to be in Machu Picchu. For the benefit of all, the UNESCO agency in charge of verifying World Heritage in Danger, corroborated the progress in lifting the observations made for the conservation of the Inca city of Machu Picchu. After evaluating the protection standards of the Inca city, UNESCO did not include Machu Picchu in the List of World Heritage in Danger, by unanimously approving the report on the state of conservation of one of the most important destinations in the world and main tourist attraction in Peru. This was announced by the Decentralized Directorate of Culture of Cusco.

Machu Picchu, a World Heritage Site

• In 1981 Machu Picchu was declared a Historic Sanctuary of Peru. Then, in 1983, it was inscribed on the list of World Heritage Sites by UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization).
• Since then, every year Unesco evaluates the dangers, risks and possibilities of conservation of Machu Picchu in the future. Thus, in some years, Unesco had the intention of including the Inca city in the list of ‘World Heritage in Danger’. However, the authorities of the Ministry of Culture continuously make decisions to protect the archaeological site from possible natural disasters and, above all, from excessive visitor traffic.
• In this way, Machu Picchu is off the list of endangered heritages, which allows it to be preserved for the future of many generations.

Full view of Machu Picchu

The conservation of Machu Picchu over the years

• Research and development work at Machu Picchu began with its scientific discovery by the American explorer Hiram Bingham in 1911.
• However, it was not until 1930 that the works sought to enhance the value of the Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu, a project that sought to attract the interest of tourists from all over the world.
• From the beginning, the problems to preserve Machu Picchu began because of the rugged terrain. The erosions, the constant rains and the location of the Inca city in a seismic zone were inconvenient for the researchers when carrying out the first excavations.
• Thanks to the work of researchers, and thanks to the great work done by Inca engineers, Machu Picchu remains in a good state of preservation.
• From time to time, specialists sent by Unesco analyze the dangers of Machu Picchu by sending a report on its state of conservation into the future. Thus, in 2017, the intention was to include the Inca city in the list of endangered heritage.
• But, thanks to conservation decisions, the organization of tourist visits and the awareness of local people, Machu Picchu has remained off this list.

Is Machu Picchu in danger according to Unesco?

• Machu Picchu is off the list of endangered heritage sites by UNESCO. However, this evaluation is done every year, so the protection and prevention works in the Inca city are still being carried out. This, above all, in view of the problem of the numerous visitors that pass through the archaeological site every day.
• It is estimated that in 2024 Machu Picchu received more than 1.6 million visitors. In order to better organize the tourist visit and protect Machu Picchu, the following decisions were taken.
• These are some decisions in Machu Picchu to organize the touristic visit:
  • Reorganize the tourist visitation in Machu Picchu to 5,600 per day in high season (from June 1 to October 15). And the rest of the year, the number of visits per day is 4,500 tourists per day.
  • The large number of tourists will be organized in three circuits: 1,100 tourists in circuit 1, 1,350 in circuit 2 and 1,450 in circuit 3. The circuits are included in the ten entrance tickets to Machu Picchu.

Incredible sunset at the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu

What is the future of Machu Picchu conservation?

• The future of Machu Picchu is optimistic regarding its conservation. However, this may vary depending on the success of the work carried out to combat threats to the archeological site.
• The main threats are the large number of tourists entering Machu Picchu per day. But this threat is not the only one; there are also forest fires around Machupicchu, landslides and mudslides during the rainy season (January, February and March), solid waste generated there, and more.
• These are the main threats to Machu Picchu evaluated by UNESCO:
  • Excessive number of tourists in the archaeological site of Machu Picchu.
  • Tourist overload on the Inca Trail routes to Machu Picchu.
  • Large amount of solid waste due to the large influx of tourists in Machu Picchu and the Inca Trail routes.
  • Burns and forest fires caused by local farmers.
  • Local agriculture and cattle ranching that does not respect the protected areas of the Machu Picchu Historic Sanctuary.
  • Landslides and mudslides, especially during the rainy season (January, February, and March).
  • The extraction of stones to obtain sand in the Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu.
  • Poaching of wild animals in Machu Picchu Historic Sanctuary.
  • Illegal land trafficking in the areas protected by the Peruvian State near Machu Picchu.

Llamas in Machu Picchu on a cloudy day

More information about the conservation of Machu Picchu

• The entities involved in the protection and conservation of Machu Picchu are: the Decentralized Directorate of Culture Cusco, Sernanp, the District Municipality of Machu Picchu, the Management Unit of Machu Picchu, the Regional Government of Cusco, Dircetur, among others. These have jointly managed to raise the observations made at the time by Unesco about the state of conservation of the Inca city of Machu Picchu, in Cusco.
• Machu Picchu for a better organization of the tourist visit has ten types of tickets: (a) Machu Picchu Classic Photo ticket, (b) Machu Picchu Classic, (c) Machu Picchu Classic lower terrace, (d) Machu Picchu Lower Temples, (e) Machu Picchu with Huayna Picchu, (f) Machu Picchu with Mountain, (g) Machu Picchu with Huchuy Picchu, (h) Machu Picchu with Inca Bridge, (i) Machu Picchu with Intipunku and (j) Machu Picchu with Temple of the Moon.

Frequently asked questions about the conservation of Machu Picchu

• 1) Is Machu Picchu in danger of disappearing?

  No, Machu Picchu is currently off the list of World Heritage in Danger by UNESCO.

• 2) What is the main problem of Machu Picchu?

  The main problem of Machu Picchu is the excessive amount of visitors that arrive to the archaeological site every day. In addition, there are other problems such as possible landslides, natural disasters, forest fires and more.

• 3) Can landslides occur in Machu Picchu?

  Yes, landslides and landslides are a latent problem in Machu Picchu, especially during the rainy season months: January, February and March.

• 4) Can fires occur in Machu Picchu?

  Yes, fires are a latent problem in Machu Picchu, especially grass fires caused by local farmers.

• 5) Is garbage a problem in Machu Picchu?

  Yes, the accumulation of solid waste is a latent problem in Machu Picchu where about 490 kilos of solid waste accumulates during waste collection campaigns.

• 6) Is Machu Picchu on the Unesco list?

  Yes, in 1983, it was inscribed on the list of World Heritage Sites by Unesco (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization).

• 7) Since when is Machu Picchu considered a Historic Sanctuary?

  In 1981 Machu Picchu was declared a Peruvian Historical Sanctuary, a designation that protects its natural and historical area.

• 8) Is the future of Machu Picchu optimistic?

  Yes, the decisions to conserve and protect Machu Picchu provide a positive outlook for its near future.

• 9) How many tourists enter Machu Picchu each day?

  It is estimated that every day Machu Picchu receives around 5 thousand visitors distributed in its three circuits: circuit 1, 2, and 3.

• 10) On average, how many tourists does Machu Picchu receive each year?

  It is estimated that Machu Picchu receives around 1.5 million visitors each year.

Advice from people who have been there

Machu Picchu

By: Jessica L.

“Spectacular Machu Picchu“

“Everything you can see in the comments about Machu Picchu is true, it is a spectacular site, the stone city created by the Incas on these mountains is simply incredible. It is essential to hire a guide, you can not enter without one, it also allows you to see and know every corner of this fabulous place. We hired the climb to the mountain, but we could not complete the hike because of the weather, it is a strong experience I would not recommend it for people over 60.“

By Ticket Machu Picchu – Last updated, October 26, 2024