Machu Picchu is one of the most famous and popular tourist sites in the world. The Inca city is open every day of the year, including Sundays and holidays such as Christmas and New Year’s Eve. Visiting hours are from 6:00 am to 5:00 pm. However, each type of ticket allows a circuit and an established schedule. There are some cases where Machupicchu can close the door: in cases of natural disasters or protests that block the access roads to the archaeological site. Learn more!

• Machu Picchu, the wonder of the world and the wonder of all Peruvians
• Machu Picchu visiting hours
• The schedules of each type of ticket in Machu Picchu
• Machu Picchu and closures for emergencies
• Holidays in Machu Picchu
• More information about Machu Picchu closures
• Questions and answers about Machu Picchu closures

Machu Picchu Wonder of the World

Tickets and circuits in Machu Picchu visit
The Inca citadel is open every day of the year from 6:00 am to 5:00 pm. However, visitors cannot stay for that entire period of time. There are up to five types of entrances, which offer different types of circuits, as well as established schedules. For example, the most requested ticket ‘Machupicchu Solo’ offers up to ten entrance times: from 6 am, 7 am, 8 am, 8 am, 9 am, 10 am, 11 am, 12 pm, 1 pm, 2 pm and 3 pm. From the entrance, the tourist has approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes of visit, enough time to visit the main Inca constructions, such as circuit 2. The other tickets also offer between 4 to 6 hours of visit from the entrance, such as the tickets that include the entrances to Huayna Picchu and Machupicchu mountain. No visitor can stay all day at the archaeological site.

Machu Picchu, the wonder of the world and the wonder of all Peruvians

• Machu Picchu is located in Cusco, the capital city of the Inca empire in the middle of the Andes Mountains in Peru. The emperor Pachacutec ordered the construction of this citadel in 1450 A.D. approximately, to be an important enclave between the eastern limits of the empire.
• The Inca city was gradually abandoned in the 16th century in the midst of the civil war between the Spanish and the Incas. The rains and the wild vegetation camouflaged the Inca constructions until, in 1911, guided by the local inhabitants, the American explorer Hiram Bingham made known to the world the existence and historical importance of Machu Picchu.
• Then Machu Picchu grew in fame around the world. Before, the visit was free, there were no entrance schedules or circuits. In 2007 Machu Picchu was elected one of the 7 wonders of the modern world. The number of daily visits multiplied and Machu Picchu entered the list of world heritage sites in danger according to Unesco.
• The Machu Picchu authorities then decided to organize schedules and established circuits to reorganize the large number of people (it is estimated that Machu Picchu receives 1.5 million people each year).
• Today the Inca city is open every day of the year, including Sundays and holidays. There are five types of tickets, which allow access to the Inca city at specific times from 6 am, 7 am, 8 am and so on until the afternoon, depending on the type of ticket you chose. From the entrance the tourist can stay 2 hours 30 minutes, 4 hours or more, also according to the type of ticket.
• Thanks to these schedules and circuits, Machu Picchu is off Unesco’s list of endangered heritage sites. Visitors can get there by the Inca Trail, the hydroelectric route or the classic train ride from the city of Cusco.
• This is how every year Machu Picchu wins the awards for one of the best tourist attractions in the world. The Inca city offers beautiful landscapes, Inca constructions, hiking trails and more. It is Peru’s main tourist destination and one of the best in South America.

Full view of Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu visiting hours

• Machu Picchu is open to tourists every day of the year, including Sundays and holidays, from 6:00 am to 5:00 pm.
• That is, Machu Picchu is open even on holidays such as Christmas (December 25th), New Year’s Day (January 1st), Father’s Day, Mother’s Day and on Cusco holidays (such as Inti Raymi, June 24th).
• The visiting hours depend on each type of ticket to Machu Picchu. In total there are five types of tickets available: a) Machupicchu Solo, b) Machupicchu with Huayna Picchu, c) Machupicchu with Mountain, d) Machupicchu with Mountain and e) Machupicchu with Huchuy Picchu. All of them allow entrance in different circuits and schedules that do not exceed 4 or 5 hours of visit.

These are the five types of entrances to Machu Picchu:

The schedules of each type of ticket in Machu Picchu

These are the available schedules for each type of entrance to Machu Picchu:

• Machupicchu Only Ticket: 2 hours and 30 minutes of visit from the entrance to Machu Picchu

  • Group 1 – Entrance from 6 a.m.
  • Group 2 – Entrance from 7 a.m.
  • Group 3 – Entrance from 8 a.m.
  • Group 4 – Entrance from 9 a.m.
  • Group 5 – Entrance from 10 a.m.
  • Group 6 – Entrance from 11 a.m.
  • Group 7 – Entrance from 12 p.m.
  • Group 8 – Entrance from 1 p.m.
  • Group 9 – Entrance from 3 p.m.
  • Group 10 – Entrance from 3 p.m.

• Ticket Machupicchu with Huayna Picchu: 5 hours of visit from the entrance to Machu Picchu

  • Group 1 – Entrance to Machu Picchu from 7 a.m. Entrance to Huayna Picchu Mountain is from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m.
  • Group 2 – Entrance to Machu Picchu from 8 a.m. Entrance to Huayna Picchu Mountain is from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.
  • Group 3 – Entrance to Machu Picchu from 9 a.m. Entrance to Huayna Picchu Mountain is from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.
  • Group 4 – Entrance to Machu Picchu from 10 a.m. Entrance to Huayna Picchu Mountain is from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.

• Machupicchu with Mountain Ticket: 6 hours of visit from the entrance to Machu Picchu (allows one re-entry)

  • Group 1 – Entrance to Machupicchu from 7 a.m. Entrance to the Mountain is from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m.
  • Group 2 – Entrance to Machupicchu from 9 a.m. Entrance to the Mountain is from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.

• Machupicchu with Huchuy Picchu Ticket: 4 hours of visit from the entrance to Machu Picchu

  • Group 1 – Entrance from 7 a.m. Entrance to the Mountain is from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m.
  • Group 2 – Entrance from 8 a.m. Entrance to the Mountain is from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.
  • Group 3 – Entrance from 9 a.m. Entrance to the Mountain is from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.
  • Group 4 – Entrance from 10 a.m. Entrance to the Mountain is from 11 a.m. to noon.
  • Group 5 – Entrance from 11 a.m. Entrance to the Mountain is from noon to 1 p.m.

• Machupicchu with Inca Bridge Ticket: 3 hours of visit from the entrance to Machu Picchu

  • Group 1 – Entrance from 7 a.m. Entrance to the Inca Bridge is from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m.
  • Group 2 – Entrance from 8 a.m. Entrance to the Inca Bridge is from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.
  • Group 3 – Entrance from 9 a.m. Entrance to the Inca Bridge is from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.
  • Group 4 – Entrance from 10 a.m. Entrance to the Inca Bridge is from 11 a.m. to noon
  • Group 5 – Entrance from 11 a.m. Entrance to the Inca Bridge is from noon to 1 p.m.
  • Group 6 – Entrance from noon. Entrance to the Inca Bridge is from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.
  • Group 7 – Entrance from 1 p.m. Entrance to the Inca Bridge is from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.
  • Group 8 – Entrance from 2 p.m. Entrance to the Inca Bridge is from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m.
  • Group 9 – Entrance from 3 p.m. Entrance to the Inca Bridge is from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Machu Picchu and closures for emergencies

• Machu Picchu can only close its doors in cases of emergencies such as natural disasters or social protests. The objective is to safeguard the integrity of visitors.
• A world famous example was in 2020 when Machu Picchu closed its doors for more than a year following the global pandemic due to Covid 19.
• In cases of social protests, access roads to Machu Picchu, such as train tracks, are blocked, preventing access to the Inca city. In such cases or in cases of natural disasters (such as earthquakes), the authorities of the Peruvian Ministry of Culture offer the option of changing the date of the visit to the archaeological site.

Holidays in Machu Picchu

• Machu Picchu is open to the public every day of the year, including holidays such as Christmas (December 25) or New Year’s Day (January 1).
• Likewise, the Inca city is open on the holidays of the Peruvian calendar, such as: Fiestas Patrias (July 28), Day of the Saints (November 1) or the famous tourist festival of Cusco, the Inti Raymi (June 24).
• In other words, Machu Picchu is always open!

More information about Machu Picchu closures

• Every year, some visitors are confused about the opening hours of the Inca Trail and Machu Picchu.
• Unlike Machu Picchu, the Inca Trail is closed for one month each year. The Inca Trail closes for maintenance during the entire month of February (making it the least popular and wettest month of the year) and reopens on March 1. If you want to hike the Inca Trail, you obviously have to avoid February or choose an alternative route.
• If, on the other hand, you wish to go directly to Machu Picchu, February is still a viable month to visit, as long as you are not inconvenienced by the rain.

Questions and answers about Machu Picchu closures

• 1) Is Machu Picchu open at Christmas?

  Yes, Machu Picchu is open at Christmas, either on December 24th or 25th of each year.

• 2) Is Machu Picchu open on New Year’s Day?

  Yes, Machu Picchu is open on New Year’s Day, either December 31st or January 1st of each year.

• 3) From what time is Machu Picchu open?

  Machu Picchu is open every day of the year from 6 am. It is not possible to enter earlier.

• 4) Until what time is Machu Picchu open?

  Machu Picchu is open every day of the year until 5 pm. It is not possible to stay after that.

• 5) Is Machu Picchu open at night?

  No, Machu Picchu is open every day until 5:00 pm. It is not accessible at night.

• 6) Is the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu open all year round?

  No, the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu is open to tourists every day of the year, except in February because it is the rainiest month. On those days, cleaning works are carried out on the tourist route.

• 7) When does Machu Picchu close its doors?

  Machu Picchu is open every day of the year except for emergencies such as natural disasters (Peru is a seismic country) or social protests (which prevent access to Machu Picchu).

• 8) What is the schedule of the ticket to Machu Picchu?

  Each of the five types of tickets to Machu Picchu offers different entrance hours: a) Machupicchu Solo ticket from 6 am to 3 pm. b) Machupicchu ticket with Huaynapicchu from 7 am to 10 am. c) Machupicchu ticket with Mountain from 7 am to 9 am. d) Machupicchu ticket with Huchuy Picchu from 7 am to 11 am. And e) ticket Machupicchu with Inca Bridge from 7 am 3 pm.

• 9) How long can I stay inside Machu Picchu Picchu?

  Each of the types of tickets to Machu Picchu allow an approximate length of stay. a) Machupicchu Solo ticket, 2 hours 30 minutes. b) Machupicchu with Huaynapicchu ticket, 5 hours. c) Machupicchu with Mountain ticket, 6 hours. d) Machupicchu with Huchuy Picchu ticket, 4 hours. And e) ticket Machupicchu with Inca Bridge, 3 hours.

• 10) Is Machu Picchu open on Peruvian Independence Day?

  Yes, Machu Picchu is open on Peruvian Independence Day every year: July 28th.

Advice from people who have been there

Machu Picchu

By: Josefina S.

“The best trip of my life“

“How beautiful Machu Picchu is, one feels amazed and tiny in front of so much beauty and history. And to think that not long ago I was looking at pictures and then I was transported there, it's incredible.“

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