The months of May, June, July and August are considered the most intense in Cusco because it is when more tourists arrive to Machu Picchu. They are considered high tourist season months, when tickets are sold out faster, the Inca citadel looks crowded with people. In addition, there are special dates when many tourists flock to the archaeological site, such as Christmas, New Year, the Inti Raymi festival (June 24) and more. Find out when there are more visitors to Machu Picchu and how to organize your trip accordingly.

• When are there more tourists in Machu Picchu?
• How to organize the trip in high tourist season in Machu Picchu?
• Entrance tickets and circuits, which one to choose?
• Machu Picchu in high tourist season and the rest of the year
• Questions and answers

Tourists in the Guardian’s House – Machu Picchu

Main festivities in Cusco and Machu Picchu
Machu Picchu can be visited all year round. However, when most tourists prefer to visit is during the holidays, when the streets of Cusco are filled with music, dances and samples of its great tradition and culture. The most important holiday is during the celebration of Inti Raymi. The so-called ‘Festival of the Sun’ is held every June 24 in the city of Cusco. The festival has its origins in the same Inca era, when the Wawa Inti Raymi, the beginning of a new solar year, was celebrated. Today, on that date, Cusco is filled with color, music and public performances in honor of the Inca ancestors (three performances in the esplanade of the Coricancha, in the Plaza de Armas and in the fortress of Sacsayhuaman). In addition to the Inti Raymi, a date full of joy and tradition is Corpus Christi, which is celebrated on a Thursday in June (movable date). That day the streets of Cusco are filled with devotees of the main sculptures of saints and virgins of the city. There are also many visitors who fill the streets of the city attracted by the displays of faith, music, dances and gastronomy. Finally, the carnivals in February are very curious and attract the attention of tourists for the displays of dances and music in the streets of Cusco. Especially, on Sundays when all the villagers performed games with water, talcum powder and pica pica.

When are there more tourists in Machu Picchu?

The high season for tourism in Machu Picchu occurs in the months of May, June, July and August, when more tourists from all over the world – mainly from the United States and Europe – arrive in Peruvian territory.

On those days Machu Picchu is always full of visitors, who purchase in advance the 6 thousand spaces to visit the archaeological site in 1 day. In Cusco, the Sacred Valley, the 7 Colors Mountain and the other tourist attractions of Cusco the same thing happens. Every tourist place in the Cusco region looks full of people.

The other months of the year there are also a significant number of visitors but not in the magnitude of those months. The months where there are fewer tourists in Cusco and Machu Picchu are January, February and March. These months also coincide with the rainiest days in Cusco, which is detrimental to outdoor excursions.

In addition to the high tourist season months, special and festive dates are the ones that attract the most tourists. These are dates such as Christmas (December 25) and New Year (January 1). Many visitors dream of spending those special days in Machu Picchu.

The holidays that attract the most visitors are during the Feast of Inti Raymi (June 24) and Corpus Christi (a Thursday in May). On these days, in addition to the number of tourists during the high season, other visitors arrive attracted to learn about the history, culture and traditions of Cusco on these festive dates. These are the days of the year when more tourists walk through Machu Picchu and the streets of Cusco.

Tourists in Machu Picchu

How to organize the trip in high tourist season in Machu Picchu?

Follow these steps to organize your trip to Machu Picchu during the high tourist season:

• 1. Secure tickets to Machu Picchu months in advance:

  Entrance tickets to Machu Picchu are the first ones you should get if you wish to visit in May, June, July and August.

  The tickets are usually sold out one or two months in advance, especially the tickets that include circuit 2: the Classic Machu Picchu entrance and the Machu Picchu Classic lower terrace entrance.

  It is recommended to buy the entrance tickets online 3 months in advance. After knowing the day and time of the visit to Machu Picchu, you must continue with the other steps for the organization of the trip.

• 2. Buy the train service to Machu Picchu

  The vast majority of tourists visit Machu Picchu by train, which passes through the Ollantaytambo station and ends its journey in the town of Aguas Calientes (just 30 minutes from Machu Picchu on a final bus route).

  If you are going to make the trip by train, you must buy tickets online through the websites of the only two companies available: Peru Rail and Inca Rail.

  Each company offers different types of trains. Peru Rail offers the Expedition, Vistadome, Vistadome Observatory and the Hiram Bingham luxury train. Inca Rail offers: The Voyager, The 360, The Premium & Lounge and The Private.

  Each train has a different schedule. The visitor must choose the schedule that allows him/her to access Machu Picchu on time, according to his/her chosen entrance ticket.

• 3. Book bus and tour guide services (you can also do this in person once in Machu Picchu)

  The two most important tickets are the entrance to Machu Picchu and the train ticket. You can then arrange your bus ticket for the final route from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu and vice versa, as well as the tour guide service at the archaeological site.

  Bus tickets can be purchased in the town of Aguas Calientes without any problem. There is even the option of walking instead of taking the bus (walking is free for everyone). The walking route is 2 hours uphill by stairs.

  The tour guide service can be hired at the entrance to Machu Picchu. Although it is not mandatory to enter with one, it is highly recommended to learn the real importance of the Inca city and its more than 150 stone constructions.

• 4. Organize other hotels and tours in Cusco

  After organizing the visit to Machu Picchu, it’s time to separate the hotel rooms, either in Cusco, the Sacred Valley or Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu town). The tours to the Sacred Valley, the 7 Colors Mountain, the Humantay Lagoon and the city of Cusco are the most requested by visitors. They can be arranged in advance or a few days before the trip.

Map of Machu Picchu circuits

Entrance tickets and circuits, which one to choose?

When organizing your visit to Machu Picchu during the high tourist season, you must choose one of the ten entrance tickets:

Machu Picchu in high tourist season and the rest of the year

This is Machu Picchu in high season (mainly May, June, July and August).

• Long lines to board the bus to Machu Picchu.
• Machu Picchu crowded, especially in the mornings.
• No entrance tickets to Machu Picchu if you buy at the last minute.
• Machu Picchu with less chance of rain, making it easier to get the classic postcard photo.

This is Machu Picchu in low season (mainly in January, February and March).

• Faster queues when boarding the buses to Machu Picchu.
• Machu Picchu with less people and more space to walk.
• It is possible to buy tickets to Machu Picchu a few weeks in advance.
• Machu Picchu can wake up with fog and rain which prevents you from getting the postcard photo. However, the landscape looks greener.

Touring the historic sanctuary of Machu Picchu

Questions and answers

• 1) When are there more tourists in Machu Picchu?

  May, June, July and August are considered the high season for tourism in Cusco and Machu Picchu.

• 2) And when are there fewer tourists in Machu Picchu?

  January, February and March are considered the low season for tourism in Cusco and Machu Picchu.

• 3) What are the most popular holidays in Machu Picchu?

  Inti Raymi (June 24) and Corpus Christi (Thursday of May or June) are considered the two most festive dates in Cusco and Machu Picchu.

• 4) How much time in advance to buy tickets to Machu Picchu in high tourist season?

  It is recommended to buy tickets to Machu Picchu 3 months in advance.

• 5) How much time in advance to buy tickets to Machu Picchu in low tourist season?

  It is recommended to buy tickets to Machu Picchu one or two months in advance.

• 6) What is the month when Machu Picchu looks the most crowded?

  June is the month when most visitors are in Machu Picchu, especially in the mornings when it looks more crowded.

• 7) Which are the tickets that sell out the fastest during the high tourist season in Machu Picchu?

  The tickets that sell out the fastest are: a) Classic Machu Picchu entrance and b) Machu Picchu Classic lower terrace entrance.

• 8) What are the tickets that sell out the least during the high tourist season in Machu Picchu?

  The tickets that sell out less quickly in Machu Picchu are: a) Machu Picchu lower temples entrance and b) Machu Picchu entrance with Inca Bridge.

• 9) Can it rain if I visit Machu Picchu in June?

  In June there is very little chance of rain in Machu Picchu.

• 10) Is it very cold if I visit Machu Picchu in August?

  In August Machu Picchu has a temperate temperature of between 8ºC. to 12ºC. at night.

Advice from people who have been there

Machu Picchu

By: Ángela F.

“Beautiful“

“Machu Picchu is undoubtedly a very special place by any side, I highlight its history, its landscape and above all the warmth of its people.“

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