Machu Picchu is open to tourists every day of the year from six in the morning to five in the afternoon. The entrance ticket allows access to the Inca city in a limited time of approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes, depending on the type of ticket purchased. Most visitors prefer the morning schedule since it allows them to visit in one day and return in the afternoon and evening to the city of Cusco. Learn more about the schedules that most visitors are looking for in their trip!

• Machu Picchu sightseeing tour schedule
• The tickets to Machu Picchu: 10 new tickets
• Visiting hours in Machu Picchu
• Machu Picchu’s most popular times for visitors
• Tips for choosing your Machu Picchu visit schedule
• Machu Picchu tickets and visiting hours: summary
• Questions and answers about the best visiting hours in Machu Picchu

House of the Guardian of Machu Picchu – Classic route

Can I stay in Machu Picchu for the whole day?
Previously there were no strict rules in Machu Picchu and visitors could stay several hours in the Inca citadel, even during the whole day. However, in order to protect the Inca city from the excessive number of visitors (approximately 1.5 million people each year), structures were created for routes and, above all, schedules and time limits for visits. Thus, today there are 10 types of tickets and 3 circuits for the Inca archaeological site. Most people stay an average of 2 hours and 30 minutes in the Inca city. However, if you choose a ticket that includes a hike to one of the mountains, the time is 3, 4 or even 5 hours. Even then there is no way the visitor can stay for the whole day (Machu Picchu opens from 6 am until 5 pm). The only possible way is to choose two or three entrance tickets at different times for the same day. In that case it is best to visit on two different days, Machu Picchu will still be open!

Machu Picchu sightseeing tour schedule

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

In total there are ten types of tickets, which allow access to the Inca city at different times, all allowing time to enjoy Machu Picchu for one of the three circuits available.

The visiting time for Machu Picchu tickets is approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes. However, if the ticket adds the hike to one of the mountains or to a remote Inca site, the time is longer.

For example, the Classic Machu Picchu ticket allows you to visit the Inca city in 2 hours and 30 minutes. On the other hand, the Machu Picchu with Temple of the Moon ticket allows a 5-hour visit including the trekking route to the Great Cavern (as the Temple of the Moon is known).

The entrance ticket to Machu Picchu shows an access time that must be respected. A delay of 30 minutes and 45 minutes is allowed during the high tourist season (June 1 to October 15). Late entry will be accepted in case of emergencies such as train delays or problems accessing the buses.

The recommended visiting time is 2 hours and 30 minutes and a longer time if you add the visit to the mountains or hikes to Intipunku or Inca Bridge. However, the times are referential and ideal for the visit.

Lone tree in Pisonay Square

The tickets to Machu Picchu: 10 new tickets

These are the entrance tickets to Machu Picchu

• Entrance Machu Picchu Classic Photo: 10 different entrance times.
• Entrance Machu Picchu Classic: 10 different entrance times.
• Entrance Machu Picchu Classic lower terrace: 10 different entrance times.
• Entrance Machu Picchu Temples of the lower part: 10 different entrance times.
• Entrance Machu Picchu with Huayna Picchu: 2 different entrance times.
• Entrance Machu Picchu with Mountain: 2 different entrance times.
• Entrance Machu Picchu with Huchuy Picchu: 2 different entrance times.
• Entrance Machu Picchu with Inca Bridge: 4 different entrance times.
• Entrance Machu Picchu with Intipunku: 4 different entrance hours.
• Entrance Machu Picchu with Temple of the Moon: 2 different entrance times.

View of Machu Picchu – Panoramic Tour

Visiting hours in Machu Picchu

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

  • Admission times: 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 Machupicchu 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.

• Ticket Machu Picchu with Intipunku:

  • Admission 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 Inca Bridge:

  • Admission 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 Great Cavern until 8 am. Schedule 2: to Machupicchu from 9 am to 9.30 am / to Huayna Picchu until 11 am.

Machu Picchu’s most popular times for visitors

• For the Machu Picchu 1-day visit from Cusco:

  Visitors who make their one-day visit departing and returning from the city of Cusco, prefer the schedules of 10 am, 11 am and noon. This way they have enough time to leave Cusco with the first trains (services from 5 am, 6 am or 7 am) to finally enter Machu Picchu at these times without any problem. It should be noted that after the visit to Machu Picchu, the tourist must return by train to Cusco at 4 pm, 5 pm, 6 pm or a later train.

• For the 2-day visit to Machu Picchu with overnight stay in Machu Picchu town (Aguas Calientes):

  Tourists who visit Machu Picchu for at least two days starting from the town of Aguas Calientes (Machupicchu village) prefer the hours of 6 am, 7 am or 8 am. In this way they can appreciate beautiful sunrises in the Inca citadel surrounded by a beautiful landscape of clouds and a sun still not very intense. If the tourist will stay another night in the town of Aguas Calientes, they can choose to visit at 2 pm or 3 pm. At these times there are fewer visitors at the archaeological site, which facilitates the transit. Also, it is possible to get beautiful pictures under the dim light of the sunset.

Touring the Machu Picchu Panoramic Circuit

Tips for choosing your Machu Picchu visit schedule

• If you are traveling on your own, decide whether you will visit Machu Picchu for 1 day or 2 days or more.
• If you choose a 1 day trip to Machu Picchu departing from Cusco, choose the 9, 10 or 11 in the morning. This way you will have time to visit the Inca city and return to Cusco that same afternoon.
• If you choose a trip of 2 days or more, with an overnight stay in the town of Aguas Calientes, it is best to visit Machu Picchu in the early hours: 6 am, 7 am or 8 am. If you will return to stay in Aguas Calientes, you can choose the last hours: 2 pm or 3 pm. These times are the most special moments in the Inca citadel.
• Buy your tickets to Machu Picchu two or three months in advance. This way you can get more availability in the tickets and schedules of your preference.

Tourists leaving the archaeological site

Machu Picchu tickets and visiting hours: summary

Questions and answers about the best visiting hours in Machu Picchu

• 1) What are the Machu Picchu Classic Photo ticket schedules?

  There are 10 admission times for this ticket: 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).

• 2) What are the schedules for the Classic Machu Picchu ticket?

  There are 10 admission times for this ticket: 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).

• 3) What are the Machu Picchu Classic lower terrace ticket schedules?

  There are 10 admission times for this ticket: 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).

• 4) What are the Machu Picchu Temples ticket schedules for the lower part?

  There are 10 admission times for this ticket: 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).

• 5) What are the Machu Picchu with Huayna Picchu ticket schedules?

  There are 2 entrance hours for this ticket: 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.

• 6) What are the Machu Picchu with Mountain ticket schedules?

  There are 2 entrance schedules for this ticket: Schedule 1: to Machupicchu from 6 am to 6.30 am / to the Mountain until 8 am. Schedule 2: to Machupicchu from 8 am to 8.30 am / to Mountain until 10 am.

• 7) What are the Machu Picchu with Huchuy Picchu ticket schedules?

  There are 2 entrance hours for this ticket: 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.

• 8) What are the Machu Picchu ticket schedules with Intipunku?

  There are 4 admission times for this entrance: 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).

• 9) What are the schedules for the Machu Picchu ticket with Inca Bridge?

  There are 4 admission times for this ticket: 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).

• 10) What are the schedules for the Machu Picchu ticket with Temple of the Moon?

  There are 2 entrance hours for this ticket: Schedule 1: to Machupicchu from 6 am to 6.30 am / to Gran Caverna until 8 am. Schedule 2: to Machupicchu from 9 am to 9.30 am / to Huayna Picchu until 11 am.

Advice from people who have been there

Machu Picchu

By: Smith B.

“Sensational!“

“A visit that surprises you from beginning to end, from the train ride, the landscapes and Machu Picchu a simply sensational place.“

By Ticket Machu Picchu – Last updated, July 5, 2024