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Important info for travelers to Machu Picchu this summer

IF YOU ARE PLANNING  to visit Machu  Picchu  this year, you need to know about changes to the system that grants access to Machu Picchu city.

Countless  people  across  the  world  are  planning  to  visit  Peru  this summer. Some of them have already made reservations  for their trips, while some are still deciding when to go. If you are one of those people who have yet to secure their plans, then the following information is of utmost importance for helping you plan your visit.

Explosive growth of tourism in Machu Picchu.

The purpose of this new set of rules, implemented in accordance with the Master Plan of the Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu, is to ensure a better flow of people to the site.

Entrance to the main attractions in Machu Picchu city now have two allocated entrance times. This means that visitors will only be permitted to enter Machu Picchu at the time they have been allotted and must exit the city by the time assigned.

The new Regulations of Sustainable Use and Touristic Visits for the Conservation of the Inca City of Machu Picchu establishes that from July 1, 2017, the following changes will take place:

1. Entrance to Machu Picchu will be divided into two entrance and departure times:

The 1st entrance/departure  times from 05:30 AM until 12:00 noon.

The 2nd entrance/departure  times from 12:00 noon until 17:30 PM

2. Entrance times for alternate routes:

A. Huayna Picchu Mountain

The 1st entrance from 07:00 AM until 08:00 AM.

The 2nd  entrance from 10:00 AM until 11:00 AM

Only  250  people  per time  can climb  this  mountain.  The average time to go  up  and down  this mountain is about 3  hours –  and 4  hours if  one wishes  to  visit  the Great Cavern. People should exit the Huayna Picchu by 13:00 PM.

B. Machu Picchu Mountain

The 1st entrance from 07:00  AM until 08:00  AM

The 2nd  entrance from 09:00  AM until 10:00  AM

Only 400  people per time can climb this mountain. The average time to go up and down  this mountain is about 4   hours.   People    should    exit    the   Machu  Picchu mountain by 15:00  PM.

Visit Machu Picchu this summer

How will this affect tourists?

It is not  known  yet with certainty how  these changes will  affect visitors. Based on our experience we can foresee the following effects:

  • The best part of these changes is that there will  be fewer tourists in Machu Picchu at any given time – at least, not as many as in the past. This will make the experience more pleasant and will allow people to enjoy the beautiful views without the huge crowds.
  • The actual time spent at the archaeological site will be reduced to only 5 hours per entrance time. It seems that the people with permits to climb Huayna Picchu and Machu Picchu mountains will stay longer in the city (this has yet to be confirmed).
  • These changes will alter the train schedules. People need to check with their tour operators which entrance time they have been alloted to enter Machu Picchu, to assist them to plan their trips and arrange hotels.

Our Recommendations:

Based on these changes, the best way to go to Machu Picchu is the Short Inca trail, Because, on the one hand, this is ancient road is a beautiful way to get to the Sungate and Machu Picchu. On the other hand, people hiking the short Inca Trail will be able to visit Machu Picchu twice. At the end of day one of their hike, and when they return to Machu Picchu the following day.

When it comes to crowds, the afternoon shift will be less busy than the morning one – particularly during the “low season” months. People will have to choose between attempting to see the sunrise at Machu Picchu or be in the presence of fewer individuals at the site.

The Peruvian government has been implementing workshops and teach-ins with people involved in the travel market. The point of this is to correctly and gradually apply these changes without

causing too much discomfort on our visitors.  Finally, throughout these teach-ins, the Peruvian government representatives have communicated that it will take between four and six months to enforce these new rules fully.

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