Planning ahead for Machu Picchu tickets or grabbing them when you get there. Yeah, it’s turned into this huge spot in South America lately. So many folks head over each year. Here’s why thinking ahead beats showing up and hoping.
How tickets work at Machu Picchu.
Pick your travel time first. Depends a lot on when. Usually, they go quicker in dry months, slower when it’s wet.
Around 4000 spots for regular entry each day.
For the Inca Trail tickets daily.
The longer 4 or 5 day one: 500 spots, but only about 200 for actual walkers.
Shorter 1 or 2 day: 250 spots, roughly 200 to 230 walkers.
Keep in mind, for the long Inca path, crew like carriers, cooks, guides eat up maybe 60 percent, so 300 of those 500. Short one, just guides, around 10 percent or 50 from 250.
Tickets from Aguas Calientes, that’s Machu Picchu town.
Peru lets 1000 go on sale to whoever shows up first. For tomorrow.
Thinking ahead to buy.
Want the ticket you aim for? Plan it out, buy early. Only sure way to lock in what fits. All ties to when you go. Peak times, they vanish right when released. Sales start December-ish for next year.
Also related: Machu Picchu 2 Days
Dry months to Machu Picchu.
In Cusco area and Machu Picchu, dry hits during their winter. May through October. Weather’s solid, hardly any rain, clear shots of the place. Folks love it, gets packed.
Oh man, dry time means queues everywhere you turn, hotels full up, Machu Picchu probably gone. If heading to Peru then, buy 4 to 6 months early. Essential!
Busiest hits June, July, August. No chance last minute those months! Get them 4 to 6 months before, at least.
Wet months in Machu Picchu.
Weird period, wet in Andes means daily downpours. But not constant. Their highland summer, November to April. January, February, March soak the most. Can shut some paths. Least crowded in Cusco zone.
If rain doesn’t bug you, go for it. Short waits, cheap deals on trips and stays. For Machu Picchu tickets wet time, buy 2 to 4 days ahead for good ones.
Inca path shuts whole February for fixes.
Tour Related: Machu Picchu Tour from Cusco
Going with a tour group.
Makes the trip easy, no worries. They see all calendars, know the drill inside out. To hike Inca path to Machu Picchu, must use a licensed group with Cusco office. Rule from government.
Upsides with tour group.
- They handle buying all tickets, walk you through stuff. Saves hassle.
- Transport from Cusco to Machu Picchu, all set.
- Guides who know tons, speak English, Spanish, Quechua.
- For multi day hikes like Inca path, they supply tents, cook gear, bags to sleep in, pads.
- If guided sounds good, check our top picks for groups.
Buying at the last second.
Truth is, waiting cuts your odds for a decent ticket. Depends on season. Sometimes impossible showing up in Cusco and getting one, but luck might strike.
Dry time, they disappear fast. Say, few left online, you ponder which day, half hour later… gone! Happens too much. Why buying early’s pushed hard.
Tickets from Aguas Calientes.
No luck buying last minute sometimes. Option in Aguas Calientes though. 1000 sold daily for next day. Afternoons, 3 to 10 pm.
The main disadvantage of buying your tickets to Machu Picchu “at last minute” is that you may have to stay several additional days (more than 3 days) in Machu Picchu, which also involves greater expenditure on hotels, food, health, and other recreational aditional expenses; therefore, from “Machu Picchu Tours,” TEAM we recommend always buy your tickets in ADVANCE, up to 6 months or 1 year, as it will always much better.
Got to show up on time to visit with those, late and no go.
Lining up in Aguas Calientes for a ticket? Risky as hell. First in line, decent shot. But even with ticket, need a guide to visit. Finding a good one cheap? Tough. Safer with a solid licensed group handling it all. Relax, think about what’s next.
