More Visitors Now Allowed at Machu Picchu

Climbing through the ruins of Machu Picchu, the ancient Inca city perched on a mountaintop deep in the Andes, is the dream of most curious travelers. For most, it’s an experience of a lifetime, and for family travelers, it’s a treasured adventure to share.

Getting there involves flying from Lima to Cuzco and taking a four-hour train ride through the Urubamba Valley to the village of Aguas Calientes at the foot of Machu Picchu. Alternatively, you can take a bus to the town of Ollantaytambo, tour its impressive Inca site and take a shorter train ride from there.

But getting to the base of the fortress isn’t the only challenge: Admissions are limited. Until recently, the site admitted only 4,500 visitors per day. But a new policy by Peru’s Ministry of Culture will increase that number to 5,600 daily visitors during the high season. In addition, tickets will now be available in advance through the new website, tuboleto.cultura.pe.

In addition to the advance tickets sold through this online platform, an additional 1,000 tickets will be available each day for in-person purchase at Cultural Center of the Decentralized Directorate of Culture of Cusco in Aguas Calientes. Tickets good for the following day will be sold from 3 to 10 p.m. daily.

You should also reserve a guide to tour the ruins. Although rules requiring a guide are not enforced, once you have made the investment to get there, you’ll want to make sure you get the most from the experience. You are allowed only four hours inside the ancient city, and a guide will make sure you see the highlights and understand their significance.