When travelers from anywhere in the world stop to reflect on Peru, the first image associated with this destination is off the splendorous citadel of Machu Picchu which, without a doubt, is the postcard of this country that is one of the most sought-after in South America. South, becoming a true jewel of the continent.
Arriving at the place that houses this representative building of the Inca legacy has become the dream of countless people over time, since not only is its architectural beauty enchanting, but all the mysticism and natural wonders that surround it are essential elements for making this one of Peru travel’s main attractions.
No wonder, this historic sanctuary became a World Heritage Site by the United Nations Educational Organization, better known as UNESCO, in 1983. In addition, another recognition makes Machu Picchu such a desired place: be part of the list of the 7 Wonders of the Modern World.
Therefore, we always emphasize that it is worth all the effort made by travelers to get to know this open-air museum and all its surroundings surrounded by fascinating scenarios. This Peruvian postcard receives around 1.5 million visitors a year and with all its relevance to the history of Peru and the world, preservation measures are extremely important.
With that in mind, we decided to bring you a special article to help and guide future tourists to Peru to plan their visit to Machu Picchu without forgetting any detail, since, like you, we want this whole moment to go perfectly and to be unforgettable.
Find out everything you need to visit the ancient Citadel of Machu Picchu, near Aguas Calientes, with this post, but first, get to know a little more about this spectacular destination!
Discover Machu Picchu
The Citadel of Machu Picchu, as you may already know, was built by the mighty Inca civilization, during the period when their empire was at its height. It is estimated that its construction took place between the 15th and the 16th century, however, the working life of this citadel was not more than 100 years.
Although the reasons are not clear, it is known that Machu Picchu was abandoned by the people who had settled there, and some theories indicate the possibility that this event was triggered by some health issue, such as an epidemic, for example.
After centuries hidden from outsiders, this historic sanctuary was (re)discovered by Hiram Bingham, in 1911, during his expedition for this very purpose, where he had the help of a child, a resident of the region, to reach the famous Inca construction. It was this researcher who was responsible for disclosing the existence of Machu Picchu to the world.
Over the period since its appearance to the world, this citadel has been researched and, with all the excavations carried out at the site, it can be concluded that this site housed between 300 and 1,000 people in an environment of peace and with activities focused on ceramics, textile culture, agriculture and also religion.
The entire structure of the city was planned and divided into areas dedicated to each of these activities, including the residential area. In addition to all the constructions being made, basically, of stones and without any use of mortar, the land was readjusted to the needs identified by the Incas for the stability of the structures, since the region of Machu Picchu is prone to suffer from earthquakes.
In addition to visiting the historic sanctuary of the Incas, in this attraction it is also possible to venture a little further, climbing the Machu Picchu or Huayna Picchu mountains and guaranteeing a unique view of the scenery that encompasses the main tourist spot in Peru.
New rules for visiting Machu Picchu
As mentioned before, for your visit to Machu Picchu to be incredible and nothing to get out of hand, it is necessary to pay close attention to some details related to the rules for visiting the attraction and always remember that each one of them was created to preserve this heritage. history of humanity for the future. So, let’s find out a little more about it!
As mentioned before, for your visit to Machu Picchu to be incredible and nothing to get out of hand, it is necessary to pay close attention to some details related to the rules for visiting the attraction and always remember that each one of them was created to preserve this heritage. history of humanity for the future. So, let’s find out a little more about it!
Documents required for entry
To enter the sanctuary of Machu Picchu it is necessary to present the entry ticket to the place, which is purchased in advance, together with the visitor’s passport or identity document, the same used to make the reservation to enter the Inca citadel.
It is important to remember that, to control the entrances, it is necessary to carry out the identification of each one of the visitors. In addition, you can buy tickets online or at some authorized locations in the city of Cusco, as there is no ticket office at the entrance to Machu Picchu.
Guide to Machu Picchu
It is mandatory to enter Machu Picchu accompanied by an official tourist guide of the place on the first visit to carry out any circuit available at the attraction, although it is not necessary to carry out the trips of Machu Picchu, Huchuy Picchu, and/or Huayna Picchu mountains.
The guide can accompany groups of a maximum of 16 people at a time, being responsible for accompanying them along the entire route chosen by the visitors and fulfilling the time limit of stay of 2 and a half hours (2h30) at the attraction, which is the determined time slot.
However, from the second visit of these individuals, it is possible to enter the sanctuary unaccompanied, just present the previous ticket and register the name of the tour guide who initially accompanied him.
The presence of an official guide is of paramount importance for you to have a complete experience and get to know as much as possible every detail behind the history of the Incas’ legacy, in addition to making the visit much more interesting and productive, it is important to remember the relevance of tourism for the economic development of the destinations visited, therefore, hiring this service is an important part of this process!
Hours and length of stay
Entry times and length of stay in Machu Picchu are also regulated, to organize the intense visitation received daily. Over a day, only 3,500 people can enter the attraction, and tickets are scheduled in advance.
In all, there are 9 entrance times to the attraction that vary in shifts of 1 hour between each one. That is, it is possible to enter the sanctuary from 6 am, at first, and then at 7 am; at 8 am; at 9 am; at 10 am; at 11 am; at noon; at 1 pm and finally at 2 pm, which is the last time.
The maximum length of stay is 4 hours inside the attraction, however, this configuration may change according to the type of ticket chosen by you. For example, in the case of visitors to other attractions, such as Machu Picchu and Wayna Picchu mountain, the entry and stay times may change.
So, if you have questions about timetables, contact Viagens Machu Picchu and we will plan your travel itinerary to Peru together!
About the bans
The prohibitions related to staying and entering Machu Picchu are divided into objects and behaviors:
Prohibited objects
- Backpacks or bags weighing more than 5 kg.
- Food and alcoholic beverages.
- Support equipment for cameras and cell phones, such as tripods or selfie sticks.
- Aerosols.
- Loudspeakers, musical instruments or megaphones.
- Banners or posters.
- Canes with a metal tip.
- Illicit substances of any kind.
- Baby carriage.
- Items for advertising purposes (flags, clothing, etc.).
Prohibited behaviors
- Climb or lean on structures.
- Committing immoral or obscene acts.
- Cause agglomerations, riots or disorder.
- Use of drones, paragliders or any vehicle to fly over the site.
- Use of electronic cigarettes.
- Taking illegal routes to enter Machu Picchu.
- Noise pollution (with loud music, shouting, applause, chanting, etc.).
- Cause fire or throw waste on site.
- Exit pre-established routes and circuits.
- Filming or photographing for publicity purposes or in dangerous locations.
Consequences and penalties
The consequences for non-compliance with any Machu Picchu rule will vary in intensity according to the degree of infraction. In addition to the immediate expulsion of the visitor, without receiving a refund of the ticket, in some cases, there may be the need for the involvement of the judicial Peruvian authorities and the lifetime ban of the visitor, who will no longer be able to get a Machu Picchu ticket under any aspect.
We know that getting to know Machu Picchu mountain can be a big dream for many of our readers, so we insist on reinforcing the importance of following each of the proposed rules so that your visit is more than a tour, but is the consolidation of unforgettable moments and memories.
With that, there are also many details to pay attention to during your preparation to visit the ancient citadel of the Incas, and what better way to have a tour operator specialized in Machu Picchu to help you at every step, right?
If you are planning a trip to Peru and be one of our visitors to Machu Picchu, Viagens Machu Picchu has the best packages for Peru and many other incredible destinations in the ancient lands of the Incas, be sure to check it out and come make your dream vacation with us!