Color, emotion and nostalgia were experienced in the reopening ceremony of the emblematic Inca citadel of Machu Picchu, which from November 2 will once again receive thousands of national and international tourists under health protocols.
Since the American Hiram Bingham made the existence of Machu Picchu known to the rest of the world in 1911, the Inca citadel had hardly been so empty for as long as during the pandemic, only visited by the operators in charge of doing the maintenance inside the enclosure .
With Peru’s tourism emblem back on track, this sector, which generated around 5.5 billion dollars at the national level, awaits the definitive boost to get back on track. «It is the first step,» Minister Barrios said when asked by Efe.
Is Machu Picchu open in 2024?
Since Sunday, January 31, and in the framework of the second wave of COVID-19 infections, Peru returned to confinement in 9 of its 25 regions, at least until February 28. Cusco is among them, which led to a new closure of Machu Picchu, the country’s main attraction.
Machu Picchu, the country’s main attraction, could not have full activity since the beginning of the pandemic, in March 2020. It is worth remembering that the archaeological site reopened in November, only for national tourists, with free access for them, and with a maximum occupancy of 30% of regular visitors in pre-pandemic times. The opening was a success in the domestic market and the quotas were quickly exhausted.
Everything was going at a good pace, until, as indicated, in December visits were suspended again due to protests by neighbors against the railway companies that operate there, due to the «abusive» prices of tickets for locals. The protesters set up a picket line in the middle of the tracks, completely preventing access.
Without a definitive agreement, at the end of December the blockade was lifted and Machu Picchu reopened its doors on January 1. But it was also short-lived: before the end of the month, the national government again backed down, within the framework of the new confinement. In short, it is the third time it has been closed since March.
But Machu Picchu is not the only great Peruvian attraction affected by the new measure. Other tourist sites in the Cusco region have also been left without visits, such as the fortress of Sacsayhuamán, located in the same regional capital; or the circular agricultural platforms of Moray.
Perhaps the other notable case in international terms is the suspension of overflights over the world-famous Nazca Lines, as well as tours of protected natural areas such as Lake Titicaca or Huascarán, the national park where the highest mountain in Peru, of the same name.
As indicated, the suspension of tourist visits will continue until at least February 28, the date on which the new quarantine decreed in Peru will be in force, although the Government may extend it if the national epidemiological situation continues on the current negative path.
When will Machu Picchu open?
Machu Picchu will not open until biosafety measures are guaranteed, the citadel of the Incas will remain closed until further notice.
Security protocols must be approved and must comply with all possible security measures to avoid contagion between tourists and local people. As is known, Machu Picchu is the main tourist destination and since March 16 it stopped receiving tourists and until now its official opening is unknown.
Entrance tickets when Machu Picchu open in 2024
Visiting Cusco is a real adventure whose protagonist will be yourself, instead of a memorable experience, that is why Cusco is definitely one of the most incredible cities with a great variety of archaeological centers and tours such as Sacred Valley, Camino Inca or Machu Picchu. To enjoy an unforgettable experience, contact Qorianka Tours, a company that will better assist you during your visit, of course it is always with the necessary advice for you and yours as well as the guarantee, responsibility and security that characterizes us.
In total there are 3 kinds of Machu Picchu entrance tickets for 2024. Two of them also include the tour of the Huayna Picchu and Machupicchu mountains. There is also another optional ticket that allows you to visit the Machupicchu site museum, which exhibits some Inca objects found there.
Visiting hours to this cultural venue are from Monday to Sunday from 8 a.m. at 4 p.m. A good idea is to add to the 3 types of tickets, the entrance ticket to the museum. These are the hours and advantages of each of the tickets:
Machu Picchu Entrance Tickets 2024
Entrance Machu Picchu Solo
What includes?
- Visit to Machu Picchu.
- Hike to Intipunku.
- Walk to the Inca Bridge.
Schedules:
- 1st. Machu Picchu schedule (Entry from 6 a.m. / 7 a.m. / 8 a.m.).
- 2nd. Machu Picchu schedule (Entry from 9 a.m. / 10 a.m. / 11 a.m.).
- 3rd. Machu Picchu schedule (Entry from 12 p.m. / 1 ??p.m. / 2 p.m.).
- 2500 spaces per day.
Price of Tickets:
| Adult | Student Child | |
| Foreign | USD 65 | USD 39 |
| Andean Community * | USD 35 | USD 25 |
| Peruvians | USD 28 | USD 19 |
Entrance Machu Picchu + Huayna Picchu
What includes?
- Visit to Machu Picchu.
- Visit to Huayna Picchu.
- Visit to the Temple of the Moon.
Schedules:
- 1st. Group (Entrance Machu Picchu from 6 a.m. / Huayna Picchu, from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m.).
- 2nd. Group (Entrance Machu Picchu from 7 a.m. / Huayna Picchu, from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m.).
- 3rd. Group (Entrance Machu Picchu from 8 a.m. / Huayna Picchu, from 10.30 a.m. to 11.30 a.m.).
- 400 spaces per day.
Price of Tickets:
| Adult | Student Child | |
| Foreign | USD 80 | USD 54 |
| Andean Community * | USD 50 | USD 36 |
| Peruvians | USD 42 | USD 33 |
Entrance Machu Picchu + Mountain
What includes?
- Visit to Machu Picchu.
- Visit to Machu Picchu mountain.
- Treks in Machu Picchu.
Schedules:
- 1st. Group (Entrance Machu Picchu from 6 a.m. / Mountain, from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m.).
- 2nd. Group (Entrance Machu Picchu from 7 a.m. / Mountain, from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m.).
- 3rd. Group (Entrance Machu Picchu from 8 a.m. / Mountain, from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.).
- 800 spaces per day.
Price of Tickets:
| Adult | Student Child | |
| Foreign | USD 80 | USD 54 |
| Andean Community * | USD 50 | USD 36 |
| Peruvians | USD 42 | USD 33 |
* Andean Community: Colombia, Bolivia, Ecuador Peruvians
If you visit the city of Cusco another impressive destinations that you can visit are the tour to rainbow mountain peru or the humantay lake tour from cusco, which only takes one day. But if you are gonna to stay more days in Cusco, other archaeological places you can know will be the choquequirao trek peru, the salkantay trek to machu picchu, and the classic inca trail 4 days 3 nights.
First steps for the return of foreigners
Foreign tourists will take a little longer to arrive, as it was only in October that Peru reopened its air borders and, after being suspended for six months, resumed regular routes with seven Latin American countries (Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Panama, Paraguay and Uruguay.
Starting in November, it will do the same with other countries such as Argentina, Brazil, the United States, Mexico and Canada.
All tourists arriving from these destinations must present upon arrival a molecular test (PCR) with a negative result performed less than 72 hours before taking the flight, as well as an affidavit of health with their itinerary and the commitment to notify if have any symptoms.
Peru is easing restrictions and reactivating tourism while leaving behind the first wave, which positioned it as one of the epicenters of the pandemic, accumulating more than 900,000 infections and more than 34,000 deaths, which makes it have the highest mortality rate in the world, with 105 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants.
Railroad to Machu Picchu reopened
Ferrocarril Transandino S.A., the concessionaire of the railroad in the South and South East, issued a statement addressed to railway operators and the general public.
After verifying the condition of the track and verifying that the route meets the necessary safety conditions, the company informs the immediate reopening of the passage of trains on both the South and South East tracks, according to the indications and schedules that it carries out the Operations Control Center of the concessionaire.
Measures and Protocols when Machu Picchu is open
Through Ministerial Resolution No. 173-2020-MC, the Government has released the regulation regarding the maximum number of visitors allowed daily, as well as the health and safety protocols that all visitors to this jewel of The country’s crown must comply once they come to visit, after there have been no visits in recent months due to the confinement produced by the decreed total quarantine derived from the coronavirus crisis.
Number of visitors halved by the pandemic
Unlike the current period, under normal conditions the citadel received almost five thousand visits a day by national and foreign tourists. Now, due to the COVID-19 crisis, that number of visits has been limited to half. The maximum number of tourists allowed per day will be 2,244 and they must comply with all the protocols established to carry out the visit.
Reopening date, yet to be specified
The intention of the Government was to decree the reopening of the citadel of Machu Picchu for July 1, although the delay derived from the decree of the sanitary protocols to guarantee the safety of tourists has caused the delay in the reopening, whose date is yet to be specify until the permits and protocols are approved at all levels, according to the Governor of Cuzco, Jean Paul Benavente.
In this way, the national government also set its reopening gradually for what is, to date, one of the so-called ‘Wonders of the World’.
Complementary measures
The income groups when Machu Picchu is open will be made up of eight people including a tourist guide who will have to board the buses in Machupicchu Pueblo (Aguas Calientes). For this, cabins will be installed where tourists can get the services of a professional. The presence of guides in the anteroom to the archaeological park will be prohibited.
The tourist will have to go through a temperature control, anyone who exceeds 38 degrees or has symptoms of Wuhan disease will not be able to enter the citadel.
Likewise, sinks will be installed for disinfection and the consumption of food is prohibited. During the tour the distance between people will be at least 1.5 meters and 20 meters between groups.
Enough explained that there will be four enabled circuits, two for the upper part and two for the lower part; «They are circuits that have short and long (route) versions that will prevent groups from meeting or overlapping on the way,» he said.
The explanation areas will be marked by small platforms that will determine the location of the tourists maintaining the recommended distance.
Visits to the Temple of the Sun, site museum, botanical garden, as well as the pedestrian path to Machu Picchu will be closed, since the only way to enter the wonder will be by bus.
How to recognize companies that provide safe travel?
Travel agencies, tour operators authorized by MINSA and the Tourism Office of your locality, which have processed the authorization certificate and presented their surveillance plan with their protocols, may provide tourism services.
