Machu Picchu is open every day of the year, including Sundays, holidays, and festive days. The tourist visiting hours are from six in the morning until five in the afternoon. However, each Inca structure has different visiting hours. For example, the Great Cave can only be visited during two specific entry times. The same applies to other Inca structures and the mountains surrounding the archaeological site. Learn the visiting hours of each of the constructions within the Machu Picchu Historic Sanctuary!

• Machu Picchu and its over 150 stone constructions
• Visiting hours of the Inca city of Machu Picchu
• Visiting hours for each type of ticket at Machu Picchu
• Visiting hours for the mountains surrounding Machu Picchu
• Visiting hours of the main Inca temples at Machu Picchu
• Questions and answers about the visiting hours at Machu Picchu

Photo of Machu Picchu from Circuit 2

How long can I stay at Machu Picchu during my visit?
When visiting Machu Picchu, tourists can choose from ten different types of tickets, each with a different time limit for the visit. For example, tickets that only include the tour of the Inca citadel allow approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes from entry, the ticket for Huayna Picchu Mountain allows 5 hours, the ticket for Machu Picchu Mountain allows 6 hours, the ticket for Huchuy Picchu Mountain allows 4 hours, the ticket for the Inca Bridge allows 4 hours, and the ticket for the Inti Punku Gate allows 4 hours. These times are recommended, but not strict, as no guard will ask you to leave if you extend your visit. However, it is advised to follow the time limits to avoid exhaustion and ensure an authentic experience for all visitors. Additionally, each ticket includes one of the three available circuits, allowing you to experience various aspects of this world wonder.

Machu Picchu and its over 150 stone constructions

Since the worldwide news of its existence in 1911, research and restoration efforts have revealed more than one hundred and fifty stone buildings at Machu Picchu.

The Inca city is divided into two sections: the upper religious sector and the lower urban sector. Additionally, at the highest point and around the archaeological site, there are up to three high mountains with Inca paths leading to their respective summits: Huayna Picchu Mountain (2,693 meters above sea level), Machu Picchu Mountain (3,082 meters above sea level), and the small Huchuy Picchu Mountain (2,497 meters above sea level). The Inca citadel is located at an average altitude of 2,430 meters above sea level.

The most famous, visited, and photographed structures include: the Temple of the Sun, the Main Temple, the Temple of the Three Windows, the Intihuatana, the Sacred Rock, the Temple of the Condor, the Water Fountains, the Inca House and the Guardian’s House (from this last sector, you get the classic photo of Machu Picchu that every visitor seeks).

There are also more distant structures, which are included in hiking routes, such as: the Secret Gate, the Inti Punku Gate, the granaries, the three-portal building, the Inca Bridge, the water fountains, the colcas, the Temple of the Moon, and the constructions in the mountains of Machu Picchu.

The terraces, which make up a large part of Machu Picchu, have several underground layers for agricultural cultivation, as well as proper water drainage. Research shows that sixty percent of the buildings in the Inca city are underground. Thanks to the great skills of the Inca engineers, Machu Picchu remains in good condition after more than five hundred years.

Panoramic view of Machu Picchu from the upper terrace

Visiting hours of the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu

The Inca city of Machu Picchu is open every day of the year from six in the morning until five in the afternoon.

The Inca city can only close its doors in exceptional cases of emergencies that may endanger the safety of visitors, such as natural disasters (earthquakes, mudslides, or forest fires) or protests (which may block access routes to Machu Picchu).

In any case, the authorities at Machu Picchu offer options for visitors to ensure they don’t miss out on any part of the site, such as changing dates without penalties or even refunding the ticket purchase.

Visitors touring Machu Picchu

Visiting hours for each type of ticket at Machu Picchu

• Visiting hours for the Machu Picchu + Mountain ticket (Route 1A):

  • Group 1: Entry to Circuit 1 is from 07:00 to 07:30 AM, while entry to Machu Picchu Mountain route is until 09:00 AM.
  • Group 2: Entry to Circuit 1 is from 09:00 to 09:30 AM, while entry to Machu Picchu Mountain route is until 11:00 AM.

• Visiting hours for the Machu Picchu Classic Photo or Upper Terrace ticket (Route 1B) (entry from 06:00 AM to 03:00 PM):

  • Group 1: Entry to Circuit 1 is from 06:00 to 06:30 AM.
  • Group 2: Entry to Circuit 1 is from 07:00 to 06:30 AM.
  • Group 3: Entry to Circuit 1 is from 08:00 to 06:30 AM.
  • Group 4: Entry to Circuit 1 is from 09:00 to 06:30 AM.
  • Group 5: Entry to Circuit 1 is from 10:00 to 06:30 AM.
  • Group 6: Entry to Circuit 1 is from 11:00 to 06:30 AM.
  • Group 7: Entry to Circuit 1 is from 12:00 to 12:30 PM.
  • Group 8: Entry to Circuit 1 is from 13:00 to 13:30 PM.
  • Group 9: Entry to Circuit 1 is from 14:00 to 14:30 PM.
  • Group 10: Entry to Circuit 1 is from 15:00 to 15:30 PM.

• Visiting hours for the Machu Picchu + Inti Punku ticket (Route 1C) (entry from 07:00 AM to 11:00 AM):

  • Group 1: Entry to Circuit 1 is from 07:00 to 07:30 AM, while entry to the Inti Punku route is until 09:00 AM.
  • Group 2: Entry to Circuit 1 is from 08:00 to 08:30 AM, while entry to the Inti Punku route is until 10:00 AM.
  • Group 3: Entry to Circuit 1 is from 09:00 to 09:30 AM, while entry to the Inti Punku route is until 11:00 AM.
  • Group 4: Entry to Circuit 1 is from 10:00 to 10:30 AM, while entry to the Inti Punku route is until 12:00 PM.

• Visiting hours for the Machu Picchu + Inca Bridge ticket (Route 1D) (entry from 08:00 AM to 11:00 AM):

  • Group 1: Entry to Circuit 1 is from 08:00 to 08:30 AM, while entry to the Inca Bridge route is until 10:00 AM.
  • Group 2: Entry to Circuit 1 is from 09:00 to 09:30 AM, while entry to the Inca Bridge route is until 11:00 AM.
  • Group 3: Entry to Circuit 1 is from 10:00 to 10:30 AM, while entry to the Inca Bridge route is until 12:00 PM.
  • Group 4: Entry to Circuit 1 is from 11:00 to 11:30 AM, while entry to the Inca Bridge route is until 13:00 PM.

• Visiting hours for the Machu Picchu Classic Circuit Designed ticket (Route 2A) (entry from 06:00 AM to 03:00 PM):

  • Group 1: Entry to Circuit 2 is from 06:00 to 06:30 AM.
  • Group 2: Entry to Circuit 2 is from 07:00 to 06:30 AM.
  • Group 3: Entry to Circuit 2 is from 08:00 to 06:30 AM.
  • Group 4: Entry to Circuit 2 is from 09:00 to 06:30 AM.
  • Group 5: Entry to Circuit 2 is from 10:00 to 06:30 AM.
  • Group 6: Entry to Circuit 2 is from 11:00 to 06:30 AM.
  • Group 7: Entry to Circuit 2 is from 12:00 to 12:30 PM.
  • Group 8: Entry to Circuit 2 is from 13:00 to 13:30 PM.
  • Group 9: Entry to Circuit 2 is from 14:00 to 14:30 PM.
  • Group 10: Entry to Circuit 2 is from 15:00 to 15:30 PM.

• Visiting hours for the Machu Picchu Classic Lower Terrace ticket (Route 2B) (entry from 06:00 AM to 03:00 PM):

  • Group 1: Entry to Circuit 2 is from 06:00 to 06:30 AM.
  • Group 2: Entry to Circuit 2 is from 07:00 to 06:30 AM.
  • Group 3: Entry to Circuit 2 is from 08:00 to 06:30 AM.
  • Group 4: Entry to Circuit 2 is from 09:00 to 06:30 AM.
  • Group 5: Entry to Circuit 2 is from 10:00 to 06:30 AM.
  • Group 6: Entry to Circuit 2 is from 11:00 to 06:30 AM.
  • Group 7: Entry to Circuit 2 is from 12:00 to 12:30 PM.
  • Group 8: Entry to Circuit 2 is from 13:00 to 13:30 PM.
  • Group 9: Entry to Circuit 2 is from 14:00 to 14:30 PM.
  • Group 10: Entry to Circuit 2 is from 15:00 to 15:30 PM.

• Visiting hours for the Machu Picchu + Huayna Picchu Mountain ticket (Route 3A):

  • Group 1: Entry to Circuit 3 is from 07:00 to 07:30 AM, while entry to the Huayna Picchu route is until 09:00 AM.
  • Group 2: Entry to Circuit 3 is from 10:00 to 10:30 AM, while entry to the Huayna Picchu route is until 12:00 PM.

• Visiting hours for the Machu Picchu Lower Temples or Designed Royalty ticket (Route 3B) (entry from 06:00 AM to 03:00 PM):

  • Group 1: Entry to Circuit 3 is from 06:00 to 06:30 AM.
  • Group 2: Entry to Circuit 3 is from 07:00 to 06:30 AM.
  • Group 3: Entry to Circuit 3 is from 08:00 to 06:30 AM.
  • Group 4: Entry to Circuit 3 is from 09:00 to 06:30 AM.
  • Group 5: Entry to Circuit 3 is from 10:00 to 06:30 AM.
  • Group 6: Entry to Circuit 3 is from 11:00 to 06:30 AM.
  • Group 7: Entry to Circuit 3 is from 12:00 to 12:30 PM.
  • Group 8: Entry to Circuit 3 is from 13:00 to 13:30 PM.
  • Group 9: Entry to Circuit 3 is from 14:00 to 14:30 PM.
  • Group 10: Entry to Circuit 3 is from 15:00 to 15:30 PM.

• Visiting hours for the Machu Picchu + Moon Temple or Great Cave ticket (Route 3C):

  • Group 1: Entry to Circuit 3 is from 08:00 to 08:30 AM, while entry to the Moon Temple is until 10:00 AM.
  • Group 2: Entry to Circuit 3 is from 09:00 to 09:30 AM, while entry to the Moon Temple is until 11:00 AM.

• Visiting hours for the Machu Picchu + Huchuy Picchu ticket (Route 3D):

  • Group 1: Entry to Circuit 3 is from 09:00 to 09:30 AM, while entry to the Huchuy Picchu route is until 11:00 AM.
  • Group 2: Entry to Circuit 3 is from 11:00 to 11:30 AM, while entry to the Huchuy Picchu route is until 13:00 PM.

Map of Machu Picchu circuits

Opening hours for Machu Picchu during the high season
During the high season for tickets to Machu Picchu, from June 19 to November 2, the entrance time will have an additional 15 minutes of tolerance (you’ll have 45 minutes in total). During these dates, all 10 entrances to Machu Picchu will be available; at other times, only the 6 most popular entrances are open.

Visiting hours for the mountains surrounding Machu Picchu

There are three mountains in Machu Picchu, each with different opening times:

Visiting hours for the main Inca temples in Machu Picchu

Here are the visiting hours for the main temples in Machu Picchu:

• Temple of the Sun – Every day from 6:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
• Main Temple – Every day from 6:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
• Temple of the Three Windows – Every day from 6:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
• Intihuatana – Temporarily closed.
• Temple of the Condor – Every day from 6:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
• Sacred Rock – Every day from 6:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
• Guardian’s House – Every day from 6:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

View of the Guardian’s House – Machu Picchu

Frequently Asked Questions about visiting hours in Machu Picchu

• 1) What are the visiting hours for Machu Picchu?

  The Inca citadel of Machu Picchu is open every day from 6:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

• 2) What are the visiting hours for Huayna Picchu Mountain?

  Huayna Picchu Mountain is open every day at two times, 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m.

• 3) What are the visiting hours for Huchuy Picchu Mountain?

  Huchuy Picchu Mountain is open every day during the high season (June 19 to November 2) at two times, 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m.

• 4) What are the visiting hours for Machu Picchu Mountain?

  Machu Picchu Mountain is open every day at two times, 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m.

• 5) What are the visiting hours for the Temple of the Condor in Machu Picchu?

  The Temple of the Condor in Machu Picchu is open to visitors every day from 6:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

• 6) What are the visiting hours for the Main Temple in Machu Picchu?

  The Main Temple in Machu Picchu is open to visitors every day from 6:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

• 7) What are the visiting hours for Intihuatana in Machu Picchu?

  Intihuatana in Machu Picchu is temporarily closed.

• 8) What are the visiting hours for the Temple of the Sun in Machu Picchu?

  The Temple of the Sun in Machu Picchu is open to visitors every day from 6:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

• 9) What time does the last bus leave after a visit to Machu Picchu?

  The last bus from Machu Picchu to the town of Aguas Calientes departs at approximately 5:30 p.m.

• 10) What time should I descend from the top of Huayna Picchu Mountain?

  The limit for staying at the top of Huayna Picchu Mountain is until 2:00 p.m. A park ranger will invite you to descend after this time.

Advice from people who have been there

Machu Picchu

By: Patrick F.

“A dream come true“

“I always dreamed of visiting Machu Picchu. From seeing the photos at home to seeing it in front of me, there are many miles between, but it was all worth it. Undoubtedly an excellent destination that everyone should visit at least once in their lifetime.“

By Ticket Machu Picchu – Last updated, February 10, 2026