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Schedules Inca constructions
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Machu Picchu: Inca constructions timetables

Machu Picchu is open every day of the year, including Sundays, holidays and public holidays. Visiting hours are from six in the morning until five in the afternoon. However, each Inca construction has different visiting hours. For example, the Great Cavern can only be visited during two strict visiting hours. The same is true for the other Inca constructions and the mountains surrounding the archaeological site. Learn more about the visiting hours for each of the Inca constructions!



Photo of Machu Picchu from circuit 2
Photo of Machu Picchu from circuit 2

How long can I stay in Machu Picchu during my visit?
At the time of the visit to Machu Picchu, the tourist can choose between one of the five types of tickets available, each of them allows a time limit for the visit. Thus, the classic Machupicchu ticket offers 2 hours and 30 minutes from the moment of entering the Inca city. The Machupicchu with Huaynapicchu ticket offers 5 hours. The ticket Machupicchu with Mountain, 6 hours. The ticket Machupicchu with Huchuypicchu, 4 hours. And the ticket Machupicchu with Inca Bridge, 4 hours of visit. The same for the tickets that only include Machu Picchu with an approximate time of 2 hours 30 minutes. This time is recommended but not strict, since no guard will tell you to leave Machu Picchu if you prolong your visit. However, this is recommended so as not to exhaust yourself during your visit. Each ticket offers a circuit, that is, a special sightseeing tour in the Wonder of the World. Once outside the archaeological site you cannot re-enter.


Machu Picchu and its more than 150 stone constructions

Since the world news of its existence in 1911, the works of investigation and enhancement have revealed more than one hundred and fifty buildings made of stone in Machu Picchu.

The Inca city is divided into two sectors: the upper religious sector and the lower urban sector. In addition, at the top and around the archaeological site, there are three high mountains with Inca roads leading to their respective summits: the Huayna Picchu mountain (2,693 masl), the Machu Picchu mountain (3,082 masl) and the small Huchuy Picchu mountain (2,497 masl). The Inca citadel is located at an average altitude of 2,430 masl.

In the archaeological site there are about one hundred and fifty stone constructions. The most famous, visited and photographed are: the Temple of the Sun, the Main Temple, the Temple of the 3 Windows, the Intihuatana, the Sacred Rock, the Temple of the Condor, the Water Fountains, the House of the Inca and the House of the Guardian (from this last sector you get the classic photo of Machu Picchu that all visitors seek).

There are also other little known buildings that are worth visiting, such as: the Secret Gate, the Intipunku (Sun Gate), the granaries, the enclosures of the three gates, the Inca Bridge, the water fountains, the colcas, the agricultural sector or the Temple of the Moon (located on the Huayna Picchu mountain).

The terraces, which make up a large part of the Machu Picchu area, have several subway layers for the cultivation of agricultural products, as well as good water drainage. Research indicates that sixty percent of the buildings in the Inca city are underground. Due to the great talent of the Inca engineers, Machupicchu continues in a good state of preservation after more than five hundred years.

Panoramic view of Machu Picchu from the upper terrace
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 integrity of visitors, such as: natural disasters (earthquakes, landslides or forest fires) or protests (which can block access roads to Machu Picchu).

In any case, the authorities of Machu Picchu provide options so that the visitor does not miss anything of Machu Picchu as a change of dates without penalty or even the refund of the purchase of the ticket.

Visitors touring Machu Picchu
Visitors touring Machu Picchu

Schedules for each type of ticket in Machu Picchu

  • Machupicchu Classic Photo ticket schedule (entrance from 6 am to 4 pm):

    • Group 1. Entrance from 6 a.m. to 7 a.m.
    • Group 2. Entrance from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m.
    • Group 3. Entrance from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m.
    • Group 4. Entrance from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.
    • Group 5. Entrance from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.
    • Group 6. Entrance from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.
    • Group 7. Entrance from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.
    • Group 8. Entrance from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.
    • Group 9. Entrance from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.
    • Group 10. Entrance from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m.
  • Machupicchu Classic Ticket Schedule (entrance from 6 am to 4 pm):

    • Group 1. Entrance from 6 a.m. to 7 a.m.
    • Group 2. Entrance from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m.
    • Group 3. Entrance from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m.
    • Group 4. Entrance from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.
    • Group 5. Entrance from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.
    • Group 6. Entrance from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.
    • Group 7. Entrance from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.
    • Group 8. Entrance from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.
    • Group 9. Entrance from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.
    • Group 10. Entrance from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m.
  • Machupicchu Classic Lower Terrace Ticket Schedule (entrance from 6 am to 4 pm):

    • Group 1. Entrance from 6 a.m. to 7 a.m.
    • Group 2. Entrance from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m.
    • Group 3. Entrance from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m.
    • Group 4. Entrance from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.
    • Group 5. Entrance from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.
    • Group 6. Entrance from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.
    • Group 7. Entrance from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.
    • Group 8. Entrance from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.
    • Group 9. Entrance from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.
    • Group 10. Entrance from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m.
  • Machupicchu ticket schedules Temples of the lower part (entrance from 6 am to 4 pm):

    • Group 1. Entrance from 6 a.m. to 7 a.m.
    • Group 2. Entrance from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m.
    • Group 3. Entrance from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m.
    • Group 4. Entrance from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.
    • Group 5. Entrance from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.
    • Group 6. Entrance from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.
    • Group 7. Entrance from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.
    • Group 8. Entrance from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.
    • Group 9. Entrance from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.
    • Group 10. Entrance from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m.
  • Machupicchu with Temple of the Moon ticket schedule (entrance from 6 am to 9.30 am):

    • Group 1. Entrance to Machu Picchu is from 6 a.m. to 6.30 a.m. while the entrance to the Temple of the Moon is to 8 a.m.
    • Group 2. Entrance to Machu Picchu is from 9 a.m. to 9.30 a.m. while the entrance to the Temple of the Moon is to 11 a.m.
  • Machupicchu ticket schedule with Intipunku (entrance from 8 am to 12 am):

    • Group 1. Entrance to Machupicchu is from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m.Entrance
    • Group 2. Entrance to Machupicchu is from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.Entrance
    • Group 3. Entrance to Machupicchu is from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.Entrance
    • Group 4. Entrance to Machupicchu is from 11 a.m. to 12 a.m.Entrance
  • Machupicchu with Huayna Picchu ticket schedule (entrance from 6 am to 9.30 am):

    • Group 1. Entrance to Machu Picchu is from 6 a.m. to 6.30 a.m. while the entrance to the Huayna Picchu is to 8 a.m.
    • Group 2. Entrance to Machu Picchu is from 9 a.m. to 9.30 a.m. while the entrance to the Huayna Picchu is to 11 a.m.
  • Machupicchu with Mountain ticket schedule (entrance from 6 am to 8.30 am):

    • Group 1. Entrance to Machu Picchu is from 6 a.m. to 6.30 a.m. while the entrance to the Machupicchu is to 8 a.m.
    • Group 2. Entrance to Machu Picchu is from 8 a.m. to 8.30 a.m. while the entrance to the Machupicchu is to 10 a.m.
  • Machupicchu with Huchuy Picchu ticket schedule (entrance from 11 am to 1.30 pm):

    • Group 1. Entrance to Machu Picchu is from 11 a.m. to 11.30 a.m. while the entrance to the Huchuy Picchu is to 12 a.m.
    • Group 2. Entrance to Machu Picchu is from 1 a.m. to 1.30 a.m. while the entrance to the Huchuy Picchu is to 2 a.m.
  • Machupicchu with Inca Bridge ticket schedule (entrance from 8 am to 12 pm):

    • Group 1. Entrance to Machupicchu is from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m.Entrance
    • Group 2. Entrance to Machupicchu is from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.Entrance
    • Group 3. Entrance to Machupicchu is from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.Entrance
    • Group 4. Entrance to Machupicchu is from 11 a.m. to 12 a.m.Entrance
Map of Machu Picchu circuits
Map of Machu Picchu circuits

Visiting hours of the mountains surrounding Machu Picchu

In total there are three mountains in Machu Picchu, whose entrance times vary:

Mountains in Machu PicchuAdmission hoursDeparture timesApproximate visit time
Huayna Picchu MountainFrom 6 am to 6.30 am / from 9 am to 9.30 amTourists must descend from the mountain until 2 pm.4 hours maximum
Huchuy Picchu MountainFrom 11 am to 11.30 am / 1 pm to 1.30 pmTourists must descend from the mountain until 2 pm.2 hours maximum
Machu Picchu MountainFrom 6 am to 6.30 am / 8 am to 8.30 amTourists must descend from the mountain until 2 pm.5 hours maximum

Visiting hours of the main Inca temples in Machu Picchu

These are the schedules of the main temples in Machu Picchu:

  • Temple of the Sun – Every day from 6 am to 5 pm.
  • Main Temple – Every day from 6 am to 5 pm.
  • Temple of the 3 Windows – Every day from 6 am to 5 pm.
  • Intihuatana – Temporarily closed.
  • Temple of the Condor – Everyday from 10 am to 1 pm.
  • Sacred Rock – Every day from 6 am to 5 pm.
  • House of the Guardian – Everyday from 6 am to 5 pm.
View of the Guardian's House - Machu Picchu
View of the Guardian’s House – Machu Picchu

Questions and answers about visiting hours in Machu Picchu

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

    The Inca citadel of Machu Picchu is open every day from 6 am to 5 pm.

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

    The Huayna Picchu mountain is open every day from 6 am to 12 pm.

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

    The Machu Picchu mountain is open every day from 11 am until 2 pm.

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

    The Huchuy Picchu mountain is open every day from 6 am to 2 pm.

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

    The Temple of the Condor in Machu Picchu is open to tourists every day from 10 am to 1 pm.

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

    The Main Temple in Machu Picchu is open for tourist visits every day from 6 am to 5 pm.

  • 7) What are the visiting hours of the Intihuatana at Machu Picchu?

    The Intihuatana of Machu Picchu is temporarily closed.

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

    The Temple of the Sun in Machu Picchu is open to tourists every day from 6 am to 5 pm.

  • 9) At what time does the last bus leave after the visit to Machu Picchu?

    The last bus back from Machu Picchu to the town of Aguas Calientes leaves at approximately 5.40 pm.

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

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

Advice from people who have been there

Machu Picchu

Patrick F.By: Patrick F.

“A dream come true“

“I always dreamed of visiting Machu Picchu. From seeing the pictures in your house, to seeing it there in front of you in the flesh there are many miles of distance, but it was all worth it. Undoubtedly an excellent destination that everyone should do at least once in a lifetime.“

 

By Ticket Machu Picchu – Last updated, August 16, 2024