Preparation is key for booking your 2026 Machu Picchu entrance tickets! Know these crucial new details regarding capacity limits, special dates and ticket booking procedures to guarantee a seamless entry and a smooth, successful experience at the ancient citadel.
As is customary each year, the Ministry of Culture (Mincul) officially finalized and published the updated Machu Picchu visitor entry capacity for the upcoming 2026 season in the official Peruvian gazette at the end of October 2025.
According to Peru's Culture Minister, the daily capacity for Machu Picchu is strictly limited by the number of tickets available. This limit varies significantly by season and is increased specifically during important Peru’s calendar dates and peak tourism seasons in Cusco, where Machu Picchu is located.
Tourism High Season
Cusco's high season weather features a stable, dry climate characterized by consistently sunny days, a transition to a soft chill in the afternoons, and distinctively cool nights. This ideal climate makes it the best time for reliable weather and easy-to-plan outdoor adventures, including the Inca Trail. This popularity directly drives peak tourism flow, necessitates the Ministry of Culture's dynamic capacity increase and the strict enforcement of timed entry circuits and ensure site preservation.
- High Season Range: May to October.
- Capacity: During the High Season, Machu Picchu visitors per day is 5600.
Tourism Low Season
Characterized by verdant landscapes and frequent sudden rain showers that range from light to hard, the low season features generally cloudy days intermittently brightened by brief sunny moments or even full, unexpected days of sunshine. This weather contributes to significantly lower tourism flow, allowing the Ministry of Culture to reduce the daily capacity limit. This reduction helps protect the archaeological site from the effects of increased moisture and manages the naturally decreased demand.
- Low season range: November to April.
- Capacity: In the Low Season, Machu Picchu visitors per day is 4500.
Special Dates
Additionally, based on the latest resolutions from the Ministry of Culture (Mincul), the maximum daily entrance capacity for Machu Picchu's peak season and major holidays has been officially established at 5,600 tickets per day for the upcoming 2026 calendar year
- January 01 (New Year's Day)
- April 02 to 05 (Semana Santa / Easter Week)
- June 19 to November 02 (Primary Peak Tourist Season)
- December 30 and 31 (Year-end Holidays)
Where to buy entrance tickets to Machu Picchu
Entrance tickets can be conveniently secured either online through the Machu Picchu entrance ticket official site or offline via a designated authorized counter, but due to strict capacity limits, it is always imperative to book well in advance regardless of the purchase method.
Keep in mind the following advice for how to buy entrance ticket to Machu Picchu
- Access the official Machu Picchu website.
- Have an email address available to create a personal account.
- Prepare your passport and those of your companions.
- Complete the reservation and payment.
Read More» Machu Picchu Tickets - Travel Guide
