cee828

I'm a little confused. Do you need to buy passes in advance to hike around Machu picchu? Or can you just show up and show yourself around?

Feel like I am seeing a lot of sites that tell you to buy passes or schedule slots.

Kay2

Yes, you must purchase a ticket to enter Machu Picchu. They sell 2500 per day.
You can purchase online (difficult, but I did it in Spanish.)
www.machupicchu.gob.pe/
For example, the site says 345 tickets are still available for tomorrow.
I have purchased my tickets for 8 days from now. The site says 1639 are still available.
However, tickets are sold out for climbing the mountains inside the site.
During peak season, the tickets even to MP may sell out.
Several local tour companies will buy the tickets for you if you have trouble purchasing online or you can purchase in Peru if you arrive enough days in advance of your visit to MP.


I booked my rail tickets to MP first and waited to buy the MP tickets because as you can see from above, right now even a week in advance seems sufficient. When planning my trip, several trains showed sold out for the days we wanted. Just checking now, I see that those trains are offering seats again. Maybe tour companies can block seats and release? or the rail company can add cars?

mlgb

People can reschedule the train seats 24 hours in advance.

I believe there is some tour company blocking as well.

LouiseC

Yep, you definitely need to have tickets for Machu Picchu. Book tickets at www.machupicchu.gob.pe which is the official ticket site (use the site in Spanish as English version is often not working properly)

For info on different Machu Picchu tickets available check out: http://bit.ly/1SEFsZg

Happy travels!

cee828

Thank you!

Anyone who has been, do you think it's worth it to get entry ticket that includes hike up huayna picchu? Or is it best just to wonder around by self?

sf7307

This is an "apples and oranges" question. The answer to the second part (is it best just to wander around by self) depends -- we had a guide with us for a few hours and were glad we did, but he was the leader of our trek, not someone we hired there. We've done many places without a guide (just a guidebook - like Angkor Wat) and that works too unless you really like the interaction.

The second part (whether to hike up huayna picchu) - the only way to hike up huayna picchu is to have a timed ticket and they are always sold out - I think they only let people up twice a day. Of our group of 8, 5 chose to do it, and 3 chose not to (I was in the latter group). The group that went were really glad they went (for the views, and because they were so proud of themselves for making the climb after we'd already been trekking for 5 days). The group that didn't go were really glad we didn't - we enjoyed a drink in the bar at the hotel while waiting for the other group for lunch!

mlgb

You can hike up to the Sun Gate without any extra ticket. It's where the Inca Trail trekkers enter and has a distant view of the citadel. But my favorite view is from the Watchman's Hut. That is where many of the famous photos are taken.

cee828

Mlgb can we get to watchman's without paying the extra?

Austin_Molly

The Watchman's Hut is on the way up to the Sun Gate.

If you do take a timed hike up the side of Huayna Picchu, remember that if you take the afternoon hike your view from the top might get a little foggy. Get your money's worth and go in the morning.

Read a description of the hike to Huayna Picchu: http://www.anywhereperu.com/destinat.../huayna-picchu

mlgb

No extra fee for Watchmans Hut. It is where most day trippers will go first get the MP view. The Sun Gate is actually a detour left turn at the terraces where thd llamas are. Look for signs to Inti Punku.