Peruvian authorities recently announced that starting from January 1, 2024, Machu Picchu will be able to accommodate more visitors per day—up to 4,500 people daily. On certain days, the number of visitors may reach 5,600 people per day.
Machu Picchu, a lost ancient city in the mountains of Peru, is one of the symbols of South America. It is referred to as the “City of the Incas,” built in the 15th century. It was discovered for the modern world in 1911 by American explorer Hiram Bingham. Machu Picchu was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983.
Currently, its visitation is restricted to a maximum of 3,800 people per day. This norm will change in 2024.
The increase in the allowed number of tourists to 4,500 people per day is linked to the desire to revitalize tourism in Peru, which has been severely affected by the pandemic.
In 2020, before the pandemic, Peru welcomed around 4.5 million tourists. By the end of 2023, this number had decreased to 2.2 million, almost halving.
In early 2023, Machu Picchu was completely closed for visits due to unrest in the country.
The Ministry of Culture of Peru, through social media, announced that they will strengthen the enforcement of rules for visiting historical monuments and cultural heritage sites.
Tickets for Machu Picchu are recommended to be purchased in advance on the official website. The cost of tickets is approximately $42.
The author of this site has been to Peru and visited Machu Picchu several years ago. Even before the ascent to the lost city, the queue for tickets made a strong impression on me. It required a walk of at least 20 minutes to reach the end of the line. Therefore, the advice to buy tickets online is the main life hack when visiting Machu Picchu.
As for the number of people, this is one of those cases where the place is worth visiting regardless of the number of tourists. It is something to see at least once in a lifetime.
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