Best time to Visit Machu Picchu Inca Trail
The Culture Ministry of Peru changed the schedule to visit Machu Picchu last April 27 2017 and here we give you all the infomation about it.
The Ministery of the Culture published the following:
First: In complainance with the regulations for sustainable use and tourism for the conservation of the Incan city of Machu Picchu (by the ministerial resolution N°070-2017-MC), the following schedules of entry to the Incan city of Machu Picchu will become into force since the 1st of July of 2017: from 6:00 AM to 12:00 PM and from 12:00 PM to 17:30 PM.
Second: The book and sale of this entry tickets for both of the schedules are going to be made since the 1st of June of 2017 according to the resolution and the current procedures. The neccesary adaptations of the system are going to be made on the month of May.
Third: This desicion is made with the objective of secure a better tourism flux, the conservation and preservation of the Incan citadel in function of the Master Plan of the historic sanctuary of Machu Picchu.
This means that the number of people that are going to be able to enter to the citadel is going to be limited, so if you are planning on visiting Machu Picchu we recommend you to book in advance and plan your trip wisely. Here you have information of every month of the year to visit the citadel.
Best schedule to visit Machu Picchu
Machu Picchu: between 6:00 to 12:00
In this schedule you can appreciate the sunrise and the beautiful morning landscapes, but the place is going to be full of people because it is the most popular schedule and 500 people arrive from the Inca Trail at that time. You are going to walk slowly due to the flux of people and making a portrait photo of you and Machu Picchu is going to be almost impossible.
Machu Picchu: between 12:00 to 17:30
In this schedule you are not going to be able to see the sunrise but you will have plenty of time and space to explore the citadel because the flux of people is going to be low. Imagine that awesome photo of you and Machu Picchu behind you.
Best schedule to visit Huayna Picchu
Huayna Picchu: between 7:00 AM to 8:00 AM
We do not recommend this schedule on the rainy season because the landscape is going to be cloudy on the mornings. On the other hand, we absolutely recommend this schedule on the dry season because you are going to be able to see the sunrise. This schedule is not really popular due to the lack of information. Remember that your Machu Picchu tour is going to be after this.
Huayna Picchu: between 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Many people preffer this schedule due to its comvenience because even on rainy or dry season you can see the Incan citadel. The sky is clear of clouds but there is more police control and you have to descent before 12:00 PM.
Best schudule to visit the Machu Picchu Mountain
You can climb this mountain in both schedules of 7:00 AM to 8:00 AM and 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM because this mountain is in front of the Huayna Picchu and the Lost city of the Incas. This mountain is at 3,000 meters of height and is one of the most beutiful and complete of all Machu Picchu. You can see the Huayna Picchu and the citadel from there and you can also see the Vilcanota River surrounding the citadel in a snake form. When you reach the top of the mountain you can see the beautiful landscape of the Machu Picchu jungle on your right and you also will appreciate part of the citadel of Llactapata. You will see the Inti Punku in your left and the Salkantay Mountain on your back. This is a new alternative mountain to the Huayna Picchu but it is also the most complete one.
Best time to visit Machu Picchu Inca Trail
On January:
Because of the rainy season, the tourist flux is going to be less noticiable and you are going to have plenty of time to explore because the people cumulation is simply going to be gone.
On February:
Again, due to the rainy season, the Incan citadel is going to be less visited but remember that the Inca Trail is closed in this months due to the restoration work that are done, so you can not reach the Incan citadel by that way, the only way to reach it is by train or by an alternative trek. You will also enjoy the carnaval that is a colorful activity that consit of a dance around a tree and water wars.
On March:
The rainy season is not going to be as hard as Janurary and February, but it is still going to be there. On the alternative treks to Machu Picchu (like Choquerirao trek or Salkantay Trek), the landscapes are going to be amazing because you will find a wet-dry climate that is going to make everything better.
On April:
If you visit Machu Picchu in this month you are going to see plenty of festivities around the Cusco Town before going to the citadel like Easter. In that festivity you are going to find a great variety of traditional food like the empanadas or the q'irko (a dish based on mussels, fish eggs, corn, cheese, milk) because cusquenians are accostumed to eat 12 dishes because of the 12 apostles of Jesus in that week.
On May:
The dry season starts on this month. The climate is cooler and drier, and ideal for visiting Cusco Town and Aguas Calientes. In Cusco, the Corpus Christi festivity is done and consists of statues of 16 saints that are carried to the cathedral to greet "the body of Christ".
On June:
June is for a fact, the best time to visit Cusco due to the festivities of this place like the Qoyllur Rit'i, the Inti Raymi, and the Anniversary of Cusco. In this months you will se that Cusco is going to be full of color and customs, the traditions are expressed with a lot of passion and feeling because people really love their culture.
On July:
On July 15 to July 16 the festivity of Virgen del Carmen is made in the town of Paucartambo and consits of musicians playing, choirs singing in Quechua and groups acting events as a tribute to the Virgin del Carmen. The Fiestas Patrias takes place on July 28 and July 29. The whole country celebrates July 28, the day Peru gained its independence.
On August:
August is the windy month, everyone gets out of their houses and go up to Sacsayhuaman to fly their comets. This is also a good months to go to the Inca Trail due to the dry season.
On September:
There is no festivity on this months but you can visit all the archeological places that Cusco has just as Sacsayhuaman, Qenq'o, Pucapucara, and Tambomachay or you can sighseen throughout the city which is a wonderful experience and then go to Machu Picchu.
On October:
The dry season finishes this month so if you do not like the rain you should go in this month. The procession of the Lord of Miracles is made and it is
not as big as the one from Lima, but it is still beautiful.
On November:
This month starts with the all Saint's day and Day of the Dead, people bring flowers to the cementeries, clean their relatives' gravestones, and share food and drink with the departed. Across the country, guaguas (bread shaped like dolls and horses) are baked for children.
On December:
December is an important month, Cusco celebrates the Christmast Eve with the Santuraytikuy meaning "Saints for sale", this is one of Peru's largest arts-and-craft fairs. Artisans gather to sell nativity scenes, religious carvings, and pottery in the main plaza. Cusquenias also celebrates New Years Eve dressed with yellow clothes and accesories for good luck and before 12:00 AM they start fireworks on the main square that make the whole experience greater.
