The authorities of Peru authorized, exceptionally, the face-to-face purchase of tickets for Machu Picchu – one of the New 7 Wonders of the World – up to three days before the date of the visit, given the great demand that is being presented for the high season, official sources reported this Monday.
“This measure seeks to facilitate travel planning and provide greater opportunities for access to the country’s main tourist destination,” the Decentralized Directorate of Culture of Cusco, the region where Machu Picchu is located, said in a brief statement, which did not specify the time in which the decision will remain in force.
The face-to-face purchase of tickets to access the archaeological site is made in the Machu Picchu district, located at the foot of the mountain where the ruins are located, and so far it could only be done for the same day.
Machu Picchu has been visited since June 19 by 5,600 people a day, after the start of the high season, which led to the expansion of the capacity established in principle to 4,600 people. This increase is applied in compliance with a resolution issued by the Ministry of Culture in October 2025 that established the maximum site load capacity at 5,600 visitors per day for January 1, from April 2 to 5, from June 19 to November 2 and from December 30 to 31, 2026.
In this regard, the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism reported on July 9 that a technical study had been awarded to determine the actual number of visitors that Machu Picchu can receive.
As reported at the time, the work will demand an investment close to 3 million soles (about 880,000 dollars) and will have an execution period of 190 days, with the aim of having “technical information” on the daily capacity.
Machu Picchu, which is located more than 2,400 meters above sea level, in the jungle area of Cusco, began to receive in recent weeks a great demand for tickets, which are mostly sold virtually, but also at the premises of the Ministry of Culture in the Machu Picchu district, which generated long lines “and discomfort” among visitors.
On May 25, the international organization New 7 Wonders warned that risks and infrastructure problems persist in the archaeological site that threaten the status of the new wonder of the world, granted by that entity in 2007. EFE