On March 16th of 2020, the Peruvian government decided to close the borders in order to avoid the arrival of foreigners, given the increase of Covid-19 cases all around the world. Since then, Machu Picchu was closed to visitors, until Nov 1st.
Once we knew that traveling to Machu Picchu was again possible, the ministry of culture (the organism responsible for issuing the entry tickets) announced that visiting Machu Picchu would be free for the rest of the year (for everybody). However, visitors should follow new rules in order to visit Machu Picchu:
- Only 675 visitors allowed per day.
- Visitors must wear a mask when visiting Machu Picchu.
- Children younger than 12 years old and people older than 65 years old are not allowed to get in.
- Visitors must keep their distance (2 meters).
Currently, we know that for 2021, Machu Picchu will be open again but with new restrictions:
- Visitors must wear a mask at all times and keep their distance.
- 60% of tickets will be available (it might change in the future).
- Children older than 3 years must pay for an entrance ticket. For more information check our post for getting tickets for 2021.
- Huayna Picchu Mountain, The Sun Gate, the Inca Bridge, and the mountain will be closed until further notice.
- There’s only one way to follow in order to visit Machu Picchu. Returning to the starting point isn’t allowed.
- Having food, jumping on the walls, running, or screaming without the mask is not permitted.
- Hiring a tour guide is highly recommended in order to have a great experience.
What About Cusco and other services?
Regarding the city of Cusco, we see that many hotels and restaurants are progressively opening to the public, so you’ll be able to book one for sure. However, make sure to reconfirm your reservation some days before your arrival. It may happen that a few of them are remodeling their infrastructure and not always update their availability on the booking platforms.
Visiting Machu Picchu in 2021 is a unique experience even though the new rules & restrictions have been implemented. As a local operator, we suggest that if you’re planning to travel to Machu Picchu, stick to these rules in order to travel safely and have a fantastic experience.
Has the Covid-19 impacted Machu Picchu?
Yes, it has. The pandemic had a huge impact on tourism in Machu Picchu.
Many businesses closed and had to reinvent themselves in order to “survive” during the quarantine. Up until now, just a few returned to their regular activities. The visitors that Machu Picchu receives, are mostly Peruvians, however, we expect to receive foreigners progressively.
Remember that the tourism in the region has been waiting for so long, your visit will be a great support to the local economy and the numerous families that depend on this activity.
Finally, we encourage you to visit our country, we have implemented all the protocols to ensure that it goes smoothly.
If you want to have complementary information, don’t hesitate to contact us by email at info@machupicchu-explorer.com. We will be glad to hear from you!
