It is peak season in
, and in response to growing demand for tickets to visit the Inca citadel —one of the New Seven Wonders of the World— the
reported that it has enhanced the in-person sale of 1,000 tickets at the Cultural Center in Machu Picchu Pueblo district.
The official confirmed to Andina News Agency that, following the last meeting, the Technical Committee of the Machu Picchu Management Unit (UGM) approved this provision and that the Ministry of Culture will enforce it.
This new protocol includes the daily sale of 1,000 in-person tickets at five service windows operating from 06:00 a.m. to 08:00 p.m., the elimination of the pre-ticket system, the implementation of digital payment methods, the installation of information screens, multilingual signage, and an exclusive channel for complaints.
The government agency noted that five ticket windows have been made available at the cultural center to operate simultaneously, with priority service available for those who require it.
Thus, the aim is to prevent tourists from having to stand in long lines to purchase tickets.
Agreements were also reached to improve the working conditions of porters on the Inca Trail, review the Master Plan of the Machu Picchu's Historic Sanctuary, and develop new tourist circuits and alternative routes, whose design will be validated with the participation of local stakeholders.
"The new protocols for the 1,000 tickets were socialized, and some important changes have been made; we believe it is not enough, but at least they will serve as a palliative. Pre-tickets are being eliminated — now the sale is direct, always for the next day," he emphasized.
Following an inspection of the Inca citadel, aimed at identifying on-site the main challenges in the site's tourism management, the members of the UGM —comprising the Ministries of Culture, Environment, and Foreign Trade; the Cusco Regional Government; and the Municipality of Machu Picchu— signed a report documenting their observations.
Each competent entity must address them, with a 45-day deadline set for submitting a technical report proposing concrete solutions aimed at strengthening the comprehensive management of this protected natural area.
Through this protocol, the authorities that make up the UGM hope to prevent the long queues in Machu Picchu Pueblo —which caused discomfort among visitors and drew criticism.
To avoid that scenario, the Gercetur chief proposed an "Effective Contingency Plan" for this weekend and the start of the next, on the occasion of Peru's Independence Day celebrations (Fiestas Patrias).
"We warned about what could happen during the holidays; we will likely have a large number of visitors. What we told the Ministry of Culture is to prepare a contingency plan in anticipation of an expected surge in demand in the coming days, and we have proposed that (ticket) sales be continuous," he stated.
Baca explained that Gercetur seeks to avoid crowding and improve the visitor experience through actions such as advance ticket sales for later days, providing real-time information, and improving inter-institutional coordination.
The Ministry of Culture indicated that intermediaries are not necessary for the in-person purchase of these tickets; however, it emphasized that "once the 1,000 daily tickets are sold, service ends for the day."
Likewise, it reminded the public that the following payment methods are available: credit card, debit card, QR code (Yape or Plin), and cash (in Peruvian soles).
