Did you know that to enter the citadel of Machu Picchu, one of the seven wonders of the world, there are two shifts?
For the morning shift, the entrance is from 6 o’clock in the morning, when the citadel opens until noon. The afternoon shift is from noon until 5:30 pm.
The guided tour in the citadel lasts from 2 to 2 hours and a half hours, depending on the guide you have. After this visit you have to leave the citadel, there is no opportunity to stay on the terraces or to do a tour on your own to take pictures or to visit some other places such as the Inca bridge or the Intipunku (the door of the sun). After finishing the route, all the way out is well marked with ropes. The control staff is at each point, controlling that nobody returns or passes to another place. This fact causes a lot of displeasure among the visitors who state that they pay so much money to enter and visit the citadel of Machu Picchu and it is unfair that they stay so little time.
However, there is the possibility that a second visit to the citadel can be made, if and only if instead of buying only the entrance you also purchase the entrance to the Mountain of Machu Picchu or Huaynapicchu. Only in this case will they let you re-enter. With this second entry you can go up to these indicated mountains or walk around on your own and take pictures. This was 2018, now for the year 2019 the following changes are coming.
As of January 1st of 2019, there will be three entry shifts to visit the citadel of Machupicchu, according to the MINCETUR (Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism). These changes will be made in order to regulate tourist flows. The schedule will be: the first from 6:00 am to 9:00 am, the second from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm. And the third from 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm.
In addition, the entrance of visitors will be at exact hours, at 6:00 am, 7:00 am or 8:00 am and in the same way in the other shifts. These changes are for the next year 2019 and more changes will come. For 2020 it was announced that there will be changes in rates. For the first shift that is where there is greater demand the cost it will increase 20%, the second shift will maintain its current price and for the third shift there will be a discount 20% of the current price.
We recommend to those who wish to visit our wonder keep in mind these changes, according to the schedules, and organize your trip well.
