How to buy Machu Picchu tickets when they are sold out online
(And what you need to know going to Machu Picchu)
This marks my second time to Machu Picchu and altogether, a totally different experience from the first which was all planned out as a day trip from Cusco. As I get older and travel a lot more, i plan a lot less to have the freedom to travel spontaneously, often unfolding the unexpected. This time around, my friend only decided on Machu Picchu a couple of weeks before and since the tickets are usually sold out more than a month ahead, we had join the queue to buy tickets at Machu Picchu itself. I do not recommend this way of attaining the tickets. It is highly advisable to buy a package inclusive of the entry ticket and tour guide online so you don’t waste 1-2 nights in Aguas Calientes as there isn’t much to do there to have you stay more than 1 day.
The usual journey is to take a flight from Lima to Cusco (which we did) and a bus and/or train ride from Cusco to Machu Picchu and what we did for the entire 4 days trip is over at this blog. What I’ll be talking about here is specifically on how to buy the entry tickets to Machu Picchu at Aguas Calientes.
Everyday, there will be 1,000 tickets available at the little town of Aguas Calientes, at the Ministry of Culture (Ave Pachacutec, Aguas Calientes 08681, Peru) and visitors will usually start queueing at 6am to obtain queue number stub and return from 3pm the same day to purchase the ticket for next day. If you are lucky and there are no more than a few hundred of people in the wee hours, you can possibly get next day tickets even when you stroll into the Ministry of Culture as late as 9pm. It is, however, not possible to get any tickets for same day entry as they only start selling tickets daily at 3pm. Unfortunately for me, the weekend that I was there saw an unusually high number of tourists and I could only purchase the ticket for the day after next.
We arrived on Friday evening at 8.45pm and walked ahead of many passengers towards the Ministry of Culture in hopes of being the lucky ones to get the next day entry tickets but we saw a very long queue and quickly found out that all 1,000 tickets for Saturday entry were sold out. The queue was for Sunday’s entry (which was supposed to begin only on Saturday 6am). Now knowing we can’t leave till Sunday, we booked for 2 nights at Rupa Rupa High Jungle Eco B&B which was the most decent rated accommodation available then within 5 minutes walking distance from the Ministry. My friend took our luggages and checked in and sussed out the situation while I stayed in line.
We took turns to queue and have our breakfast at Rupa Rupa High Jungle Eco B&B which is 5 minutes away from the Ministry of Culture.
Apparently, Friday morning saw too many visitors in queue that there were about 400+ who didn’t get tickets for Saturday. They were given queue number for Saturday’s morning queue on Friday morning to buy Sunday’s entry ticket. Our queue was supposedly a continuation of these 400+. However, The Ministry wanted us to head back to sleep and come back again at 6am but because none of us were willing to give up our queue, they had no choice but to guarantee us a spot when we return by giving us a new set (and design) of queue number starting from 1 and it ended with 100+ as I know for the “Friday night queuers”. Friday morning and night queuers add up to more than 600+ visitors in queue even before the regular Saturday morning queue started.
The 100+ of us dispersed by about 11pm and my friend and I set alarm at 5am to head back for the morning queue. There was already a huge crowd gathering at the square by about 5.30am and The Ministry used loudspeakers to organise the morning queue. Thank goodness everyone were orderly and we managed to get queue number 605 with a time return at 7pm to get the tickets for Sunday. What I discovered was, queue number 1 - 150 would return at 3pm, 151- 300 would return at 4pm so on and so forth to purchase the entry ticket. Of course, you will have your choice of time and route if your queue number is smaller. We were really blessed to be #605 as we were ushered into the Ministry exactly at 7pm, walking up to the second floor, across a hallway and back down (I reckon it is to form a queue within The Ministry). There were 6 counters and in 5 minutes we were at the counter choosing our preferred route and time, which were still available, lucky us! On the contrary of what we read that only cash was accepted, they accepted Visa and Mastercard payments and the tickets were sent immediately via Whatsapp. You will have to present your passport to purchase the tickets and they are issued in your name. We were in and out of the building in 15 minutes.
Which route and time is the best?
Machu Picchu at 6.15am with no crowd
When I went to Machu Picchu pre-covid, this routing system was not established. There was 1 entrance and after which, you are free to wander the entire compound with no time limit. Now, they have 3 circuits and you can view them at their official website. Since I’ve been there to see the routes, I would recommend Route 2A/2B/3B. We took 3B, which was PEN152 and we got to see the house of the commoners and temple ladies, the Inkan rulers and scholars, the temple of sun, mother earth temple aka pacha mama, sacrificial grounds, temple of the condor, amphitheatre, irrigation and agriculture system. Our guide mention that this route is the most informative. Route 2A and 2B would have a better view in my opinion but wont see the temples. Route 1 doesn’t allow you into the city so you will just be walking around it and having a higher view of the entire city. but that’s where you will see the alpacas.
We also chose the earliest time which is at 6am (left picture) with no regrets! It was less crowded since only the 6am group of visitors will be there. The queue was short and we got in within 5 minutes. The sun was light and weather was cool. The second group arrives at 7am, then 8am so on and so forth and by the time we were leaving, at about 9.30am (right picture), a long queue was seen at the entrance and I estimated the wait to be at least 30 minutes. It was pretty chaotic, noisy and warm at that time too. Whilst there was a very long queue at 5.30am to get to Machu Picchu, the buses came continuously and within 15 minutes everyone in queue were en route to Machu Picchu. There was no queue going down to Aguas Calientes and the bus was very empty. Being back by 10am also means we get to take the 10.55am train to Ollantaytambo. We spent about 2 hours with the tour guide and the final hour on our own snacking and resting under a shed, enjoying the view of the magnificent mountains.
What do I do after buying the entry tickets?
Aguas Calientes is a small town at the foot of Machu Picchu and taking the bus is the easiest and fastest way (20 minutes) to get to Machu Picchu. After you have purchased the entry tickets and walk out of The Ministry, turn left and walk up slope for about 100m until you see the Green House Restaurant on your left and Inkawasi Restaurant (1st picture) at the cross junction. Turn right and you will see the bus ticket office (2nd picture) in about 30m. Show them your Machu Picchu ticket and they will issue the bus ticket that is 30 minute before your entry time. It costs US$12 per ticket (3rd picture).
Where do I queue for the bus?
You queue along the road Av Hermanos Ayar. The moment you step out of the bus ticket office, turn right and walk for 30m and turn right again. Walk down the road until you see a mini bus statue and the queue begins at the opposite side of the road. Only start queueing about 30 minute before your entry ticket time. A man got asked to step away from the queue at 5.30am when his entry ticket to Machu Picchu was at 7am.
Should I hire a tour guide?
The answer is YES! They will share with you the daily lives of the Incans, the history of the rise and fall of the empire, the way the city was built and its so interesting! If you have booked your tickets online, I recommend that you book a reliable guide on various platforms like get your guide or viator. The price will vary with the size of your group, whether it is a private or a group tour. But if you’re like me, always living life on the line, there will be guides hanging around the bus stop in the morning (taking the first ride up with you once you’ve engaged them) or at the entrance from 9/10am onwards and you will have to negotiate the rates with them. I got mine for US$70 for 2 pax. We didn’t search for alternative online but knew he was accredited, speaks good english and knowledgeable. I eavesdropped on one group’s tour guide and he really wasn’t as good as ours so - it all depends on your luck.