In July, 2017, Peru announced new rules for visiting the Machu Picchu Sanctuary. The rules are being enforced as a measure to protect the sacred and historical UNESCO World Heritage Site that has been overrun with visitors in the recent years.
In order to visit Machu Picchu Sanctuary, visitors will be required to be with a guide. There will be two shifts for entering the sanctuary, with the visit duration lasting a maximum of four hours. Visitors can choose the morning shift, between 6 a.m. to noon, or the afternoon shift, between noon to 5:30 p.m. (although no entrance is allowed after 4:30). Reentry into the sanctuary will not be allowed without the purchase of a new ticket and shift.
Other rules for the sanctuary include no selfie sticks, tripods or other camera or phone extenders; no backpacks or bags larger than 15x13x7 inches (lockers are available at the entrance of the citadel); no strollers; and no feeding wildlife.
Guided tours of Machu Picchu are offered by family-friendly outfits such as AdventureSmith Explorations. On average, the company provides two half-day visits over two days versus one full-day visit, with tours running between 2.5 to 3 hours, falling within range of the new rules. Three main routes are available for visiting the sanctuary, with the most comprehensive being Circuit 1.
Families wishing to extend their time in Machu Picchu are welcome to take separate hikes to Huayna Picchu (2-hour permit) and Machu Picchu Mountain (3-hour permit) without guides, as long as they enter from the sanctuary and provide evidence they previously entered with a guide. With so many rules, however, it is best to have all tours arranged by a guide company like AdventureSmith.
Learn more about Machu Picchu tours and AdventureSmith Explorations by visiting the AdventureSmith website.
(This story was supplied by AdventureSmith Explorations.)