For the year 2024, the price of entrance tickets to Machu Picchu will increase starting January 1. Following a government provision implemented by the Ministry of Culture of Peru, the price increase was approved.

The Ministry of Culture is the institution responsible for managing the proper maintenance of different archaeological parks, such as Machu Picchu and many others nationwide, a purpose for which it allocates the resources collected at this and other parks.

They are the ones who set the prices for entrance tickets to Machu Picchu. The government provision will also affect other archaeological monuments, museums and museum institutions.

1. What are the new rates?

According to ministerial resolution 000047-2023-MC, the entrance ticket to Machu Picchu will cost 172.00 soles, a measure that as of now will affect national tourists, foreigners, foreigners belonging to the Andean Community, and foreigners residing in Peru, with the same price for everyone equally.

Meanwhile, tourists who are university students, with a valid student ID as of the date of entry, will pay 86.00 soles for the entrance fee, and those under 18 years of age (minors in Peru) will pay 43.00 soles. However, so far they have not specified which universities the Peruvian government will consider accredited to enter this category.

On the other hand, children under 3 years of age as of the date of entry to Machu Picchu will not pay an entrance fee; they simply need to show a valid passport or valid DNI.

Likewise, if you are Peruvian and over 60 years old, completed voluntary military service, are a teacher accredited by SUNEDU, or a person with a disability, you will receive a 50% discount.

Prices	2024	2023
Foreign adults	S/. 172.00	S/. 152.00
Andean Community	S/. 172.00	S/. 64.00
Peruvians	S/. 172.00	S/. 64.00
Students under 18 years old	S/. 86.00	S/. 77.00
Students from Peru	S/. 86.00	S/. 64.00
Children under 3 years old	S/. 0.00	S/. 0.00

Despite the official announcement, we are waiting for the Peruvian government to apply some discounts to Machu Picchu entrance fees, especially for tourists belonging to the Andean Community, since for many years there has always been a special agreement regarding this matter.

2. Why are Machu Picchu entrance fees increasing?

The cost of entrance tickets to Machu Picchu will increase due to various factors that we list below for a better understanding and perspective of the situation.

2.1. The COVID-19 pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic seriously affected the tourism industry worldwide, and Machu Picchu was no exception to the rule. However, in Peru, the policy adopted was to continue paying salaries in the various public institutions for each and every one of the different positions held by state personnel.

This measure resulted in a deficit in state savings. To this we must add the low tax collection and international debt, costs that in the long run have to be paid, and apparently this is one of the many measures that the government has been announcing for 2024.

2.2. Poor management regarding capacity after the COVID-19 pandemic

Entrance to Machu Picchu and, consequently, the capacity allowed at the wonder of the world was quite restricted from the beginning, even though a large number of national and foreign tourists had received two doses.

Perhaps the most important thing to consider is that the government at the time, with Martin Vizcarra as president, caused Machu Picchu to close twice after the tourism industry had begun to reactivate.

2.3. Poor administration during the government of former President Castillo

If you ask a Peruvian how long Peru has been without a firm political leader, this situation goes back to March 21, 2018, when the ruling PPK party and the opposition K party of Keiko Fujimori began a series of power struggles that, in the long run, only brought misfortune to the Peruvian people.

Add to this crisis the pandemic and 6 presidents in a period of 6 years, and you can already imagine how complex it was.

To top off the story, in 2021 a man with apparently good intentions, but lacking knowledge about how to govern and surrounded by a corrupt environment, Pedro Castillo, came to power through popular vote in a very close election against Keiko Fujimori.

During his administration, Betsi Chavez was appointed, who during her brief period as Minister of Culture made a series of changes at Machu Picchu without prudently considering the consequences they would bring in the future.

Disastrous consequences for the administration of Machu Picchu, such as the enormous lines for many tourists who travel on their own without prior reservation, where they are told to wait in line for up to two days in order to obtain an entrance ticket to Machu Picchu.

Where there is discord and disorder, informality reigns.

Without a doubt, there is no shortage of informal travel agencies together with unscrupulous people offering and guaranteeing entrance tickets to Machu Picchu, even though there are none available. Unfortunately, several tourists have fallen victim to this type of scam, seeing their dream trip ruined.

We could continue describing the series of shortcomings in real policies that serve the Peruvian people; however, we will leave that space for other forums. We believe that up to this point, you, my dear reader, have a good idea of the political landscape and its consequences for entrance to Machu Picchu.

3. How and where will the new collected resources be used?

According to the government’s statements, the revenue collected from Machu Picchu entrance tickets will be used to improve other archaeological parks, provide a better quality of service, among other purposes.

We will keep you informed if any other measure or modification takes place in the coming days so that you can plan your vacation appropriately.

Thank you for reading this post.