Machu Picchu visitor entry in two shifts set to begin this month

Updated on September 13, 2017 by Rick Vecchio in Machu Picchu, News

It appears a new ticketing system for visitors to Machu Picchu to enter the Inca citadel in two shifts, one in the morning and the other in the afternoon, could be coming sooner than previously announced — this month, in fact.

Ricardo Ruiz Caro, chief of Cusco’s regional Culture Directorate, told reporters that the new policy could take effect as soon as July 15.

The first shift would be from 6 a.m. until 1 p.m. and the second from 1 p.m. until 5:30 p.m.

Alarmingly, Ruiz Caro indicated that the early entry would be for foreign visitors, while “preference” would be given to Cusco locals and Peruvian citizens in the later shift, along with a 30% discount for the inconvenience.

He did not elaborate and Ministry of Culture officials in Cusco haven’t been forthcoming about exactly how this new ticketing system is going to work.

The measure would continue through the rest of the high season, which ends in October, Ruiz Caro said.

Click HERE to read the Updated Story

If you like this post, please remember to share on Facebook, Twitter or Google+

Tags: Machu Picchu

Authored by: Rick Vecchio

Website: Peruvian Travel Trends Blog

Rick Vecchio, Fertur’s director of development and marketing, was educated at the New School for Social Research and Columbia Graduate School of Journalism. He worked for Pacifica Radio WBAI and as a daily reporter for newspapers in New Jersey, New York and Massachusetts. Then in 1996, he decided it was time to realize a life-long dream of traveling to Peru. He never went back. While serving as Peru country manager for the South American Explorers from 1997-1999, he fell in love with Fertur's founder, Siduith Ferrer, and they married. Over the next six years, he worked as a correspondent for The Associated Press. Meanwhile, Siduith built the business, which he joined in January 2007. Now he designs custom educational and adventure tour packages for corporate and institutional clients, oversees Fertur’s Internet platform and occasionally leads special trips, always with an eye open for a good story to write about.