The core rules are: enter with a valid ticket and your passport, usually with a guide; follow the one-way circuit; stay behind ropes and off the walls; and carry nothing banned, such as large bags, tripods, drones or food. Guards enforce the rules and can ask you to leave.
Why the rules are strict
Machu Picchu is a fragile, centuries-old stone complex on a steep slope, with thin soils, delicate terraces and millions of footsteps. It is also a sacred and historic place, and a protected area for its flora and fauna. The rules aim to control wear, reduce risk and keep the flow of people manageable. They have grown stricter as visitor numbers have risen, and some were prompted by incidents of damage or dangerous behaviour.
The site is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and its managers answer to national and international expectations about conservation. That is why the enforcement can feel firm: a single careless act, repeated by thousands of people, would cause real damage. Seen this way, the rules are less about restricting visitors than about keeping the place visitable for the next generation. Responsible travel and etiquette explain the wider thinking.
Rules about entry and movement
You need a valid ticket for your date and window, and ID that matches. A licensed guide is generally required, and groups have size limits. The circuit is one-way and marked with arrows, and you may not retrace your steps or leave the path. Time inside is limited. Re-entry is restricted. Guards at the gates and along the circuits check compliance and may remove people who break the rules.
Details such as the maximum group size, the number of guides per group and the way tickets are scanned at each control point have been revised repeatedly. Treat the instructions printed on your ticket and the directions of the guards as the final word, even if they differ from a blog or an earlier trip. For the routes, see circuits, and for the time rules, see opening hours.
Tours and activities
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Rules about behaviour
Do not climb or sit on walls, touch or lean on carved stones, or step into restricted areas for a photograph. Do not leave litter, scratch the stone or take anything away. Keep voices low and avoid loud music. Drones and flying objects are banned. Smoking and alcohol are not permitted. Do not feed or approach the llamas that graze on the terraces, because they can kick or bite, and keep a respectful distance from other visitors when posing for pictures.
Nudity and staged photographs have led to expulsions and fines in the past. The guards take them seriously. Also avoid practices that look harmless but add up: leaning on a wall for a photograph, stepping over a rope for a better angle, or sitting on a terrace edge to rest. If you are unsure, ask your guide, who will know what is tolerated and what is not.
Rules about bags and items
Bags above a certain size must be left at storage, and the limits are checked at the gate. Commonly banned items include tripods and camera supports, drones, food, single-use plastic, walking sticks with metal tips and, at times, umbrellas. Water is allowed in a reusable bottle. The restrictions aim to prevent damage, litter and obstruction, and a guard can refuse anything that looks like a risk.
The practical answer is to travel light. A small daypack with water, a layer and your documents is enough, and everything else can stay at the hotel. For a full checklist, see what to bring, and for the packing errors that lead to refusals at the entrance, see mistakes.
Guides, groups and conduct
A licensed guide is generally required, and groups have a maximum size. The guide leads the route, explains the site, and is responsible for keeping the party within the rules. Follow the guide's directions, and keep close enough to be counted at the checkpoints. Do not take a second group's guide for a private explanation, and do not hire someone who has no visible identification.
If you are with a tour, the operator is also responsible for informing you of the rules before you arrive. If something seems inconsistent with what you have read here, ask for the source. Good guides can tell you which rules are strictly applied on the day, and which have recently changed. For how to choose a guide or an operator, see tours.
Toilets and facilities
There are toilets outside the gate, and limited facilities inside, so plan before you enter. Re-entry for toilet use has been restricted, which makes planning more important. A snack and water before entering will keep you comfortable until you leave. Respect queues and signs, and follow instructions from staff even if they differ from what you read online.
Children and older visitors may need more breaks than the circuit allows, so plan the visit around the facilities, and keep a spare layer in the bag. The site is large, steep and uneven, and distances between stops can be longer than they look. If you need help, tell your guide or any guard, who can direct you to the nearest exit or to the first-aid post.
Respect, safety and local sensitivities
Machu Picchu is a monument and also a place that many Peruvians regard as part of their heritage. Visitors are expected to behave accordingly: dress sensibly, speak quietly and treat the staff and guides with courtesy. Accidents on stairs are one of the main risks, so walk, do not run, and keep to the side of the path to let others pass.
Carry a small first-aid kit and tell a guard if someone is hurt or unwell, because the staff are trained to respond. Weather can also change the rules, such as a closed section after rain or a stopped climb during a storm. Follow instructions immediately, and do not argue with the guards. For how busy periods make good manners more important, see crowds, and for what visitors most often get wrong, see mistakes.
Where to sleep
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Aguas Calientes
Sleep at the foot of Machu Picchu for an early entry
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Ollantaytambo
Early trains to Machu Picchu and a walkable old town
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Plaza de Armas and historic centre
Everything on foot, at the price of noise and crowds
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San Blas
Artisans' quarter with steep lanes and views, a short walk uphill
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All of Cusco
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Frequently asked questions
Do I have to have a guide?
A licensed guide is generally required inside the site.
Are the llamas safe to touch?
Keep your distance. They are used to people but can be unpredictable.
What happens if I break a rule?
Guards can warn you, make you leave, and in serious cases involve the police, with fines or bans.
Can I take photographs inside?
Yes, with a phone or a compact camera. Tripods and drones are restricted, and you should not step off the path or climb on walls for a photograph.
Can I smoke or drink alcohol inside?
No. Both are prohibited, and so is littering. Take your waste with you and use the bins outside the gate.
Can I bring a walking stick?
Sticks with rubber tips are generally accepted, while metal tips are not. Ask your guide about the current rule.
Are there rules for taking children?
Children follow the same rules and need a ticket and a document. Keep them close, since the paths are steep and the stone is uneven.
