How to Avoid Crowds in Machu Picchu | Tips, Circuits and Schedules in 2025
If you’re planning to visit Machu Picchu, one of the most iconic destinations in the world, you might be concerned about encountering large crowds that could affect your experience. In this blog, thanks to Kantu Peru Tours, we’ll provide you with practical tips on how to avoid crowds in Machu Picchu, information about schedules and circuits for 2025, and everything you need to know to enjoy the Inca wonder with tranquility and comfort.
Why Avoid Crowds in Machu Picchu?
Machu Picchu is a destination that attracts millions of visitors every year. However, the high influx of tourists can make it difficult to fully appreciate its beauty and energy. Knowing how to avoid crowds in Machu Picchu will not only allow you to take unobstructed photos but also connect with the history and mysticism of this sacred place in a more intimate and personal way.
Machu Picchu en temporada alta
Tips to Avoid Crowds in Machu Picchu
1. Visit Machu Picchu in the Low Season
If you want to avoid crowds in Machu Picchu, consider traveling during the low season, which spans from November to April, coinciding with the rainy season in the Andean region of Peru. This period is less crowded compared to the high season (May to October), making it an excellent option for travelers seeking a more tranquil and authentic experience.
During these months, rains are more frequent, especially in February and March. In fact, February is known as “crazy February” because it can rain heavily during the day, but the sky may clear up for a few hours. Additionally, during the low season, Machu Picchu receives fewer than 2,000 daily visitors, reducing crowds due to the closure of the Inca Trail in February and lower ticket demand.
Low tourist season in Machu Picchu Archeological site
2. Choose Less Crowded Times
Machu Picchu has specific entry times based on the type of ticket you choose, divided into 3 Circuits in 2025. However, the most in-demand option, which guarantees the classic postcard photo and a visit to the archaeological urban area of Machu Picchu, is Circuit 2 (Route 2-A or 2-B). These tickets usually sell out 2 months in advance. Here are the times when fewer tourists are present:
→ First Shift: 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. (It is not crowded with tourists wanting to see the sunrise.)
→ Second Shift: 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. (Crowded with tourists avoiding the sun).
→ Third Shift: 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. (Crowded with tourists avoiding the sun).
→ Fourth Shift: 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. (Crowded with tourists avoiding the sun).
→ Fifth Shift: 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. (Crowded with tourists avoiding the sun).
→ Sixth Shift: 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. (Crowded with tourists avoiding the sun).
→ Seventh Shift: 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. (Fewer tourists due to the sun).
→ Eighth Shift: 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. (Fewer tourists due to the sun).
→ Ninth Shift: 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. (Fewer tourists as many stay overnight in Aguas Calientes).
→ Tenth Shift: 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. (Fewer tourists as many stay overnight in Aguas Calientes).
A family in Machu Picchu
3. Book Your Entrance Ticket in Advance
Starting in 2025, access to Machu Picchu is limited to 2,500 visitors per day, distributed across different routes and circuits. The most comprehensive route, Route 2-A or 2-B, sells out quickly. Therefore, make sure to book your tickets months in advance, especially if you plan to visit during the high season.
Travel agencies like Kantu Peru Tours manage the official ticket platform TuBoleto.Cultura.pe. While you can purchase tickets on your own, remember that if you want to avoid crowds in Machu Picchu, you shouldn’t wait or travel without a pre-purchased ticket. Although you can buy tickets in Aguas Calientes, it may take 2 or more days during the high season.
Tourist taking a picture avoiding crowds in Machu Picchu
4. Explore Alternative Circuits in Machu Picchu
Since 2024, Machu Picchu offers 3 different circuits with 10 routes to explore the archaeological site. While Route 2-A and 2-B are the most popular, if you want to avoid crowds in Machu Picchu, you can opt for the remaining eight routes based on your travel date and needs:
→ Route 1-A: Machu Picchu Mountain Route – A 3-hour hike with panoramic views, excluding access to the urban sector. Ideal for hikers.
→ Route 1-B: Upper Terrace Route – A short route for panoramic photos, excluding access to the urban sector. A guide is mandatory.
→ Route 1-C: Sun Gate (Inti Punku) Route – A 2-hour round-trip hike with magnificent views of Machu Picchu, available from June 1 to October 15.
→ Route 1-D: Inca Bridge Route – A 1-hour round-trip hike with views of the river, forest, and Machu Picchu from a different angle, available from June 1 to October 15.
→ Route 2-A: The Classic Route – A complete tour of the citadel, including temples, plazas, Sacred Rock, and the Temple of the Condor, lasting up to 2 hours.
→ Route 2-B: Lower Terrace Route – Similar to Route 2-A, with additional panoramic views, ideal for classic photos, lasting up to 2 hours.
→ Route 3-A: Huayna Picchu Mountain Route – A demanding 3-hour hike including visits to the Temple of the Sun and the Inca House.
→ Route 3-B: Royalty Route – Focused on the urban sector: Temple of the Sun, Inca House, and Temple of the Condor.
→ Route 3-C: Cavern Route – A moderate hike to the Great Cavern, available only from June 1 to October 15.
→ Route 3-D: Huchuy Picchu Route – A short hike with panoramic views of Machu Picchu, available from June 1 to October 15.
Portada del Sol en Machu Picchu
5. Visit Other Nearby Attractions
Machu Picchu is not the only attraction in the area, you can take a classic photo without visiting the urban sector (temples or tourist sites within Machu Picchu) and instead opt for hikes that offer different views of the citadel, avoid crowds in Machu Picchu, learn more about the flora and fauna, and even save money on tour guides (which are mandatory for the urban sector under new restrictions).
→ Route 1-A: Machu Picchu Mountain Route
→ Route 1-C: Sun Gate (Inti Punku) Route
→ Route 1-D: Inca Bridge Route
→ Route 3-A: Huayna Picchu Mountain Route
→ Route 3-D: Huchuy Picchu Route
Comparison from all Machu Picchu Mountains
6. Stay Overnight in Aguas Calientes and Start Early
If you stay in Aguas Calientes, the town closest to Machu Picchu, take one of the first buses departing at 5:30 a.m. This will allow you to arrive before most visitors and is one of the best strategies to avoid crowds in Machu Picchu. However, if your plan is to travel by train to Machu Picchu and return to Cusco the same day, you’ll likely encounter crowds. A highly recommended option is to spend the night in Aguas Calientes after your tour of the citadel, ideally between 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m., or take the first bus to Machu Picchu if you’ve stayed overnight.
Aguas-Calientes-Town
7. Hire a Private Tour
If you want to avoid crowds, you probably don’t want to wait to take the classic photo at Machu Picchu or have limited time, as is often the case with group tours. Opting for private tours to any of the routes will allow you to explore the citadel at your own pace, with expert guides on the citadel who know the best times and routes to avoid crowds in Machu Picchu.
Machu Picchu Guided Tour
8. Know the Schedules and Duration of Each Route
→ Route 1-A: Machu Picchu Mountain Route – 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. (3 hours per group).
→ Route 1-B: Upper Terrace Route – 6:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. (2 hours per group).
→ Route 1-C: Sun Gate (Inti Punku) Route – 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. (2 hours per group).
→ Route 1-D: Inca Bridge Route – 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. (2 hours per group).
→ Route 2-A: Classic Route – 6:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. (2 hours per group).
→ Route 2-B: Lower Terrace Route – 6:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. (2 hours per group).
→ Route 3-A: Huayna Picchu Mountain Route – 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. (4 hours per group).
→ Route 3-B: Royalty Route – 6:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. (2 hours per group).
→ Route 3-C: Cavern Route – 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. (3 hours per group).
→ Route 3-D: Huchuy Picchu Route– 10:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. (3 hours per group).
Machu Picchu Ticket Purchase 2025
Important Information for 2025
1. New Regulations: Starting in 2025, stricter measures will be implemented to preserve Machu Picchu, including time limits for visits (2 hours maximum for Circuit 2 routes) and predefined routes lasting 3 to 4 hours, depending on the ticket type and distance of the hike.
2. Online Reservations: All tickets must be purchased online through the official site TuBoleto.Cultura.pe or authorized agencies like Kantu Peru Tours. Note that only 1,000 tickets are available daily at the single physical ticket office in Aguas Calientes.
3. Mandatory Guides: It is mandatory to enter Machu Picchu with certified guides on the citadel for groups of up to 10 people, though some routes that don’t include the urban sector do not require a guide.
Casa del Guardían de Machu Picchu foto postal
Visiting Machu Picchu is a dream for many travelers, and with a little planning, you can avoid crowds in Machu Picchu and have an unforgettable experience. From choosing the right schedule and circuit to exploring alternative routes, thanks to Kantu Peru Tours. and this blog, you can make your adventure in the lost city of the Incas a reality.
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