The Machu Picchu ticket in National Holidays – Peru

Visiting Machu Picchu in July will give you the opportunity to celebrate Peru’s national holidays. These are celebrated on July 28 throughout Peru. In Cusco, the celebrations begin a few days before with parades, troupes and dances. That day Machu Picchu is full of tourists so you must buy the ticket in advance.

National holidays in Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu on July 28 is full of visitors (especially Peruvian tourists). That date coincides with the high tourist season, so you must buy your Machu Picchu tickets online and in advance.

When are the national holidays in Peru?

Peru celebrates its national holidays every July 28. That date commemorates the proclamation of independence that took place in 1821, after almost 300 years of the Spanish viceroyalty.

How are the national holidays celebrated in Peru?

In Peru, one of the main customs on July 28 is to raise the flag in each home.
Most schools hold parades and school parades during the national holidays.
All the military forces of Peru carry out a huge parade called ‘Great military parade’ full of color and gallantry.
Peruvians usually take advantage of national holidays for internal tourism. Machu Picchu, of course, is the first tourist destination.

How are the national holidays celebrated in Cusco?

Cusco celebrates the national holidays of Peru with several gastronomic festivals where you can enjoy typical dishes of the region, such as: Chiri Uchu, suckling pig, baked cuy, stew, baked pork and more .
In Cusco, as in all of Peru, there are school parades, military parades and flag raising.
The Main Square of Cusco is filled with people, including Peruvians and foreign tourists since the days become different from the usual ones in the city.
The nights of Cusco are also filled with joy on national holidays. A large number of Peruvian and foreign visitors have fun in the city’s bars and nightclubs.

How are the national holidays celebrated in Machu Picchu?

The homeland holidays of Peru coincide with the high tourist season in Machu Picchu (June, July and August) so the Inca City is packed with visitors.
July 28 is the day when most Peruvian tourists visit Machu Picchu.
Normally there are long queues to enter Machu Picchu during national holidays.
In Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu town) school parades and other attractive events for tourists are usually organized.
In addition, tourist services (restaurants, cafes) offer Peruvian music shows and typical Peruvian cocktails such as pisco sour or chilcano.

How to buy the Machu Picchu ticket on July 28th?

July 28 is one of the most difficult dates to get an entrance ticket to Machu Picchu.
To get a ticket to Machu Picchu for that day, the visitor must buy their ticket online in advance.
You can purchase your ticket through the official sales website (machupicchu.gob.pe) or with the website of a tourism agency that sells tickets to the Inca City.

How far in advance should I buy the Machu Picchu ticket on July 28th?

There are 4 different types of entrances to Machu Picchu. Each one must be purchased online in advance:

Machu Picchu Ticket only – 4 weeks in advance.
Machupicchu + Huaynapicchu Ticket – 3 months in advance.
Machupicchu + Mountain Ticket – 4 weeks in advance.
Machupicchu + Huchuypicchu Ticket – 3 weeks in advance.

For lovers of adventure and adrenaline, the ascent to the top of the Huayna Picchu mountain is something not to be missed. However, it can only be accessed with the Machu Picchu + Huayna Picchu ticket, which must be purchased approximately 3 months in advance.

What time to choose to visit Machu Picchu?

Each type of Machu Picchu entrance has a different entry time:

Ticket Machu Picchu Only

Group 1: entry from 6 am.
Group 2: entry from 7 am.
Group 3: entry from 8 am.
Group 4: entry from 9 am.
Group 5: entry from 10 am.
Group 6: entry from 11 am.
Group 7: entry from 12 pm.
Group 8: entry from 1 pm.
Group 9: entry from 2 pm.

Ticket Machu Picchu + Huayna Picchu

Group 1: entry from 6 am. / entry to Waynapicchu from 7 am. at 8 am.
Group 2: entry from 7 am. / entry to Waynapicchu from 8 am. at 9 am.
Group 3: entry from 8 am. / entry to Waynapicchu from 9 am. at 10 am.
Group 4: entry from 9 am. / entry to Waynapicchu from 10 am. at 11 am.

Ticket Machu Picchu + Mountain

Group 1: entry from 6 am. / entry to the Mountain at 7 am. to 8 a.m.
Group 2: entry from 7 am. / entry to the Mountain at 8 am. to 9 a.m.

Ticket Machu Picchu + Huchuy Picchu

Group 1: entry from 6 am. / entry to Huchuy Picchu from 7 am. at 8 am.
Group 2: entry from 7 am. / entry to Huchuy Picchu from 8 am. at 9 am.
Group 3: entry from 8 am. / entry to Huchuy Picchu from 9 am. at 10 am.
Group 4: entry from 9 am. / entry to Huchuy Picchu from 10 am. at 11 am.
Group 5: entry from 10 am. / entry to Huchuy Picchu from 11 am. at 12 p.m.
Group 6: entry from 11 am. / entry to Huchuy Picchu from 12 pm. at 1 pm.
Group 7: entry from 12 pm. / entry to Huchuy Picchu from 1pm. at 2 pm.
Group 8: entry from 1 pm. / entry to Huchuy Picchu from 2pm. at 3 p.m.

Things to keep in mind if you travel to Machu Picchu on national holidays

If you already have the Machu Picchu tickets you chose, you can start booking the train tickets , hotels, tour guides or additional tours. All these services are also difficult to obtain on national holidays.
In national holidays gastronomic fairs are organized so you can enjoy many of the most delicious dishes of Peru, such as: lomo saltado, cuy chactado, ají de gallina, stuffed rocoto etc..

Questions and answers about Machu Picchu in July

1) Is July the best time to go to Machu Picchu?

For many Cusco tour guides, July is an excellent month to visit Machu Picchu. The weather is warm in the day. There is little chance of rain which improves outdoor routes.

2) How is the weather in Cusco in July?

The climate of Cusco in July is warm temperate with intense cold at night. The temperature varies from a minimum of 0ºC. up to a maximum of 20ºC. The rains are scarce.

3) What is celebrated in Machu Picchu in July?

July is a month full of festivities in Cusco and Machu Picchu. On July 7, Machu Picchu celebrates its anniversary as one of the Seven Wonders of the modern World. From July 15 to 18, the festival is celebrated in honor of the Virgen del Carmen in Paucartambo. Finally, on July 28, the National Holidays of Peru are celebrated.

4) What to bring to Cusco if I travel in July?

If you travel to Cusco in July, do not forget to bring light and comfortable clothes for the day as well as warm clothes for the night. During your tours, bring a hat, sunscreen, a poncho in case of rain, rehydrating water, and mosquito repellent.

5) What to do in Cusco on Peruvian national holidays?

Civic parades with typical dances and other events are organized in the Main Square of Cusco in homage to the Independence of Peru (July 28).

6) Is it cheap to visit Machu Picchu in July?

July is a high season month in Cusco and Machu Picchu. For this reason, it is recommended to book all services online and in advance. This way you will get a better rate. Getting your tourist services at the last minute may be more expensive

7) Is there availability for Machu Picchu in July?

July is a month with high demand for tickets and other tourist services. For this reason, it is recommended to buy tickets to Machu Picchu one or two months in advance. In the case of the entrance to the Huayna Picchu mountain, it is recommended to do it with 3 or 4 months.

8) Are there hotels available in Machu Picchu in July?

Hotels, like other tourist services in Cusco and Machu Picchu, must be purchased online approximately one month in advance. This way you can get availability for the service of your choice.