Anyone who has visited Machu Picchu will testify to its mysterious enchantment. With the impressive backdrop of the surrounding mountain range, this ancient Incan citadel is truly an awe-inspiring wonder of the world. With more than 2,500 visitors flocking to the sacred site each day, the Peruvian government has in recent times adopted control measures in an attempt to better preserve the ruins.
Firstly, the authorities now restrict the number of daily visitors. Permits are allocated in advance to individuals and groups to control movement. As we apply for these well in advance of your trip, this restriction does not affect our participants. On entry to Machu Picchu, there is a strict 4-hour time limit. Again, this does not affect our participants, as this is the typical duration of time our expeditions spend atop the mountain.
Secondly, all single-use plastic products have now been banned from the site. Choose a Challenge fully respects this ban, and it ties in with our own ethos. For participants, it just means you need to be aware not to bring in any disposable plastics (e.g. water bottles).
One recent development is a new restriction on bag sizes. Bags being brought into the national park must now be smaller than 40cm x 35cm x 20cm (15” x 13” x 7”). There is a box contraption similar to the type you get in airports where they check this:
There are storage lockers located outside the park entrance for any oversized luggage. Alternatively, you can leave any excess baggage at your accommodation in Aguas Calientes, which is the town at the base of Machu Picchu, where you stay overnight prior to visiting Machu Picchu.
Other restrictions you should be aware of when travelling to Machu Picchu are as follows:
- No selfie-sticks, drones, tripods or cameras that look “too professional”.
- No feeding the animals.
- No disrespecting the sacred site, including jumping around or taking inappropriate photographs.
- No political symbols or flags of any kind.
- No loud noise disturbances (i.e. clapping, shouting, whistling and singing).
Your guide will remind you of the above restrictions before you head up to Machu Picchu. As advised, if you wish to leave anything at the accommodation in Aguas Calientes, you are more than welcome to do so. This will be stored securely for you whilst you visit the sacred site, and you will be able to collect this prior to boarding the train back to Cusco.
We hope the above information is helpful. If you have any questions or concerns about your particular destination, please don’t hesitate to contact us and we will be happy to help.