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Machu Picchu high season and holidays: the official dates for 2026 and 2027

High season at Machu Picchu is not a guess: the Ministry of Culture publishes the dates when it raises the daily capacity. Here are those dates, the Peruvian holidays that fill Cusco, and how early to book around them.

October 5, 2026 · machupicchu.world team

The official high season in 2026

For 2026 the Ministry of Culture set a capacity of 5,600 visitors a day on 1 January, from 2 to 5 April, from 19 June to 2 November, and on 30 and 31 December. On every other day the capacity is 4,500. A higher capacity means more tickets, but these are also the dates with the most demand, so they sell out first.

→ In a hurry? Check live availability for all 11 circuits

The visitor numbers confirm it. According to the Ministry's Cusco office, July 2025 had 156,680 visitors, August 153,655 and October 149,977 (provisional).

Peru's public holidays

  • 2026: 1 January; 2–3 April (Holy Thursday and Good Friday); 1 May; 7 June; 29 June; 23 July; 28–29 July (Independence); 6 August; 30 August; 8 October; 1 November; 8 and 9 December; 25 December.
  • 2027: The fixed dates repeat. Easter falls on 28 March, so Holy Thursday and Good Friday are 25 and 26 March. The official list for 2027 has not been published yet.
  • Cusco only: 24 June is Inti Raymi and Cusco Day, a regional holiday. Corpus Christi is celebrated in Cusco on the Thursday 60 days after Easter: 4 June 2026 and 27 May 2027.
When a holiday falls next to a weekend, Peruvians travel too, and a long weekend inside high season (28–29 July, 30 August, 8 October in 2026) is when the last tickets go.

How far ahead to book on these dates

  • Huayna Picchu (3A): 3 to 4 months ahead for June to August.
  • Machu Picchu Mountain (1A): 3 to 6 weeks ahead.
  • City routes (2A, 2B): 2 to 4 weeks ahead; 2A goes before 2B.
  • If the morning is gone: Routes 1B, 2A, 2B and 3B sell afternoon entries until 3 PM, often still open when the morning slots are gone. See afternoon entry.
Limited Spots

Circuit 3A Huayna Picchu

Climb the iconic peak behind the citadel — strictly limited daily quota

$78 USD⏱ Up to 6 h● Challenging📅 Year-round

When is high season at Machu Picchu?

In 2026 the official high-season dates are 1 January, 2 to 5 April, 19 June to 2 November and 30 to 31 December, when the daily capacity rises to 5,600.

How many people can visit Machu Picchu per day?

In 2026, 5,600 a day on high-season dates and 4,500 on the rest, as set by the Ministry of Culture.

Is Machu Picchu busy during Inti Raymi?

Inti Raymi (24 June) falls inside high season and brings many visitors to Cusco; book Machu Picchu early for the days around it.

Pick your route, then your date

Every ticket page shows real availability by entry time for the next months. Choose the route first; the dates that are left are right there.

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