Update: If your web browser cannot find the page www.machupicchu.gob.pe , you are most likely having a DNS lookup issue (not your fault). Navigating directly to the IP address http://200.37.108.103 will get you there. I have checked the web page and it is authentic. For security reasons navigating directly to the DNS number are not good practice but there doesn't seem to be an alternative at the moment. My recommendation would be to check the www.machupicchu.gob.pe first before using the alternative link. Hopefully the authorities will get their house in order in the next few days and sort out their problems.
A quick history of why visitor numbers to Machu Picchu need to be limited and enforced
Machu Picchu was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983. In 2007 Machu Picchu was voted one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. Its popularity has given a much needed boost to the Peruvian economy and given employment opportunities to local people. However in the past Machu Picchu has been poorly managed without giving enough consideration to the protection of this historic Inca city. Easy revenues made from charging expensive entrance fees to both Machu Picchu and the Inca Trail have gone unchecked and, in the past, local authorities have become greedy and failed to invest enough in conservation projects and tourism management. In April 2007 UNESCO, concerned at the lack of a long term strategy,
Sent a Mission to Assess the State of Conservation of Machu Picchu. The Committee voiced grave concern over governance of the property and noted urgent problems with deforestation, the risk of landslides, uncontrolled urban development and illegal access to the sanctuary (see full article) and further monitoring of the site was recommended. Pressure was also put on the Peruvian authorities to limit visitor numbers to Machu Picchu and produce a long term tourism management strategy. A plan was successfully implemented for the Inca Trail with maximum visitor numbers capped to 400 per day (about 200 tourists and 300 porters, of which the porters are not permitted to enter Machu Picchu). However no such plan was agreed for Machu Picchu. Scientific studies apparently suggested that a maximum number of 2500 visitors per day to Machu Picchu would be a suitable compromise between allowing access to tourism and conservation of the site. This figure of 2500 visitors per day has widely be agreed upon although up until now it has never been enforced. During the peak months in 2010 it was estimated that daily visitor number of up to 4000 visitors was not uncommon. Visitor numbers in July 2011 were also well above the 2500 limit especially on the 24 July 2011 when Machu Picchu celebrated the 100th year anniversary of its "re-discovery". Following this the rather "crowded" day the authorities decided to take drastic actions to limit the total visitor numbers.
Recent dramatic events to limit visitor numbers to Machu Picchu
"Peru's extravagant celebrations of the centenary of the rediscovery of Machu Picchu descended into farce this week, after a bureaucratic wrangle that saw hundreds of tourists from around the world barred from entering the Inca ruins." - 29 July 2011, Simeon Tegel, The Independent.
On 20 July 2011 the Peruvian authorities decided to limit the number of visitors to Machu Picchu to 2500 per day. This would normally be considered a good thing apart from the fact that the authorities forgot to tell anyone about their intentions. When the 2500th entrance ticket was sold for that date the authorities shut up shop and wouldn't allow anyone else in. The fact that most visitors had flown half way across the world just to see Machu Picchu and had spent more than 5 hours travelling on a combination of bus and train from Cusco to purchase their entrance tickets at the official ticket sales office in Aguas Calientes didn't manage to persuade the authorities to change their minds. Hundreds of tourists were not happy to say the least! Hundreds of tourists blocked the entry to Machu Picchu and the following day began to picket the "new" official ticket office in Cusco. The authorities did backtrack and raise the maximum limit to 3300 visitors per day but only on a temporary basis which of course drew criticism from archeologists and tourism experts who said this level was unsustainable.
Juan Julio Garcia, regional tourism director in Cusco, wouldn't take responsibility for the mess. He explained that "some travel agencies have failed to inform visitors that they should get tickets in advance because of the daily load limit of 2,500 people." - Associated Press. Maybe someone forgot to inform the travel agencies. So now we all know
So now we all know
Buy your Machu Picchu tickets in advance. Avoid disappointed & contact your travel agency.
Don't wait until you arrive at Machu Picchu because you may be in for a nasty surprise. Official website www.machupicchu.gob.pe otherwise, contact your travel agency.
Updated: The website doesn't give you the option of buying student entrance tickets. I contacted the Call Centre by email http://www.drc-cusco.gob.pe/callcenteresp1/ (very quick response in English) and they informed me that "students can only purchase tickets at our offices in Cusco or through an authorized travel agency." This isn't very helpful if you decide to wait until you arrive in Cusco to buy your tickets and the tickets are sold out!
There are basically 3 options for buying your Machu Picchu Entrance Ticket
(1) Buy your tour to Machu Picchu with a travel agent. .- You can book a tour to Machu Picchu with a travel agent / tour operator in your own country or directly with a travel agent / tour operator in Peru. Tours may be part of a package including flights and accommodation or just a traditional day tour to Machu Picchu by train. Tour companies that sell entrance tickets to Machu Picchu must be authorized by the Peruvian Ministry of Culture. A list of authorized companies can be found on their website www.drc-cusco.gob.pe/callcenteresp1/dmdocuments/call/agenciasmapi.pdf try to find South Adventure Peru Tours.
(2) Independent visitors can buy their entrance tickets online.- Independent visitors are visitors who book all the parts of their tour themselves. I.e. they buy their own flights and book their accommodation on line. They may buy a day tour from a local travel agent (see above) or they may make all the arrangements themselves i.e. buy train tickets, bus tickets and the entrance ticket to Machu Picchu. This can often work out cheaper and allows for more flexibility in planning an itinerary. Machu Picchu entrance tickets are best bought as far in advance as possible but remember that the departure date cannot be changed once you have bought the tickets. Details how to buy the tickets online can be found below.
Another thing to consider is the availability of train tickets to Machu Picchu. Train tickets can be bought online at www.perurail.com there's no point buying your Machu Picchu entrance ticket only to find all of the train tickets have sold out!! It's probably best to check availability of both train tickets and Machu Picchu entrance tickets before buying either of them.
(3) Buy you entrance tickets at a ticket office in Cusco. (Not recommended).- The third option is not really an official option but if you are already in Cusco you could just go to the Ticket Office in Cusco and try to buy a ticket directly. Take your passport and be prepared to wait around for a while. Most visitors, even when already in Cusco, are encouraged to buy their tickets online and either pay by VISA card or take their booking number to an official agent in Cusco to pay.
There is also a ticket office in the town of Aguas Calientes near to Machu Picchu but, for obvious reasons, this seems like a rather stupid place to buy your ticket as it's a long journey back if they have sold out. Enjoy Machu Picchu !!
