Queues, chaos and complaints have plagued Machu Picchu in Peru this week, as tourists found themselves unable to enter the attraction and local residents protested against the government’s handling of ticket allocation.
Last weekend, overcrowding led authorities to temporarily halt the sale of tickets granting access to Peru’s most popular tourist site. Local residents are already angry that tickets to enter Machu Picchu are only being sold in the nearby city of Cusco, rather than on site.
Scenes at the site have since calmed and normal operations have resumed, but challenges remain as Peru tries to balance burgeoning tourist demand with the need to protect the site.
Machu Picchu currently has a maximum capacity of 4,044 visitors per day. This was raised from 3,044 last month to cater to demand, which has been increasing steadily since the Unesco World Heritage attraction reopened in October 2020.
An important technicality lies at the root of many of the current issues, says Manuel Sanchez Palacios of Inca Expert, a reputable travel company founded in Lima that specialises in boutique tours of Peru, and sister companies Peru for Less and Latin America for Less.
“Over the past weekend, numerous visitors arrived in Aguas Calientes with ticket reservations but no tickets, and therefore they were unable to enter the ancient Incan citadel,” he says.
A reservation is not enough to guarantee entry to the site — visitors must show proof of an actual ticket. “A promised ticket is different from a purchased ticket in hand,” says Palacios. New, stringent rules around the issuing of tickets mean that some unethical tour operators are not delivering on what they promise.
“New restrictions on purchasing and changing ticket information make reserving tours at Machu Picchu more difficult. For example, previously there were penalties that ranged from 10 per cent to 30 per cent for changing the entry date, time or ticket holder information.
“Now, however, only the passport number on a ticket can be changed, in case a tourist needs to renew their passport before visiting Machu Picchu, but only when all the previous ticket holder information remains the same.
“So my advice for visitors is the following: if you buy tickets from a tour operator online or in Peru, make sure they enter your information accurately and send you a confirmation of the purchased ticket before you travel. It is always helpful to look at online reviews for travel agencies as well.”
There are currently tickets available for entry to Machu Picchu, but they are limited and dependant on date. Palacios recommends tourists who are travelling independently check and make their purchases through the the official Peruvian government site, https://reservas.machupicchu.gob.pe/inicio.
Otherwise, visitors should make sure they are dealing with a reputable tour operator, or they may be setting themselves up for disappointment, he says. “Machu Picchu is an incredible destination that everyone deserves to visit. There is nothing like taking your first step into the archaeological site and seeing enormous, perfectly carved stones that fit like an ancient puzzle.
“It is a place that deserves to be shared and seen. I would like to see travel agencies and tour operators do a better job fulfilling their promise to acquire tickets quickly and accurately for their customers, ideally the day a customer books.
“Machu Picchu is what often makes the trip for tourists, and learning that the ticket promised was not purchased appropriately, or maybe not at all, can be heartbreaking, especially if you are turned away at the door.”
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Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
The biog
Prefers vegetables and fish to meat and would choose salad over pizza
Walks daily as part of regular exercise routine
France is her favourite country to visit
Has written books and manuals on women’s education, first aid and health for the family
Family: Husband, three sons and a daughter
Fathiya Nadhari's instructions to her children was to give back to the country
The children worked as young volunteers in social, education and health campaigns
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Gothia Cup 2025
4,872 matches
1,942 teams
116 pitches
76 nations
26 UAE teams
15 Lebanese teams
2 Kuwaiti teams
The Settlers
Director: Louis Theroux
Starring: Daniella Weiss, Ari Abramowitz
Rating: 5/5
Three ways to get a gratitude glow
By committing to at least one of these daily, you can bring more gratitude into your life, says Ong.
- During your morning skincare routine, name five things you are thankful for about yourself.
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- In the evening, take some deep breaths, notice how your skin feels, and listen for what your skin is grateful for.
Brief scores:
Juventus 3
Dybala 6', Bonucci 17', Ronaldo 63'
Frosinone 0
The UN General Assembly President in quotes:
YEMEN: “The developments we have seen are promising. We really hope that the parties are going to respect the agreed ceasefire. I think that the sense of really having the political will to have a peace process is vital. There is a little bit of hope and the role that the UN has played is very important.”
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OMAN: “It is a very important country in our system. They have a very important role to play in terms of the balance and peace process of that particular part of the world, in that their position is neutral. That is why it is very important to have a dialogue with the Omani authorities.”
REFORM OF THE SECURITY COUNCIL: “This is complicated and it requires time. It is dependent on the effort that members want to put into the process. It is a process that has been going on for 25 years. That process is slow but the issue is huge. I really hope we will see some progress during my tenure.”
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
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- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Match info:
Manchester City 2
Sterling (8'), Walker (52')
Newcastle United 1
Yedlin (30')
If you go:
Getting there:
Flying to Guyana requires first reaching New York with either Emirates or Etihad, then connecting with JetBlue or Caribbean Air at JFK airport. Prices start from around Dh7,000.
Getting around:
Wildlife Worldwide offers a range of Guyana itineraries, such as its small group tour, the 15-day ‘Ultimate Guyana Nature Experience’ which features Georgetown, the Iwokrama Rainforest (one of the world’s four remaining pristine tropical rainforests left in the world), the Amerindian village of Surama and the Rupununi Savannah, known for its giant anteaters and river otters; wildlifeworldwide.com
