SeasonMapWhat's on in Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu), Peru through the year
Aguas Calientes, Peru has 5 curated events through the year — 2 holidays, 1 season, 1 hazard season and 1 local rule. The ones to plan around: Timed tickets and fixed circuits (January) and Landslides on the rail line (January). March, July and August are its peak-crowd months.
Updated September 2026 · every event curated and sourced · dates for 2026 where they are announced, the usual window where they are not
Best time to visit Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu): weather, crowds and notes →
Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu) events and crowds by month
| Month | What starts | Crowds |
|---|---|---|
| January | Timed tickets and fixed circuits, Landslides on the rail line | Busy |
| February | — | Busy |
| March | Semana Santa | Peak crowds |
| April | — | Busy |
| May | — | Busy |
| June | Dry-season slots sell out | Busy |
| July | Fiestas Patrias | Peak crowds |
| August | — | Peak crowds |
| September | — | Shoulder season |
| October | — | Busy |
| November | — | Shoulder season |
| December | — | Busy |
January in Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu)
Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu) weather in January →Busy — Summer / year-end holidays in Peru, school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it
- Rule
Timed tickets and fixed circuits
1 Jan – 31 DecBook earlyEvery ticket names a circuit, a route and an entry hour, and you walk it one way from the gate above the town. Peak dates lift the daily cap to 5,600 and those slots go months ahead. Source ↗
- Hazard
Landslides on the rail line
1 Jan – 31 Mar · usuallyFlood seasonClosuresThe Urubamba runs high through the wet months and a huaico takes out a stretch of track most years, usually towards Hidroelectrica. Trains stop for a few days; there is no road into the town. Source ↗
February in Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu)
Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu) weather in February →Busy — Summer / year-end holidays in Peru, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it
Nothing new starts in February.
Still on: Timed tickets and fixed circuits (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Landslides on the rail line (1 Jan – 31 Mar (usually))
March in Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu)
Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu) weather in March →Peak crowds — Semana Santa, Summer / year-end holidays in Peru
- Holiday
Semana Santa
29 Mar – 5 AprEaster & Holy WeekCrowdedPeruvians travel in Holy Week and Cusco is where a lot of them go, so the trains and the entry slots tighten a fortnight before. The rain has usually not finished. Source ↗
Still on: Timed tickets and fixed circuits (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Landslides on the rail line (1 Jan – 31 Mar (usually))
April in Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu)
Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu) weather in April →Busy — Semana Santa
Nothing new starts in April.
Still on: Timed tickets and fixed circuits (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Semana Santa (29 Mar – 5 Apr)
May in Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu)
Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu) weather in May →Busy — May break in Peru
Nothing new starts in May.
Still on: Timed tickets and fixed circuits (1 Jan – 31 Dec)
June in Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu)
Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu) weather in June →Busy — Dry-season slots sell out, school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it
- Season
Dry-season slots sell out
1 Jun – 31 AugDry seasonCrowdedBook earlyJune to August is the settled half of the year and everybody books it, so entry hours and the early buses up the hill go months ahead. The one street through town is full by seven.
Still on: Timed tickets and fixed circuits (1 Jan – 31 Dec)
July in Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu)
Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu) weather in July →Peak crowds — Dry-season slots sell out, Fiestas Patrias
- Holiday
Fiestas Patrias
28–29 JulNational holidayCrowdedBook earlyPeru's national holidays on 28 and 29 July fall inside the school winter break, and domestic demand for trains, beds and entry tickets peaks for that week. Source ↗
Still on: Timed tickets and fixed circuits (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Dry-season slots sell out (1 Jun – 31 Aug)
August in Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu)
Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu) weather in August →Peak crowds — Dry-season slots sell out, Mid-year break (Fiestas Patrias) in Peru
Nothing new starts in August.
Still on: Timed tickets and fixed circuits (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Dry-season slots sell out (1 Jun – 31 Aug), Fiestas Patrias (28–29 Jul)
September in Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu)
Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu) weather in September →Shoulder season — school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month
Nothing new starts in September.
Still on: Timed tickets and fixed circuits (1 Jan – 31 Dec)
October in Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu)
Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu) weather in October →Busy — October break in Peru
Nothing new starts in October.
Still on: Timed tickets and fixed circuits (1 Jan – 31 Dec)
November in Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu)
Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu) weather in November →Shoulder season — an ordinary month
Nothing new starts in November.
Still on: Timed tickets and fixed circuits (1 Jan – 31 Dec)
December in Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu)
Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu) weather in December →Busy — Summer / year-end holidays in Peru, school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it
Nothing new starts in December.
Still on: Timed tickets and fixed circuits (1 Jan – 31 Dec)