Machu Picchu Tourism Statistics

Page last updated: 13 July 2025

Machu Picchu, often referred to as the Lost City of the Incas, is the most popular destination of the Incan Empire. Located on the top of the mountain 2,430 meters above sea level, it is considered a tourist attraction par excellence in Peru.

How many tourists visit Machu Picchu every year?

Over 1.5 million tourists visited Machu Picchu in 2024.

• Before the pandemic, Machu Picchu attracted an average of 1.5 million tourists annually, with a daily visitor cap of around 2,500.

• This number significantly decreased to 270,000 visitors in 2020 and 450,000 in 2021 during the coronavirus pandemic.

• Machu Picchu saw a slight recovery with 980,000 domestic and international visitors in 2022, but this was followed by a slight downturn in 2023, with a total of 950,000 tourists.

• In 2024, Machu Picchu received 1.5 million visitors, matching 2019 levels and marking a 58% increase over 2023.

How many people visited Machu Picchu in 2025?

As of January to February of 2025, Machu Picchu has welcomed 191,351 visitors.

• Full-year 2025 figures aren’t yet published, but with Peru targeting 4.37 million international arrivals and Machu Picchu historically capturing about 35 % of those via Lima, the sanctuary could see over 1.53 million visits this year.
  
  

How many tourists visited Machu Picchu in 2024?

• In 2024, Machu Picchu welcomed 1.5 million visitors, matching 2019 levels and marking a 58% increase over 2023. This corresponds to an average of 4,110 visitors per day.
  
  

How much do visitors spend in Machu Picchu every year?

• Visitors to Machu Picchu generate around $40 million USD in direct annual revenue each year, which is made up of about $30 million USD from entrance tickets and $10 million USD from Inca Trail permits. ¹

Note: Updated Machu Picchu-specific spending figures annually have not been published online. Visit the Peru Tourism Statistics to view the most recent total spending data, including Machu Picchu.

Where do visitors to Machu Picchu come from?

The leading sources of international arrivals at Lima’s airport in 2024, a proxy for visitors to Machu Picchu, are the United States, Chile, Brazil, Colombia, and Spain.

• In 2024, United States was the top source, accounting for 569,525 arrivals (38.0% market share).

• Chile also contributed approximately 205,817 arrivals (13.7% market share).

• Brazil accounted for 150,741 arrivals (10.1% market share)..

• Colombia sent 133,171 arrivals (8.9% market share).

• Spain provided 128,812 arrivals(8.6% market share).

Note: Data reflects total arrivals at Lima’s Jorge Chávez International Airport, the primary entry point for international visitors destined for Machu Picchu. 

Where is Machu Picchu?

• Machu Picchu, located 2,430 meters above sea level amidst a tropical mountain forest, is one of the most remarkable urban achievements of the Inca Empire. Its massive walls, terraces, and ramps blend seamlessly with the surrounding rock formations.
  
  

Impact of Coronavirus – Machu Picchu Tourism Statistics 2020 

Tourist visits to Machu Picchu were down 72% in the first half of the year 2020.²

• The site received around 500 visitors a day in December 2020, down from more than 2,500 during normal times.

• Authorities have also restricted the number of trekkers on the Inca Trail. The Inca Trail can now only accommodate half of its previous limit (about 250 hikers per day).
  
  

Impact of Coronavirus – Machu Picchu Tourism Statistics 2021

Peru, like most countries in South America and globally, experienced a second wave of COVID-19 in 2021. 

• All archaeological sites in regions of Peru, including Machu Picchu, “will receive zero visits” from January 31 to February 14 of the year 2021, as stated in a decree published in the official gazette in 2021.³
  
  

Machu Picchu Tourism Statistics – Economic Impact 2024

Machu Picchu remains not only a cultural icon but also a powerful economic engine for both the Cusco region and Peru as a whole. 

• In 2024, the sanctuary generated approximately $40 million USD in direct revenue which included $30 million from entrance fees and $10 million from Inca Trail permits.

• Tourism in Machu Picchu supported around 36,000 direct jobs in the region and contributed 2.9% to Peru’s national GDP.

• Moreover, each dollar invested in conservation and infrastructure delivered an extraordinary $40 in economic output, underscoring a strong multiplier effect as visitor spending circulates through hotels, restaurants, transport services, artisanal goods, and beyond.
  
  

How popular is Machu Picchu as a tourist destination?

• Machu Picchu has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1983 and was designated one of the New Seven Wonders of the World in 2007. Machu Picchu is Peru’s most visited attraction and South America’s most famous ruins, welcoming hundreds of thousands of people a year.⁴

• Machu Picchu Consistently wins top industry awards which include:

• World Travel Awards
  • World’s Leading Tourist Attraction (2024)
  • South America’s Leading Tourist Attraction (2023 & 2024)
  • South America’s Leading Cultural Destination (2024)—underscoring its blend of heritage and visitor experience
    
• TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice Awards
  • #1 Landmark in the World (2016 & 2013)
  • Best Destination in South America (2025)
  • Top 3 – Solo Travel Destination (World) (2025)
  • Top 6 – Culture Destination (World) (2025)

• Due to its popularity, Machu Picchu, Peru experiencing high tourist volumes lead to overcrowding, environmental damage, and impact on ancient structures and the local ecosystem.

Read more about Global Overtourism and other countries that experiencing it.

Why do tourists visit Machu Picchu?

Tourists visit Machu Picchu because it’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the New Seven Wonders of the World

• Its Inca stonework and terraces showcase exceptional pre-Columbian engineering.

• Perched at 2,430 m in the Andes, it offers breathtaking mountain and cloud-forest vistas.

• The Inca Trail trek culminates in an iconic sunrise arrival at the Sun Gate.

• It holds deep spiritual and cultural significance for Andean heritage

• The surrounding sanctuary boasts rich biodiversity (orchids, birds, spectacled bears)

• It’s a globally recognized “bucket-list” photo destination.

• Visits include immersion in local Quechua culture, crafts, and cuisine.
  
  

How long do tourists stay in Machu Picchu? 

Most visitors spend 2 to 3 days in the Machu Picchu region (Aguas Calientes + Sacred Valley), as part of a typical 10-night trip across Peru.

Tourists’ on-site time at Machu Picchu is strictly limited by ticket type:

• Standard entrance ticket: up to 4 hours inside the sanctuary (guided tours average 2 h 30 m).

• Machu Picchu + Huayna Picchu ticket: up to 6–7 hours (to complete the peak hike plus site visit).

• Machu Picchu + Machu Picchu Mountain ticket: up to 8 hours (to summit and tour the citadel).
  
  
  

When is the best time to visit Machu Picchu?

• The best time to visit Machu Picchu is during the Andean dry season (May to October), when trails are clear and skies are generally sunny:

• High season: April through October with peak months in May, June, July and August is ideal due to low rainfall (dry season), stable trail conditions on the Inca Trail and other approaches and clear mountain vistas and sunrise views at the Sun Gate.

• Avoid: November–March (wet season), when heavy rains can close trails, muddy paths are common, and visibility is reduced.
  
  

How do tourists get to Machu Picchu?

• Most visitors reach Machu Picchu by train from Cusco or Ollantaytambo, or by trekking the four-day Inca Trail. From Aguas Calientes below the citadel, they either take a short bus ride or hike up.
  
  

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References

1. ScholarWorks: Tourism in Peru 2018 ↩︎
2. NatGeo: Impact of Covid-19 in Machu Picchu ↩︎
3. EconomicsTime: The second wave of Covid-19 in Machu Picchu ↩︎
4. History: Machu Picchu Today ↩︎