New rules for visiting the Inca city of Machu Picchu in Peru

Since the legendary ruin complex of Machu Picchu first received UNESCO World Heritage status in 1983, tourist interest has grown every year and a visit to the Inca city is not without long lines for buses, entrance and attractions inside the complex.
“Lost City” is a must-see if you are planning a trip to South America and in particular to Peru. It is a very, very beautiful historical complex of ruins, it is large, interesting and inspiring. And yes, the current visit budget of $300-$350 (from Cusco) is absolutely worth its money.

Alas, as of July 1, 2017 and for a period of 2 years, new rules for visiting the Inca city come into effect, which affects our travel itinerary to Peru as well.
Separate entry times
Entry to Machu Picchu will be split into two entry sessions: entry from 6:00am to 12:00pm and entry from 12:00pm to 5:30pm.

Visitors must leave the complex within the time limits and cannot re-enter. Visitors and guides who do not leave within the time limit will be escorted out by security!
Visit only with an official guide
This is probably the most important rule. All visitors coming to Machu Picchu must be accompanied by licensed tourist guides. A valid accreditation or guide's license must be presented upon entering Machu Picchu.

Guides are allowed to accompany groups of up to 16 people. Guides must enter with the group and take all participants out. Guides will also be responsible for informing visitors of the rules for visiting Machu Picchu. How guides will accompany a group hiking Machu Picchu and Huayna Picchu is currently quite unclear
Defined itineraries
Organized routes to see all the ruins in one entry session are in the process of being designed, but of course this is only possible at a fast pace. Routes will be created to separate the crowds and not create pandemonium of people. We await the map of movements around the complex with interest. This rule is saddening, as we had our own strategy to avoid crowds of tourists and plan to rest at viewpoints during the day. And of course we never left before 3pm.
Re-entry
The new rules also prohibit re-entry into Machu Picchu. That is, if you leave the ruins through the main entrance, you will not be allowed to re-enter. Currently, the only restrooms and cafes in Machu Picchu are located on the outside of the park in front of the entrance.

It is necessary to buy different permits for different routes, for example, to walk along the most prominent route and go to the top of Vaina Picchu Mountain.

In order to preserve the Machu Picchu complex for future generations, before these rules were introduced, the number of tickets was limited to 2500 visits per day. On certain peak dates, tickets are simply unavailable and are already sold out a year in advance. However, in reality, the number of people visiting Machu Picchu per day is over 2,500.

If you look at the different combinations of available ticket types, you actually get about 3,800 admissions. The new rules were implemented to control access in order to preserve the integrity of the site and its legacy for future visitors. Ironically, the new rules actually double the number of visitors per day.
Our solution to the situation
Buying a double ticket to Machu Picchu to be able to realize a one-day Inka Trail hike and reserve free time to explore the ruins on our own.

After all, it is so important to experience the place, walk at your own pace, do what you want and enjoy the moment without the pressure of time requirements and rule restrictions.