Machu Picchu runs on fixed entry windows: nine slots a day between 6am and 2pm, with entries released every hour and a half. Each ticket is tied to a specific window and one of three one-way circuits inside the site. Pick the slot that fits the kind of visit you want.
Early slots — 6am and 7am — catch the mist burn-off and the softer light on the ridge. The 2pm window is quieter and better for the late afternoon colour, but you lose the Sun Gate option as the gate closes mid-afternoon.
Peruways maps out the hours against the circuits so you can see which combinations work. Circuit 1 (upper) gets you to the terrace viewpoints; Circuit 2 (intermediate) covers the Royal Tomb and the Temple of the Sun; Circuit 3 (lower) focuses on the agricultural sector.
Book your entry window at Peruways, together with the train from Cusco or Ollantaytambo and the Aguas Calientes shuttle.
