LAST UPDATED: 7/1/26 – Machu Picchu and Galapagos Planning

My Travel Planning Process

In case you haven’t read my articles on my travel planning process, I am going to give you a really quick review.  I like to use a process I call the 3H\3W approach.  It involves answering six basic questions about your trip and then using the answers to those questions to guide you through the trip planning process.  It’s a six-step process that will keep you organized and focused as you start the trip-planning process.  Those steps are as follows:

• What do you want to see?
• Where will you need to go to see those things?
• How are you planning to get there and to get around?
• How long do you need to stay to see those things?
• When is the best time to travel there?
• How much will it cost, and does it fit the budget?

The What

The first question I need to answer in my Machu Picchu and Galapagos planning is “the what”, and that is pretty easy.  I have always dreamed of visiting Machu Picchu and the Galapagos Islands.  My father has always wanted to visit Machu Picchu as well, so I am going to try to bring my parents along on this trip.  This answers that question.

The Where

Since I would like to visit two very specific places (Machu Picchu and the Galapagos), “the where” is a pretty easy question to answer as well.  If I want to see these places, I am going to need to visit Peru and Ecuador.  Specifically, if I want to see Machu Picchu, I am going to need to get to Cusco, Peru.  And if I want to visit the Galapagos Islands, I am going to have to find a way to get to the islands.

The When

The next decision I needed to make was when I was going to make my visits.  This isn’t as easy as you would think.  There was a lot that I needed to consider before making this decision.  Factors such as kids’ school schedules, work schedules, and the best times to visit these locations from a weather and busyness standpoint all needed to be considered.

The first thing I looked at was the average temperature, by month, for both Machu Picchu and the Galapagos Islands.  I plotted the minimum and maximum temperatures for each location, month-by-month, onto a graph so that I could review and compare them to other variables.

Average Temperature for Machu Picchu

Average Temperature for Galapagos Islands

As you can see by the charts above, the average high and low temperatures for both Machu Picchu and the Galapagos Islands are pretty steady throughout the year.  This is especially true for Machu Picchu, which only sees a variation in average high temperature of 4 degrees.  The Galapagos Islands see a bit more variation, with an average high of 88 degrees in April and 79 degrees from May through September, but even that 9-degree variation isn’t too large.  With this in mind, temperature won’t be a huge factor in choosing when I visit.

The next factor that I looked at is the average monthly precipitation that each location gets.  This is an important factor for us, as I want to make sure that I can see Machu Picchu in the limited time that I will be visiting.  To understand what the average precipitation is for each month in these locations, I charted the average precipitation levels on a graph so that I could review and compare them to other variables.

Average Precipitation Levels for Machu Picchu and Galapagos

Looking at the average precipitation levels for Machu Picchu and the Galapagos Islands, the ideal time to visit is between April and September.  I definitely want to stay away from October through March because the average precipitation levels are just too high.  Ideally, I would visit between May and August, as those months have the lowest average precipitation levels, but I will need to factor in the other variables as well.

The final variable that I want to take into account before deciding on when to visit is how busy these locations get throughout the year.  I would prefer not to visit during the busiest times of the year for Machu Picchu, as the crowds can get pretty crazy.

According to Peru’s tourism agency, Peru received 4.157 million visitors in 2025, which was a 4.1% increase over 2024.  Many of these visitors are coming to see Machu Picchu.  And when it gets crowded, it gets very hard to see everything that you want to see.  According to TicketMachuPicchu.com, on average, roughly 5,600 people a day visit Machu Picchu during the summer months.  I don’t want to be stuck in those crowds.

New Rules at Machu Picchu

Visiting Machu Picchu today requires following a detailed set of regulations designed to protect the citadel and manage daily visitor flow. Below is an up‑to‑date summary of the rules currently in effect for all travelers.

Timed Entry & Advance Tickets

All visitors must purchase tickets in advance through the official government platform or a licensed operator. Entry is allowed only during the specific time slot printed on your ticket, with multiple entry windows offered between 6:00 AM and 2:00 PM, depending on season and circuit. Visitors may not enter early or switch to a different time window.

Mandatory Guides for First‑Time Visitors

First‑time visitors must enter with a licensed, certified guide. Repeat visitors may enter without a guide but must still follow a designated circuit. Guided groups are limited to 10–16 people, depending on the route.

Three Main Circuits (Expanded to 10 Variants)

Machu Picchu uses a structured circuit system to control movement inside the site. Visitors must choose a circuit at the time of ticket purchase and cannot change circuits once inside.

• Circuit 1 – Panoramic — Upper terraces, panoramic viewpoints, access to Machu Picchu Mountain.
• Circuit 2 – Classic — The traditional route through the main urban sector and terraces.
• Circuit 3 – Royalty — Includes Huayna Picchu, Huchuy Picchu, and the Great Cavern.

Each circuit has its own entry window and time limit, typically 2.5–4 hours, depending on the route.

No Re‑Entry

Once you exit Machu Picchu, you cannot re‑enter without purchasing a new ticket. This rule applies to all circuits and all time slots.

Daily Visitor Capacity Limits

To reduce overcrowding, Machu Picchu enforces strict daily caps:

• High season (May–September): ~5,600 visitors/day
• Low season (January–April, October–December): ~4,500 visitors/day

Capacity may adjust slightly based on conservation needs.

Updated Inca Trail Access Rules

As of 2025, all Inca Trail permits grant access only to Circuit 1 (Panoramic) unless the permit was purchased before May 27, 2025. To access Circuit 2 or Circuit 3, hikers must purchase an additional entrance ticket.

Visitation Patterns

Machu Picchu experiences predictable seasonal fluctuations in visitor numbers each year. The busiest period aligns with the dry season, when weather conditions are most favorable, and tourism across Peru reaches its peak.

The quieter months fall within the rainy season, when cloud cover, afternoon showers, and reduced crowds create a calmer experience for travelers. Understanding these patterns can help visitors plan for lighter foot traffic, better photo opportunities, and a more relaxed pace inside the citadel.

• Busiest Months — June, July, August, September
• Quietest Months — January, February, March, April, October, November

When to Visit the Galápagos Islands

The Galápagos Islands experience distinct peak and low travel seasons each year, driven by wildlife activity, school holidays, and global tourism trends. The busiest periods occur when weather conditions are favorable and demand for cruises and guided tours is highest. Travelers planning to visit during peak months should secure flights, park permits, and cruise or land‑based tour arrangements well in advance, as availability can fill quickly across the islands.

• Busiest Periods — Mid‑June through early September, and mid‑December through mid‑January
• Why These Months Are Busy — School holidays, ideal wildlife viewing, and stable weather conditions
• Planning Recommendation — Book tours, accommodations, and inter‑island transport well ahead of time due to limited capacity and strict conservation‑based visitor limits

Decision Making

With the climate and crowd information clarified, planning our Machu Picchu and Galápagos trip became much easier. Because temperatures stay relatively stable throughout the year in both destinations, we focused instead on precipitation levels and visitor density. Machu Picchu’s rainy season brings frequent showers and reduced visibility, so we ruled out travel between October and March to avoid the highest chance of poor weather.

Summary of Our Planning Priorities

• Temperature: Not a major factor due to minimal month‑to‑month variation
• Precipitation: Avoid October–March to reduce the risk of rain and low visibility
• Crowds: Avoid July and August, the busiest months at Machu Picchu
• Ideal Window: April–June or September for balanced weather and lighter crowds

I Chose to Visit in September

So, I was left with either April, May, June, or September for possible trip dates.  April or May would likely be the better months to visit, but that doesn’t leave us a lot of time for planning, and the remaining tours for the Galapagos Islands look pretty sparse.  On top of that, Spring doesn’t work as well as Fall for us for other reasons, so I decided to go with September.

We have set the dates of September 4 – 15, 2018, as our trip dates, and I am starting to get the final planning done for this trip.  I am super excited to finally have some dates on the calendar, and I will continue to share our trip planning process with you as I move forward.  The planning process should hopefully move fast!

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