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Machu Picchu Tickets Will Have New Restrictions

You won't be able to wander around on your own anymore.
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Starting July 1, visitors to Machu Picchu, the stone Inca city high in the Andes Mountains, will have to play by a few more rules. You've always had to buy a ticket (and plan ahead) to get up to the top of the Inca Trail, but now the Peruvian government is instituting timed entry, among other restrictions, to protect the endangered UNESCO Heritage Site from further damage caused by foot traffic and off-path exploration.

Visitors to the historic site will now be required to enter with an official tour guide in one of two timed entries: the morning (between 6 a.m. and noon) or the afternoon (between noon and 5:30 p.m.). Plus, travelers will now have to stay on one of three approved paths, as opposed to traipsing around the ruins independently.

While the new ticket entry will ensure a more evenly distributed flow of explorers, the number of available tickets will actually grow, according to The Guardian. There will be over 3,000 tickets available each morning and around 2,600 available for afternoon entry. Even though you won't be able to stay all day (unless you buy two tickets), they will still cost $46 for adults. Children aged seven and under can still visit for free.

Peru and UNESCO have long been arguing over how many people should be allowed in the site, built more than 500 years ago. In 2001, UNESCO suggested just 917 visitors per day, thanks to a poor emergency plan, waste management, and erosion, but settled with the Peruvian government on 2,500 hikers a day. This change in ticketing is part of the country's 20 year plan to protect Machu Picchu, and will be reviewed in two years to see if any additional changes need to be made.

Machu Picchu isn't the only site making it harder to visit. A few iconic locales, like Santorini and Venice, are telling tourists to stay home. You can check out a full list here.