Quick Summary: This is a week-by-week calendar of everything to do in the 12 weeks before a Machu Picchu trip, structured so nothing falls through the cracks. Different from a checklist (which lists tasks); this one distributes them across a timeline. Most tasks are 30 minutes or less. The whole preparation adds up to roughly 8–10 hours spread across 3 months.
Why 12 Weeks?
Twelve weeks is the sweet spot for peak-season travel (June–August). It's long enough to secure Circuit 2 tickets before they sell out (3–6 months ahead in peak), long enough to spread the preparation into 30-minute weekly sessions, and short enough that the details remain fresh. Shoulder-season travelers can compress this to 8 weeks; low-season travelers can compress to 5.
The countdown is calibrated around the entry ticket being the constraint — everything else works backward from that.
Week 12 (3 Months Before): Anchor Decisions
The strategic decisions that shape everything downstream. Time required: 60 minutes.
- Fix your travel dates (departure from home + return). Aim for ±3 days flexibility
- Decide: fly or overland? (Under 7 days → fly; 10+ → consider overland)
- Decide: how many days in Peru total? (7 minimum for meaningful visit, 10–14 recommended)
- Decide: one-day or two-day Machu Picchu visit? (Two is strongly recommended)
- Confirm passport is valid 6+ months past travel dates. Renew now if not.
- Rough budget check: $1,200–$2,500 per person mid-range for 10 days
Week 11: Book the Anchor
Time required: 45 minutes.
- Go to tuboleto.cultura.pe
- Book Machu Picchu Circuit 2 entry ticket at 06:00 or 07:00 slot
- If desired: book mountain permit (Huayna Picchu or MP Mountain) same session
- Save confirmation PDF; log reference number
- Confirm passport-name spelling matches exactly
Week 10: Trains and Shuttle
Time required: 30 minutes.
- Book round-trip train Ollantaytambo ↔ Aguas Calientes (PeruRail Vistadome recommended)
- Book Consettur shuttle round-trip on the Aguas Calientes-side portal
- Note timings: aim for 90+ minute buffer between train arrival and entry slot
Week 9: Accommodation
Time required: 45 minutes.
- Book Aguas Calientes hotel for the night before your entry
- Book Cusco hotel for arrival nights + post-Machu Picchu nights
- If overlanding: Peru Hop pass now (needs Lima arrival date)
- If flying: not yet — see week 8
Week 8: Flights
Time required: 45 minutes.
- Book domestic flight Lima → Cusco (morning arrival preferred; afternoon flights have higher cancellation rates)
- Book international flights around your fixed Peru dates
- Check baggage allowance for domestic Peru flight (often stricter than international)
Week 7: Health and Insurance
Time required: 60 minutes.
- Book travel insurance (medical + trip cancellation + altitude coverage)
- Consult doctor about altitude sickness medication (acetazolamide/Diamox) — prescription may be needed
- Check vaccinations: Peru requires yellow fever certificate for some Amazon regions (not Cusco, but confirm your specific itinerary)
- Confirm any personal medications you'll need for the trip; refill if necessary
Week 6: Guide and Extras
Time required: 30 minutes.
- Book licensed guide at Machu Picchu (via operator like Yapa Explorers or Cusco-based private guide)
- Book Sacred Valley day-trip if desired
- Book Rainbow Mountain / Humantay Lake / other day-trips if desired
Week 5: Ollantaytambo Transfer + Lima Arrival
Time required: 20 minutes.
- Book Cusco → Ollantaytambo transfer (matched to your train departure time)
- Book Lima airport transfer (Airport Express Lima ~$7 or Uber ~$15)
- Book any first-night Lima hotel if arriving before onward flight
Week 4: Packing List and Gear Check
Time required: 60 minutes (first pass).
- Review packing list (see the existing [what to pack for Machu Picchu](/planning/what-to-pack-for-machu-picchu/) guide)
- Buy any missing gear: waterproof jacket, hiking shoes with aggressive tread, rain cover for daypack
- Test walking shoes on longer walks — do not travel in brand-new footwear
- Order any needed altitude-sickness medication
Week 3: Currency and Communication
Time required: 30 minutes.
- Notify your bank of Peru travel dates (avoid card fraud blocks)
- Order some Peruvian soles (S/) for small purchases at Aguas Calientes market and taxis
- Check SIM card / eSIM options for Peru (Bitel and Movistar have the best rural coverage; Claro is good in cities)
- Download offline Google Maps for Cusco region
- Consider downloading Google Translate offline pack for Spanish
Week 2: Final Prep
Time required: 45 minutes.
- Pack a physical folder with all confirmations printed (entry ticket, train, shuttle, hotel, flights, insurance)
- Confirm every booking still shows in your email; forward all to a companion for backup
- Weigh your bag against the domestic flight allowance
- Check weather forecast for Cusco and adjust packing (warm layer year-round; waterproof if November–March)
- Set out passports in a designated pre-flight spot
Week 1: Departure Week
Time required: 60 minutes across the week.
- Check-in for international flight 24 hours out; download boarding pass
- Confirm all Machu Picchu confirmations one more time
- Sleep well in the days before departure (altitude tolerance is meaningfully worse when sleep-deprived)
- Refill water bottle before airport security to habituate hydration
- Charge all electronics; pack chargers in carry-on
Departure Day and In-Flight
Time required: The trip.
- Passport, boarding pass, entry-ticket printout on your person; not in checked luggage
- On the flight: hydrate aggressively (altitude adjustment starts before landing)
- Avoid alcohol on the plane
- Skip the plane snack if it's heavy — you'll digest better at altitude with a lighter stomach
Compression: If You Only Have 8 or 5 Weeks
The 12-week schedule assumes peak season. Compress by combining weeks:
| Original weeks | Compressed 8-week | Compressed 5-week |
|---|---|---|
| 12–10 | Weeks 8–7 | Week 5 |
| 9–7 | Weeks 6–5 | Week 4 |
| 6–4 | Weeks 4–3 | Weeks 3–2 |
| 3–1 | Weeks 2–1 | Week 1 |
Below 5 weeks (peak season): risk that Circuit 2 is sold out. Below 3 weeks (any season): significant risk. Consider Circuit 1 as fallback or bundled operator.
FAQ
Can I compress this into two weekends?
Technically, but you lose the buffer that catches booking mistakes. The weekly structure works because each week's tasks feed into the next. Compressing invites overlooked steps.
What if a week's task can't be completed on schedule?
Slip it forward one week. Only two tasks are truly time-sensitive: week 11 (entry ticket, must be first) and week 10 (trains, need to align with entry hour). Everything else has flex.
What if I discover a problem in week 3?
Most problems have solutions if caught with time to spare. Passport expiry issues, entry-ticket refunds (rare but possible), flight rebookings — all are easier at week 3 than week 1.
Should I share this checklist with traveling companions?
Yes — each traveler needs their own passport verification, health prep, and packing. Delegate specific weeks (one person handles bookings, another handles gear, etc.) if traveling with a group.
How does this differ from the booking sequence article?
The [booking sequence checklist](/planning/machu-picchu-booking-sequence-step-by-step/) is what to do in one 2-hour session — the actual bookings in order. This one distributes preparation across 12 weeks, adding health, gear, and departure logistics that the booking checklist doesn't cover.
Limitations
The 12-week structure assumes standard peak-season lead times; travelers with special constraints (visa-required nationalities, specific medical conditions, tight budgets) may need earlier starts. Work-around: for any complication that adds a step (visa application, prescription review, insurance underwriting), add 4 weeks to the front of this schedule.