Free Access to Archaeological Sites and Protected Natural Areas (Peru)

This provision was regulated by Legislative Decree 1507, which was approved by the Executive Branch and published Monday in El Peruano official gazette, as a measure to reactivate and economically promote tourism, in the context of the health emergency caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu will reopen to tourists on July 1 offering free admission for children, teenagers, and seniors coming from Peru or abroad, as well as public servants.

Visitors must adhere to the safety protocols and guidelines set by the Ministry of Health (Minsa) in order to avoid the spread of COVID-19. The provision is effective from July 1 to December 31, 2020.

This measure not only applies to Peru’s principle attraction, but to other 54 archaeological sites, museums and historical places managed by the Ministry of Culture, as well as 22 protected natural areas administered by the National Service for Protected Natural Areas (Sernanp).

Among the places managed by the Ministry of Culture are the Inca Trail Network and Manuel Chavez Ballon On-site Museum (Cusco), the archaeological site of Chavin (Ancash), Nazca Lines and Geoglyphs (Ica), the archaeological complex of Chan Chan (La Libertad), the archaeological complex of Huacas del Sol y de la Luna (La Libertad), and the archaeological monument of Kuelap (Amazonas), among others.

The protected natural areas include in the free admission program are Tambopata National Reserve, Manu National Park and Bahuaja Sonene National Park (Madre de Dios), Pacaya Samiria National Reserve (Loreto), Ballestas Islands National Reserve, and Paracas National Reserve (Ica), among others.