March is the month the Inca Trail reopens, and the rains start to ease. The trail is closed all of February for maintenance, so March is the first month you can walk it again. The ruins stay intensely green, but the mist is much lighter than in February, so views open more often. It is still the rainy season, so showers are likely. Crowds are low and entry is usually easier to secure than in the dry months. March suits visitors who want green, quiet and a better chance of open views.
We run tours to Machu Picchu from Cusco every month of the year. For everything else about the visit, read our complete Machu Picchu guide. For how the seasons work across the whole year, read the best time to visit Machu Picchu. The neighbouring months have their own guides: Machu Picchu in February and Machu Picchu in April.
Machu Picchu in March at a glance
| March at Machu Picchu | |
|---|---|
| Season | End of the rainy season, rains easing |
| Inca Trail | Reopens in March after the February closure |
| Weather | Showers still likely, fewer than in February |
| Mist | Much lighter than in February |
| The ruins | Intensely green |
| Crowds | Low |
| Ticket availability | Usually easier than in the dry season |
| Altitude | 2,430 m (7,972 ft), almost 1,000 m below Cusco |
| Opening hours | 6:00 AM to 5:30 PM, entry by assigned time |
| Guide | Licensed guide mandatory since 2024 |
February was the peak of the rains. March is the turn. For the country-wide picture, read Peru in March.
Weather and visibility in March
Two things change at the citadel in March: the rain loosens and the mist thins.
Rain that eases. March is still part of the rainy season, so do not expect a dry month. But the relentless wet of January and February loosens. You get more dry spells between the showers, and fewer days that are wet from dawn to dusk. The pattern is still changeable, and the month is uneven. Some weeks feel like late February, and others feel like the start of the dry season.
Lighter mist. This is the visible difference from February. The thick cloud that sat on the ruins for hours is less persistent. Morning mist still happens, but it lifts more reliably, and the terraces appear more often.
What this means for visibility:
- Views are more dependable than in the previous two months. An open view is a good bet, not a gamble.
- Conditions still change. Cloud can close in again, so keep your camera ready.
- The 2.5-hour guided tour gives the weather time to shift. You move through the site, so a hazy start does not decide the day.
No entry slot guarantees dry weather in the rainy season. If you are choosing an hour, read morning vs afternoon entry, then choose the slot that suits your transport and schedule. If you need dependable skies, choose a dry-season month.
Crowds and ticket availability this month
March is one of the quiet months. Few visitors travel at the end of the rains, so you share the paths with far fewer people than in the dry season.
For tickets, the seasonal pattern is simple. Entry is usually easier to secure in the rainy season than between June and August, when we advise booking three months ahead. We do not publish daily quotas or month-by-month availability, because we do not have an official figure we can stand behind. We describe the pattern, not a number.
Three cautions:
- Easier is not guaranteed. Entry is by assigned time. Book once your dates are fixed.
- Check Holy Week. In some years it begins in late March, and demand rises for a few days. Check the date for your year before you book.
- Huayna Picchu is the exception to “easy”. There are 400 permits a day, in two groups, and we advise reserving 2 to 4 months ahead in any month. Do not assume the quiet season changes that.
Your passport is required for the train and for entry. Photocopies are not accepted, and the name on your ticket must match it exactly. For the process, read how to buy Machu Picchu tickets.
Getting there this month: train, bus and trail conditions
The big change in March is the trail.
The Inca Trail reopens. It closes every February for maintenance and reopens on 1 March. If the classic trek is your goal, March is the first month you can walk it after the closure. Confirm availability and permits for your exact dates before you buy flights, because the first weeks after a reopening can fill quickly. Check the dates for your year when you plan.
The train and bus are unchanged. The route is the same all year:
- Road: Cusco to Ollantaytambo is 1.5 hours by private vehicle.
- Train: Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes takes 1 hour 40 minutes in Expedition class. Vistadome is available as an upgrade.
- Bus: The CONSETTUR bus from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu takes 30 minutes and leaves every 10 minutes.
That is 3 hours 40 minutes each way before waiting and queues.
March still carries weather risk. The heaviest rain of February is behind you, but March is still part of the rainy season, and heavy rain can cause delays on the roads or the railway. Plan accordingly:
- Keep a buffer day after your visit, and never schedule an international flight for the next morning.
- Take travel insurance. We recommend it on every trip.
- Ask us how your plan would adjust if the road or the line were disrupted.
If you have two days, our 2-day Machu Picchu tour from Cusco starts from $635 per person. March’s easing weather makes a short trip more workable than in February, but ask us how the plan would shift if rain delayed your transit.
On the ground. Paths and steps are still wet in places, and stone is slippery. If you hold a Huayna Picchu permit, treat the climb as weather-dependent. It takes 1.5 hours up and 1 hour down.
What the citadel looks like in March
March shows Machu Picchu at its greenest, with clearer views than the months before it.
- Deep green terraces. Months of rain have saturated the slopes, and the colour is at its richest.
- Thinner cloud. Mist drifts through the site but breaks more often. Peaks and terraces appear more frequently than in February.
- Soft, changing light. Broken cloud gives you shifting shafts of light on the stonework, which suits photography.
- Few people. You can often photograph a terrace without a crowd in the frame.
- A fresh, washed look. The site looks clean after the heavy rain.
Machu Picchu was built around 1450 and abandoned before the Spanish conquest. In March, with the green at its peak and the cloud beginning to lift, the site shows why the builders chose it. A licensed guide is mandatory, and the guided visit takes 2.5 hours. Ask your guide to slow down when the cloud opens.
If you want a second look, a second visit is a good hedge against a hazy morning. On our 14-Day Peru Mystic Tour, the first visit is guided for 2.5 hours and the second, on another day, is free. The price is not published, so write to us at info@peruandesdiscovery.com to ask about availability.
What to wear and bring
Pack for rain that comes and goes.
- A proper waterproof jacket. March is drier than February, but you will still need it.
- A light poncho that covers you and your daypack, for sudden showers.
- Quick-dry layers. Cotton stays wet, so choose fabrics that dry fast.
- Shoes with grip. Wet stone and muddy paths are slippery.
- Spare dry socks.
- Dry bags or waterproof sleeves for your phone, camera and passport. Your passport is required for the train and for entry, so keep it dry.
- Sun protection. Clear spells at altitude are strong, and March brings more of them than February.
Machu Picchu is lower and warmer than Cusco, so you will be mild and damp more than cold. Layers you can add and remove work better than one heavy coat.
Is this a good month for you?
March is a good choice if you:
- want to walk the Inca Trail after the February closure
- want green landscapes and low crowds
- want clearer views than January or February offer
- can accept some rain and keep a spare day
March is a poor choice if you:
- need guaranteed dry skies, because the rains are only easing
- have a fixed, tight schedule with no buffer day
- plan to hike Rainbow Mountain, where conditions are improving but snow is still possible. Read Rainbow Mountain in March before you commit to it.
If you choose March, give yourself room. The 6-day Cusco and Machu Picchu tour starts from $1,420 per person and includes a private professional guide, private ground transport and pickup from your hotel or the airport. A private guide and private transport make it easier to move a day when the weather turns. Send us your dates, and we will tell you what March looks like for your visit.
Frequently asked questions
When does the Inca Trail reopen?
The Inca Trail reopens on 1 March, after closing for all of February for maintenance. Confirm availability and permits for your dates before you book flights.
Is Machu Picchu open in March?
Yes. Machu Picchu opens at 6:00 AM and closes at 5:30 PM, with entry by assigned time. March is the end of the rainy season, so expect showers, very green ruins and lighter mist than in February.
Is Machu Picchu crowded in March?
No. March is one of the quieter months, and entry is usually easier to secure than in the dry season. Book once your dates are fixed, and reserve Huayna Picchu 2 to 4 months ahead, because it has only 400 permits a day.
Is March a good month for views at Machu Picchu?
Better than January or February. The rains ease and the mist is lighter, so views open more often. It is still the rainy season, so clouds can return and nothing is guaranteed.
