by Donald Wood
Last updated: 3:20 PM ET, Wed July 19, 2017
Peru's Machu Picchu is an iconic tourist attraction that draws visitors from around the world, but officials have instituted a new set of rules that will hopefully conserve the historical site for years to come.
The new guidelines went into effect July 1 as a result of a 2015 study by a United States archaeologist and recommendations from UNESCO officials on how to ensure Machu Picchu doesn't sustain damage from the rising numbers of tourists.
One of the major changes is that tourists can't spend the whole day at the site any longer.
Instead, there will be two periods each day where travelers will be allowed to enter the area-one in the morning (6 a.m. to 12 p.m.) and one in the afternoon (12 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.).
All visitors must also enter with either an official Machu Picchu guide or licensed tourist guide. Each guide will also only be permitted to take a maximum of 16 people during each entrance into the area.
Officials have also updated its prohibited list to include bags larger than 16 inches, food and drinks, alcoholic beverages, cigarettes, illegal substances, umbrellas, photographic tripods, selfie sticks, musical instruments, high heels, children's strollers, walking sticks and more.
In addition, the site does not allow tourists to climb or lean on walls, touch or remove any items, get naked, make loud noises or feed the resident or wild animals in the protected region.
[READMORE]READ MORE: Ticket Changes Are Coming to Machu Picchu[/READMORE]
The ultimate goal of the new rules is not to inhibit the experience of visitors, but to protect the historical site and ensure it will be around for future generations.
Visitors must be respectful of the new rules or risk being removed from the area.
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