More than 100 years have passed since Machu Picchu was scientifically discovered and made known to the world, and then it was declared a Wonder of the World on July 7, 2007. This Inca Sanctuary is visited by thousands of tourists a day, so the number of visitors was limited in order to preserve this Inca Sanctuary for the future generations. Climbing mountain Huayna Picchu used to be totally free, but now the numbers were limited to 400 people per day. The first 200 people start hiking at 7am, and the second 200 people start hiking at 10am.
The high demand for Machu Picchu tickets 2027 and Huayna Picchu Mountain tickets has made the spots run out quickly, and also because the tickets are bought online and only with authorized agencies. The Ministry of Culture created a new alternative of the Huayna Picchu mountain, the name is "Machu Picchu Mountain," and it is right off of this mountain. If you want to do Machu Picchu or Huayna Picchu mountains, you have to book them way in advance. Climbing Huayna Picchu mountain takes 2 hours return trip and Machu Picchu mountain takes 3 hours return trip.
There are different ways to arrive at Machu Picchu. The most famous way is through the majestic Inca Trail, which has different routes depending on how many days you want to spend on the trek. Other options include alternative hikes such as the Inca Jungle Trek, the Salkantay Trek, the Choquequirao Trek, and the nine-day hike from Choquequirao to Machu Picchu. All of these alternative hikes end in the town of Santa Teresa, then continue to the town of Hydroelectric, and finally arrive in Machu Picchu. The least tiring option is to take the train. The Inca Rail is a good choice because the tickets are inexpensive and the seats are comfortable. The Peru Rail is the most popular train and has many departures, but it is important to buy tickets in advance to avoid inconveniences.
Over the years, the number of tourists visiting Machu Picchu has grown significantly, making it more difficult to visit the Inca city. Because of this increase in visitors, the Ministry of Culture has changed how people access the site, introducing new routes. These routes are now called "circuits," and each one provides a unique experience within the Inca city.
In total, there are three new circuits, each designed to offer a unique view of the archaeological site. They are also distributed according to strict protection and conservation guidelines established by UNESCO. Below is a list of the new circuits:
| Machu Picchu circuits | Machu Picchu Route |
| Circuit 1 Machu Picchu | Route A: Circuit 1 Machu Picchu Mountain |
| Route B: Circuit 1 Panoramic | |
| Route C: Circuit 1 IntiPunku (Available high tourist season) | |
| Route D: Circuit 1 Inca Bridge (Available high tourist season) | |
Circuit 2 Machu Picchu | Route A: Circuit 2 Classic |
| Route B: Circuit 2 Lower Terrace | |
| Circuit 3 Machu Picchu | Route A: Circuit 3 Huayna Picchu |
| Route B: Circuit 3 Royalty | |
| Route C: Circuit 3 Great Cavern - Available high tourist season | |
| Route D: Circuit 3 Huchuy Picchu - Available high tourist season | |
Thanks to careful planning, our goal is to preserve the cultural and natural heritage of Machu Picchu while improving the visitor experience. This allows visitors to explore the iconic site in an organized manner while respecting the surroundings. Next, we will tell you about each of the new routes that have been established.
This circuit's route has been redesigned. Previously, it provided a full guided tour of the Inca citadel; however, the new policy has introduced alternative routes. These routes offer stunning views of Machu Picchu from the Guardian's House and allow visitors to explore iconic sites such as Inti Punku, the Inca Bridge and the summit of Machu Picchu Mountain.
This circuit offers the most comprehensive Machu Picchu experience, covering many of the site's highlights, including the popular photo spot below the Guardian's House. The circuit also features a 4-hour round-trip hike to the top of Machu Picchu Mountain.
With this ticket, you can explore the upper terrace of the Inca citadel and take the classic postcard photo of Machu Picchu from the Guardian's House. You can also explore the Guardian's House area for the best panoramic views of Machu Picchu.
This ticket includes a tour of the upper terrace of Machu Picchu, where you can take the classic postcard photo from the Guardian's House sector. It also includes a three-hour hike (between ascent and descent) to the Sun Gate, or Intipunku. The Incas used this place to observe the winter solstice.
This entrance ticket allows you to explore the upper terrace of Machu Picchu, including the iconic view from the Guardian's House. The walk to the Inca Bridge, a structure set along the mountain's edge that connects Machu Picchu with the rainforest communities below, takes approximately two hours (between ascent and descent).
If you want to explore the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu thoroughly, the Circuit 2 ticket is your best option. This traditional route allows you to explore every corner of this archaeological wonder. Due to its high demand, however, we recommend booking your ticket well in advance.
This tour offers the most comprehensive view of Machu Picchu, including the iconic perspective from below the Guardian's House. You will explore the interior of Machu Picchu on a 3-hour walk.
This route closely follows Route 2-A, offering a unique detour to the lower terrace of the Guardian's House. Along the way, you'll have the opportunity to explore significant archaeological sites, including the Temple of the Condor and the scenic Temple of the Sun viewpoint.
The Machu Picchu Circuit 3 allows you to explore the lower part of the Inca city for two and a half hours. Due to high demand, the number of tickets is limited to 100 per day and is divided into two different time slots. With this ticket, you will have the opportunity to climb either Machu Picchu Mountain or Huayna Picchu Mountain and enjoy panoramic views.
This route allows you to explore the lower section of the Inca citadel and includes a three-hour round-trip hike to the top of Huayna Picchu. From the summit, you can enjoy unmatched views of Machu Picchu and the surrounding archaeological remains.
This ticket allows you to visit enclosures built exclusively for Inca royalty. However, it does not include the classic Machu Picchu photo. From the agricultural sector, though, you can take a similar photo to the one on the postcard. The walk lasts approximately three hours, during which you will learn about and appreciate Inca history.
This ticket allows you to visit exclusive places in Machu Picchu, such as the Temple of the Condor, the Water Mirrors, and the Sacred Rock, among others. You will also have the opportunity to explore the mysterious Temple of the Moon, which is located inside a natural cave on Huayna Picchu Mountain. However, it does not offer the classic view of Machu Picchu.
In addition to the tour of the Inca royal sector, this ticket allows you to hike to the top of Huchuy Picchu Mountain, the small mountain next to Huayna Picchu Mountain. However, the ticket does not include the iconic photo of Machu Picchu.
In 2027 there are 3 types of official tickets:
| Schedule | |||
| Circuit 1 | Machu Picchu Mountain | 1 | Entry from 7 a.m. |
| 2 | Entry from 9 a.m. | ||
| Upper terrace | 1 | Entry from 6 a.m. | |
| 2 | Entry from 7 a.m. | ||
| 3 | Entry from 8 a.m. | ||
| 4 | Entry from 9 a.m. | ||
| 5 | Entry from 10 a.m. | ||
| 6 | Entry from 11 a.m. | ||
| 7 | Entry from 12 p.m. | ||
| 8 | Entry from 1 p.m. | ||
| 9 | Entry from 2 p.m. | ||
| 10 | Entry from 3 p.m. | ||
| IntiPunku | Inca Bridge | 1 | Entry from 7 a.m. | |
| 2 | Entry from 8 a.m. | ||
| 3 | Entry from 9 a.m. | ||
| 4 | Entry from 10 a.m. | ||
| Circuit 2 | Classic Route | Lower Terrace | 1 | Entry from 6 a.m. |
| 2 | Entry from 7 a.m. | ||
| 3 | Entry from 8 a.m. | ||
| 4 | Entry from 9 a.m. | ||
| 5 | Entry from 10 a.m. | ||
| 6 | Entry from 11 a.m. | ||
| 7 | Entry from 12 p.m. | ||
| 8 | Entry from 1 p.m. | ||
| 9 | Entry from 2 p.m. | ||
| 10 | Entry from 3 p.m. | ||
| Circuit 3 | Huayna Picchu Mountain | 1 | Entry from 7 a.m. |
| 2 | Entry from 9 a.m. | ||
| Royalty | 1 | Entry from 6 a.m. | |
| 2 | Entry from 7 a.m. | ||
| 3 | Entry from 8 a.m. | ||
| 4 | Entry from 9 a.m. | ||
| 5 | Entry from 10 a.m. | ||
| 6 | Entry from 11 a.m. | ||
| 7 | Entry from 12 p.m. | ||
| 8 | Entry from 1 p.m. | ||
| 9 | Entry from 2 p.m. | ||
| 10 | Entry from 3 p.m. | ||
| Great Cavern | 1 | Entry from 8 a.m. | |
| 2 | Entry from 9 a.m. | ||
| Huchuy Picchu Mountain | 1 | Entry from 9 a.m. | |
| 2 | Entry from 11 a.m. |
There are three types of Machu Picchu tickets. Each one offers a unique experience. You can take a leisurely stroll through the Inca citadel or go on an extreme adventure and climb Huayna Picchu mountain.
Regardless of the type of ticket you purchase, you will be able to experience and appreciate the incredible engineering feat that is the Inca masterpiece.
| MACHU PICCHU ENTRANCE FEES | Foreign Any Nationality | Andean Community | |||||
| Adult | Student | Child | Adult | Student | Child | ||
Circuit 1 Machu Picchu | Route A: Machu Picchu Mountain | $ 63 | $ 40 | $ 37 | $ 35 | $ 25 | $ 25 |
| Route B: Panoramic | $ 48 | $ 25 | $ 22 | $ 20 | $ 10 | $ 10 | |
| Route C: IntiPunku | $ 48 | $ 25 | $ 22 | $ 20 | $ 10 | $ 10 | |
| Route D: Inca Bridge | $ 48 | $ 25 | $ 22 | $ 20 | $ 10 | $ 10 | |
Circuit 2 Machu Picchu | Route A: Classic | $ 48 | $ 25 | $ 22 | $ 10 | $ 6 | $ 6 |
| Route B: Lower Terrace | $ 48 | $ 25 | $ 22 | $ 20 | $ 10 | $ 10 | |
Circuit 3 Machu Picchu | Route A: Huayna Picchu | $ 63 | $ 40 | $ 37 | $ 35 | $ 25 | $ 25 |
| Route B: Royalty | $ 48 | $ 25 | $ 22 | $ 10 | $ 6 | $ 6 | |
| Route C: Great Cavern | $ 63 | $ 40 | $ 37 | $ 36 | $ 34 | $ 24 | |
| Route D: Huchuy Picchu | $ 48 | $ 25 | $ 22 | $ 20 | $ 10 | $ 10 | |
How to Secure Your Entrance to Machu Picchu? Planning a trip to Machu Picchu requires advance planning, especially regarding the purchase of tickets.
Official ticket sales for each season typically open around mid-December through the Ministry of Culture's platform (TuBoletoCultura), usually covering the entire following year. It is fundamental to understand that it is not possible to buy tickets at the entrance gate of the citadel, so buying online or through an authorized agency in advance is the only guaranteed way.
Due to high demand, Machu Picchu tickets usually sell out months in advance, especially for the most requested circuits and time slots, such as Huayna Picchu Mountain. The current visit system is based on defined circuits with strict entry times, which makes careful planning essential.
Therefore, we recommend securing your Machu Picchu entrance ticket as soon as the official sale opens for your travel season, thus guaranteeing access to this Wonder of the World.
There are 2 ways to buy tickets Machu Picchu: in person at an authorized office in Cusco or from any country through the internet. To buy the ticket, the visitor must go to the authorized offices and make the purchase with their passport, identity document or university card. The authorized offices are:
To buy the ticket online, the tourist must enter the official sales website of the Ministry of Culture of Peru and buy the tickets. Another option is to do it through the website of an authorized tourism agency. The steps to follow are those:
Now you will learn the way step by step of buying your Machu Picchu Entrance Ticket.
From the middle of 2011 the option of buying tickets through the Internet was enabled. But you also have the option to buy when you arrive in Cusco or Aguas Calientes. The problem is that the vast majority of travelers are buying via internet. Then those who leave to buy when arriving in Peru, either because they do not have a credit card or because they do not know exactly when they will be in Machu Picchu, risk not getting tickets for the desired date. Although with Machu Picchu there is usually no problem. Since there is a limit of 2,500 people per day, the authorities (unfortunately) do not control, and the citadel has received more than 4,000 visitors per day, which is a real madness, not only for the bad experience of the traveler to have so many people in the citadel, but, that for the conservation of the same.
If you weren't able to secure your ticket online, buying it in person in Peru is still possible, but the two locations work quite differently, and the option you choose can add significant time to your visit day.
You can purchase your Machu Picchu and Huayna Picchu entrance tickets in person at the Ministry of Culture offices in Cusco (Casa Garcilaso or the Culture Directorate on Calle Maruri), with the option to pay in cash or by international credit card. This is the more comfortable option if you're already spending a few days in the city before heading to Machu Picchu, since it lets you sort out your ticket without the pressure of doing it the same day as your visit. Keep in mind that Huayna Picchu tickets are extremely limited, so buying in person in Cusco is very unlikely to get you a spot on that mountain, those sell out online months in advance.
You can also buy your ticket in person in Aguas Calientes, but this option comes with an important trade-off: it means waiting in line, often for a long time, so it's not the best choice if you're short on time or traveling on a tight schedule.
Ticket sales here are handled exclusively in person at the Ministry of Culture's office (Centro Cultural), near the main square. Up to 1,000 tickets are sold per day, with general adult foreign rates of S/152 or S/200 depending on the circuit.
Office details and hours
Requirements and conditions
Given the long lines, the daily ticket cap, and the risk of only getting a slot for a later date, buying in Aguas Calientes should really be treated as a backup plan, not the primary strategy — booking online in advance remains the most reliable way to secure your entrance.
STEP 1:
Go to the official website https://tuboleto.cultura.pe/, and the main page of "Tu Boleto Cultura" will appear. You will see several sections, such as Machu Picchu, the Kuelap Archaeological Complex, the Chavín National Museum, and other places. However, to book any of these places, you need to register on the platform first. To do this, go to the top right and click on the registration icon.
STEP 2:
Once on the login platform, look for the option "Register here".
STEP 3:
Fill in all the fields indicated on the page. Note: You must validate your email with the verification code sent to your email. Afterwards, you will create your account on "Tu Boleto Cultura" and then proceed to book your ticket to the Inca city.
STEP 4:
After registering and logging into the system, you will see a series of sections in the right sidebar where you will need to choose the circuit you want to visit, the route of the tour, the visit date, the entry time and your origin. Note: In the "Select your origin" section, you must choose whether you are a foreigner, Peruvian, local resident, or Andean Community - CAN (Countries: Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru).
Very important:
STEP 5:
Then, the price will be updated according to the visitor's origin. Then you just have to add people according to the General, Student (not older than 25 years), and minor (from 3 to 17 years) boxes. To finish this process, you must click on the add to cart button, which will take you to another window to perform a series of steps.
STEP 6:
After adding to the cart, you will go to a new section where the price of the tickets and the number of visitors will be detailed. You will also need to enter the data of each visitor, according to the box indicated on the page.
STEP 7:
Once all the fields for each visitor have been completed, you must click on the save option.
STEP 8:
Having completed this process, we select the "continue" option.
STEP 9:
In this window, you'll see that your booking is confirmed. You'll see a booking number, the tour you chose, and the date and time of your visit to Machu Picchu. Once you've checked everything, you can pay.
STEP 10:
At the end of this process, you'll see the payment options on the "Tu Boleto Cultura" platform. You have two options:
There are two ways to purchase Machu Picchu tickets for 2027:
a. In person at an authorized office in Cusco
b. Online from any country
To buy the ticket, the visitor must go to the authorized offices and make the purchase with their passport, identity document or university card.
The authorized offices in Cusco are:
To purchase a ticket online, simply visit the "Tickets to Machu Picchu" website and select the ticket type and date that you prefer. Remember, you can purchase tickets for 2027 with us. You can also receive discounts on the price of your ticket.
The steps to follow are those:
Machu Picchu offers discounted admission to university students, minors, and citizens of the Andean Community of Nations (CAN): Peru, Colombia, Ecuador, and Bolivia.
Tickets purchased in person in Cusco can be paid for with cash or credit/debit card.
The main payment methods for online payment at Ticket Machu Picchu are:
One of the main problems when purchasing a Machu Picchu entrance ticket is availability. To ensure a visit to this Wonder of the World, each type of ticket must be purchased well in advance.
For example, if tourists want to visit during the first few months of the year, it's recommended that they buy their tickets online at the beginning of 2027. This way, you can guarantee your entry to the Inca city.
If you buy your 2027 Machu Picchu ticket in person in Cusco, especially during the first few months of the year, it is likely that tickets will no longer be available.
1) How do you buy the Machu Picchu entrance ticket?
Buying your Machu Picchu entrance ticket is easy. Just follow these steps:
2) What documents do you need to buy a Machu Picchu ticket?
To buy your Machu Picchu ticket online, you'll need one of the following documents, depending on your visitor category:
3) How can you access the university discount at Machu Picchu?
Machu Picchu offers special discounts for university students. To access the discount, you must meet the following requirements:
4) How can you get the children's discount at Machu Picchu?
Machu Picchu offers a discount for children and teenagers. To access it, the following requirements must be met:
5) How do you get a ticket to climb Huayna Picchu Mountain?
To climb Huayna Picchu Mountain, you need to book Circuit 3 – Route A: Huayna Picchu, ideally 2 to 3 months in advance, as this is the most in-demand ticket and availability runs out quickly. To book it online, follow these steps:
6) What should you do if you can't find Machu Picchu tickets for your dates?
If tickets appear sold out on the official platform for your preferred dates, it's worth checking again periodically, as cancellations do become available. Booking through an authorized tourism agency can also help, since agencies often track availability across different circuits and routes.
7) How early should you buy tickets for the first days of January?
If you're planning to visit the Inca citadel during the first days of January, it's best to purchase your ticket as early as possible once sales open in December, since this period sells out particularly fast due to New Year travelers.
8) Does Machu Picchu close on any day of the year?
No, Machu Picchu is open every day of the year, except in the rare event of an emergency or an official government decree.
9) Do you need a tour guide to enter Machu Picchu?
Yes, hiring a tour guide is recommended, and in some circuits it is required to enter with one. You can hire a guide online in advance or at the entrance gate of the citadel, though booking in advance guarantees availability during high season.
10) Do Machu Picchu ticket prices change from year to year?
Ticket prices are reviewed periodically by Peru's Ministry of Culture and may be adjusted from time to time. We recommend checking the current price table above for the most up-to-date rates.
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