Quick answer: Machu Picchu tickets are sold on the Ministry of Culture’s official website (tuboleto.cultura.pe) or through an authorized agency. There is a limited daily quota divided into circuits and entry times, the general price for foreign adults is S/ 152 (about US$ 40), and in high season you should buy 2 to 8 weeks in advance.
How the circuit system works
Since the 2024 reorganization, you can no longer wander Machu Picchu freely: every ticket corresponds to a fixed one-way circuit. The three main circuits are:
- Circuit 1 — Panoramic: climbs to the upper platform for the classic postcard photo (with variants reaching the Sun Gate or the Inca Bridge). It does not enter the urban core of the citadel.
- Circuit 2 — Classic: the most complete and the most requested. It combines the panoramic photo with the interior route through the urban sector: Temple of the Sun, Sacred Plaza, Intihuatana. If it is your first visit, this is your circuit.
- Circuit 3 — Royalty: covers the lower part of the citadel and is the base for the variants that include the Huayna Picchu mountain climb.
Official ticket prices
| Ticket | Foreign adult | Children (3-17) |
|---|---|---|
| Machu Picchu only (Circuit 1, 2 or 3) | S/ 152 (~US$ 40) | S/ 70 |
| Machu Picchu + Huayna Picchu | S/ 200 (~US$ 53) | S/ 118 |
| Machu Picchu + Machupicchu Mountain | S/ 200 (~US$ 53) | S/ 118 |
Peruvian and Andean Community citizens (Colombia, Ecuador, Bolivia) get reduced rates with ID. Prices are reviewed every January — always check the current amount on the official site before paying. The ticket does not include the train, the shuttle bus, or a guide.
How to buy your ticket, step by step
- Choose your date and circuit. If you want Huayna Picchu, decide first: its 200-300 daily spots are the first to sell out.
- Buy at tuboleto.cultura.pe (the official site) with an international card, or have your agency handle it. You need each visitor’s passport: tickets are nominal.
- Pick your entry time. Entries run hourly from 6:00 am to 3:00 pm. The first slot has the best light and fewest people; 10:00-11:00 is the most crowded.
- Save the digital ticket and bring your physical passport on the day — it is checked at the gate and must match.
How far in advance should you buy?
- High season (May to September): 4 to 8 weeks ahead; Huayna Picchu, 2 to 3 months.
- Shoulder season (April, October): 2 to 4 weeks.
- Low season (November to March): 1 to 2 weeks is usually enough, except holidays.
Arrived in Cusco without a ticket? Not all is lost: the Ministry releases a batch of in-person tickets in Aguas Calientes every afternoon for the next day, but it means queueing and risking no availability. We do not recommend it in high season.
Don’t forget the train and the bus
The entrance ticket is only one of three bookings you need. The train (PeruRail or Inca Rail, from Ollantaytambo or Poroy) sells out just as fast in high season, and the Consettur shuttle bus from Aguas Calientes to the citadel gate is purchased separately. An organized tour solves all three pieces at once, with hotel pickup in Cusco included: check our full-day Machu Picchu tour or message us on WhatsApp and we will arrange the logistics around your itinerary.
Project Zion™ Theme.