In this article
Every Machu Picchu ticket is sold for one route, one date and one entry time, and the most popular ones sell out weeks or months ahead. This guide explains the 3 circuits and 10 routes in force, what each one shows you, the official 2026 prices, how many tickets there are per day and how to buy them — with the rules that catch visitors out at the gate.
Sources: Peru’s Ministry of Culture (Ministerial Resolutions 528-2023-MC, 284-2025-MC and 285-2025-MC) and SERNANP. Checked on 5 October 2026.
Quick answer
- Best all-round ticket: Route 2-A (Circuit 2, “classic designed route”): the upper viewpoint for the classic photo plus the whole urban sector.
- Price for a foreign adult: S/ 152 for the citadel; routes with a mountain cost more (see below). A conservation fee of S/ 11 for foreigners was approved from May 2026.
- Time inside: up to 2 h 30 min for the citadel routes; longer with Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain.
- Where to buy: only on the official site, tuboleto.cultura.pe, or through a tour operator. 1,000 tickets a day are also sold in person in Aguas Calientes for the next day.
The 3 circuits and 10 routes
Since June 2024 the site is divided into three circuits. Each ticket is for one route only, and you cannot switch routes inside.
| Route | Name | What you see | Distance (round trip) | Season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-A | Machu Picchu Mountain | Upper terraces and the climb to Machu Picchu Mountain | 3.8 km | All year |
| 1-B | Upper terrace | The upper platforms and the Guardhouse — the classic photo | 1.6 km | All year |
| 1-C | Intipunku (Sun Gate) | Inca path up to the Sun Gate | 3.4 km | High season only |
| 1-D | Inca Bridge | Inca path to the Inca Bridge | 2.6 km | High season only |
| 2-A | Classic designed route | Upper viewpoint and the whole urban sector: quarries, Main Temple, Three Windows, Sacred Rock, Sacred Plaza | 1.3 km | All year |
| 2-B | Lower terrace | Like 2-A but from the lower platform, without the high viewpoint | 1.4 km | All year |
| 3-A | Huayna Picchu | Lower royal sector and the climb to Huayna Picchu | 2.4 km | All year |
| 3-B | Royalty designed route | Lower sector: Temple of the Sun, Inca’s House, fountains, Temple of the Condor | 1.3 km | All year |
| 3-C | Great Cavern | Trail to the Great Cavern (Temple of the Moon) | 3.0 km | High season only |
| 3-D | Huchuy Picchu | Short climb to Huchuy Picchu | 1.7 km | High season only |
Distances come from the official circuit panels. Routes 1-C, 1-D, 3-C and 3-D only open in high season.
Which route should you choose?
- First visit, one ticket: 2-A. It is the only route that combines the classic high viewpoint with the full urban sector.
- Only the photo: 1-B. Short and good for a second visit or limited time.
- Temples of the lower sector: 3-B, the route used by hikers who arrive on the Inca Trail.
- A mountain: 3-A Huayna Picchu (steep, exposed steps, 400 tickets a day) or 1-A Machu Picchu Mountain (longer and higher, but wider path, 350 a day). Compare them in Huayna Picchu vs Machu Picchu Mountain. 3-D Huchuy Picchu is a short climb in high season.
- Two tickets in one day: many visitors combine 1-B or 2-A with a route of Circuit 3 to see both the viewpoint and the Temple of the Sun.
Official prices 2026
Foreign visitors
| Category | Citadel routes | Routes with a mountain (1-A, 3-A, 3-C) |
|---|---|---|
| Adult | S/ 152 | S/ 152 + mountain supplement (S/ 48) |
| Student (undergraduate, with a valid card) | S/ 77 | S/ 77 + supplement |
| Child (3–17) | S/ 70 | S/ 70 + supplement |
| Under 3 | Free | Free |
Peruvians, residents and Andean Community citizens
Peruvians, foreign residents in Peru and citizens of Bolivia, Colombia and Ecuador pay the same promotional national rate in 2026 (Ministerial Resolution 284-2025-MC):
| Routes | General | Student | Child |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-B, 1-C, 1-D, 2-A, 2-B, 3-B, 3-D | S/ 64 | S/ 32 | S/ 32 |
| 1-A, 3-A, 3-C (with a mountain) | S/ 112 | S/ 80 | S/ 80 |
Conservation fee
SERNANP approved an extra protected-area fee from 1 May 2026: S/ 11 for foreign visitors and S/ 5 for nationals. It is being integrated into the official ticket platform, and it does not apply to visitors who arrive on foot through the Inca Trail network. Check the final amount when you buy.
On our tours the entrance is included in the price. Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain can be added for USD 80, subject to availability.
How many tickets are there per day?
In 2026 the daily limit is 5,600 visitors in high season (1 January, 2–5 April, 19 June–2 November and 30–31 December) and 4,500 the rest of the year. It is split by route:
| Route | Low season | High season | Entry times |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-A Machu Picchu Mountain | 350 | 350 | 07:00 and 09:00 |
| 1-B | 950 | 950 | Every hour, 06:00–15:00 |
| 1-C Intipunku | — | 130 | 07:00–10:00 |
| 1-D Inca Bridge | — | 80 | 08:00–11:00 |
| 2-A | 1,400 | 1,600 | Every hour, 06:00–15:00 |
| 2-B | 500 | 800 | Every hour, 06:00–15:00 |
| 3-A Huayna Picchu | 400 | 400 | 07:00 and 10:00 |
| 3-B | 900 | 1,200 | Every hour, 06:00–15:00 |
| 3-C Great Cavern | — | 50 | 08:00 and 09:00 |
| 3-D Huchuy Picchu | — | 40 | 09:00 and 11:00 |
Totals calculated from the annex of Ministerial Resolution 285-2025-MC (online and in-person tickets together).
How to buy your ticket
- Online: on the official platform, tuboleto.cultura.pe. Since September 2026 the purchase is direct: you have 15 minutes to pay and the ticket is issued in your name.
- With a tour: licensed operators buy the ticket with your passport details. On our tours it is included and we choose the route that fits your itinerary.
- In person: 1,000 tickets a day are sold at the Ministry of Culture office in Machu Picchu town (Aguas Calientes), normally for entry the next day, and only for routes 1-A, 1-B, 2-A, 2-B, 3-A and 3-B. Opening hours have changed several times in 2026, and in high season there are long queues.
When to book: when the 2026 season went on sale (17 November 2025), the most popular morning slots of the first days sold out in about 12 minutes. In high season, book as early as you can, especially for Huayna Picchu and Machu Picchu Mountain.
Rules to know before you go
- Your time slot: you can enter up to 30 minutes after your time in low season and 45 minutes in high season. The mountain checkpoints have no tolerance.
- Time limits: up to 2 h 30 min on the citadel routes. With Huayna Picchu (entry 07:00 or 10:00) the total is up to 5 h 30 min; with Machu Picchu Mountain (entry 07:00 or 09:00), up to 6 h 30 min. The site closes at 17:30.
- No re-entry: once you leave, you cannot go back in on the same ticket.
- Changes and refunds: tickets are valid only for their date and time; they cannot be changed, transferred or refunded (only a wrong document number can be corrected).
- Documents: your original passport (or the ID you used to buy). Students need their original valid student card; national and Andean Community rates are checked against your document.
- Bags and objects: bags larger than 40 × 35 × 20 cm, food, umbrellas, walking sticks, tripods, selfie sticks, drones and hard-soled shoes are not allowed.
- Guide: the regulation recommends visiting the citadel with a guide; it is not mandatory. A guide is mandatory on the Inca Trail. All our tours include a professional guide.
- Closures: routes can close for conservation work. For example, Huayna Picchu was closed for the whole of June 2026.
Machu Picchu tickets for 2027
As of October 2026, the Ministry of Culture has not announced 2027 prices, capacity or the sale date. For reference, the 2026 national rates were approved on 30 October 2025 and sales opened on 17 November 2025. We are already taking 2027 bookings: you reserve your place with 40% of the tour price, and we buy your ticket as soon as sales open.
Getting there
Machu Picchu has no road access: you take a train to Aguas Calientes and a bus up to the site, or arrive on foot by the Inca Trail. Read How to get from Cusco to Machu Picchu, or let us organize everything on our Machu Picchu Day Trip or Machu Picchu & Sacred Valley 2 Days.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a Machu Picchu ticket in 2026?
For a foreign adult, S/ 152 for the citadel routes, plus a mountain supplement for Huayna Picchu, Machu Picchu Mountain or the Great Cavern. Peruvians, residents and Andean Community citizens pay S/ 64. A conservation fee (S/ 11 for foreigners) was approved from May 2026.
Which Machu Picchu circuit is best?
For a single ticket, route 2-A: it has the classic viewpoint and the full urban sector. Add a Circuit 3 route if you want the Temple of the Sun area or Huayna Picchu.
How far in advance should I buy Machu Picchu tickets?
For high season (June to early November), several weeks to months ahead, and earlier for Huayna Picchu and Machu Picchu Mountain. In low season you can often buy a few days before.
Can I buy Machu Picchu tickets at the gate?
No. There is no sale at the entrance. 1,000 tickets a day are sold in Aguas Calientes town, normally for the next day.
Is a guide mandatory at Machu Picchu?
No. The regulation recommends a guide for the citadel but does not require one. A guide is mandatory on the Inca Trail.
How long can I stay inside Machu Picchu?
Up to 2 h 30 min on the citadel routes, up to 5 h 30 min with Huayna Picchu and up to 6 h 30 min with Machu Picchu Mountain. Re-entry is not allowed.
Which route do Inca Trail hikers use?
Hikers arriving on foot through the Inca Trail network enter by route 3-B, with their own quota booked through licensed operators.
Are 2027 tickets on sale?
Not yet. The Ministry of Culture had not announced the 2027 sale date as of October 2026. You can reserve your place on our tours now with 40% of the price.
