Machu Picchu Tickets 2026: Quick Summary

If you are planning to book your Machu Picchu ticket, it is worth reviewing a few key details first. This quick summary brings together the most important information to help you compare your options and understand the main features of each entrance ticket.

Understanding the key details about Machu Picchu tickets is important. The information below will help you choose the best date for your visit, avoid booking mistakes, and plan your trip with more confidence.

Machu Picchu Ticket Availability 2026

Availability for Machu Picchu tickets changes throughout the year, mainly because of three factors: the seasons in the Andes (dry and rainy), national holidays, and the flow of visitors. Together, these create two main tourism seasons at Machu Picchu: high season and low season.

1. Seasons of the year

The year is divided into two main seasons, with a few transition months between them. 

• The dry season runs from May to September and is known for sunny days, cold nights, and lower humidity.
• The rainy season runs from November to March and brings sudden rainfall, from light showers to heavier rain, along with higher humidity.
• Transition months: April and October share characteristics of both seasons.

2. National holidays

These are special dates when a higher number of daily tickets is made available for Machu Picchu, with a total of 5,600 entries per day. The dates considered are:

• January 1 - New Year’s Day
• April 2 to 5 - Holy Week
• December 30 and 31 - Year-end holidays

3. Tourist flow to Machu Picchu 

Visitor flow remains active throughout the year. However, the number of visitors and their country of origin can vary depending on the season. Tourism starts to increase gradually from April and stays high until October, reaching its main peaks in June, July, and August. 

This is mainly because this period matches the dry season in the Andes and part of the summer vacation season in the Northern Hemisphere. For this reason, these months usually bring a larger number of international travelers, especially from the United States, Europe, and other countries.

New Machu Picchu Circuits

Since June 1, 2024, Machu Picchu has had three official tourist circuits for visiting the Historic Sanctuary. This update helps organize the flow of visitors, manage daily capacity, and protect the integrity of the archaeological site, helping preserve its value as a World Heritage Site and a Wonder of the Modern World.

The new Machu Picchu circuits are organized around three main ways to visit the sanctuary: 

** Includes hiking routes

Routes in Machu Picchu: General Features

Each Machu Picchu circuit includes routes designed to explore different areas of the sanctuary, from the heart of the citadel to its scenic viewpoints and even hikes to the nearby mountains. This variety allows each visitor to choose the experience that best matches their interests, available time, and fitness level.

* Available only in high season

* Available only in high season

How Much Does a Machu Picchu Ticket Cost in 2026?

Check the prices for Machu Picchu tickets 2026 by circuit and route. The price varies depending on the visitor’s origin:

• Foreign tourist
• Tourist from CAN countries: with a passport or identity card from Bolivia, Ecuador, or Colombia
• Foreign resident: with a foreign resident card
• Peruvian tourist: Peruvians, except Cusco residents
• Cusco citizen: people born in Cusco and residents with a valid physical DNI.

Cusco citizens can enter for free every Sunday with a prior reservation, and children aged 3 enter free of charge.

If you are wondering how much a general Machu Picchu ticket costs, this table will help you plan your budget and choose the right route.

• Machu Picchu Tickets for Foreigners (Peruvian soles)

The exchange rate from soles to dollars may vary between 3.5 and 3.8.

• Machu Picchu Tickets for Peruvians 

Note: Machu Picchu ticket prices for Peruvians and foreigners may include promotional rates approved by MINCETUR, with significant discounts on certain dates of the year.

Where to Buy Your Machu Picchu Ticket

Machu Picchu tickets can be purchased online or in person in Cusco, or through an authorized travel agency such as TreXperience.

In Aguas Calientes, Machu Picchu tickets are also sold in person. A total of 1,000 additional tickets are made available and distributed across all routes and circuits to visit the wonder.

• When paying for your tickets, consider at least a 3% card payment fee.

Machu Picchu Tickets - Visitor Regulations

The “Regulations for the Sustainable Use and Tourist Visits for the Conservation of the Inka City of Machu Picchu” were created in 2017 to protect and promote the sustainable use of this Cultural and Natural World Heritage Site, recognized by UNESCO. 

These regulations set out the conditions that all visitors must follow and are updated periodically according to current circumstances.

Requirements to Book Machu Picchu Tickets

Entry times, admission schedules, and permitted visitor circuits inside the citadel are regulated by these rules. Before booking, keep the following points in mind:

• Ticket validity: Machu Picchu tickets are valid only for the date shown on the ticket and cannot be used on earlier or later dates. They are non-transferable and non-refundable.
• Visitor circuits: You and your tour guide may only visit the circuit indicated on your Machu Picchu ticket. Restricted or closed areas inside the citadel are not open to the public.
• Identity document: Bring your identity document, as it will be requested at each checkpoint during your visit. Valid documents include a passport, immigration card, or diplomatic identity card. 

For citizens of the Andean Community (CAN) or Mercosur, a valid national ID is accepted. International students must present their original university identity card.

Entry Points to Machu Picchu

There are two official entrances to Machu Picchu: Intipunku and the main entrance.

• Intipunku or Sun Gate

This historic entrance is used by hikers who complete the Classic Inca Trail or the Short Inca Trail. 

The Inca Trail ticket includes, by default, access through Circuit 1 Panoramic from Intipunku.

• Main Entrance

This is the modern access point to Machu Picchu and is located next to the bus station, where visitors arrive from and return to the town of Aguas Calientes. Most travelers who come by bus or walk up from town enter through this point.

Important: restrooms, luggage storage, and food services are available only near the main entrance. There are no restrooms or other services along the Machu Picchu route.

Check points at Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu ticket checkpoints are located at different entrances and trails throughout the sanctuary. At these points, staff verify the ticket’s validity, entry time, and, in some cases, specific access to the mountain routes.

• Intipunku Checkpoint: 

The Intipunku checkpoint is located along the Inca Trail, about one hour before reaching the Sun Gate. Here, tickets are checked for travelers who completed the Classic Inca Trail or the Short Inca Trail.

• Main Entrance Checkpoint

The main entrance is the most commonly used checkpoint for visitors arriving at Machu Picchu from Aguas Calientes. Here, staff check and validate the main entry time shown on the entrance ticket.

Machu Picchu Entry Tolerance

The main entrance checkpoint has an entry tolerance period, which may vary depending on the tourism season at Machu Picchu:

• High season (June 19 to November 2 and national holidays):
  • 30 minutes of tolerance after the entry time shown on the ticket.
• Low season  (rest of the year):
  • 45 minutes of tolerance after the entry time shown on the ticket.
• Mountain routes (Huayna Picchu, Huchuy Picchu, and Machu Picchu Mountain): There is no entry tolerance.

Entry Tolerance for the Machu Picchu Mountains

If your ticket includes a mountain hike inside the sanctuary, keep in mind that there is no entry tolerance. For this reason, you must allow enough time to reach the second checkpoint, which is usually one hour after the main entry time shown on your ticket. This checkpoint is located in the area where the trails split toward each route.

The routes that usually have this second checkpoint are:

• Route 1-A: Hike to Machu Picchu Mountain
• Route 3-A: Hike to Huayna Picchu Mountain
• Route 3-D: Hike to Huchuy Picchu Mountain

Example image: Main entry time to Machu Picchu: 9:00 a.m., with a 45-minute tolerance period (low season); entry to the Machu Picchu Mountain hiking trail: 10:00 a.m.

Machu Picchu Ticket Types and Circuits

If you are still unsure which circuit and route to choose, below we’ll review each option to help you decide more confidently.

Circuit 1 in Machu Picchu (Panoramic)

Circuit 1 in Machu Picchu allows you to choose from four different routes. Each one takes you through the upper and outer area of the Machu Picchu citadel.

• Includes: the chance to take the classic Machu Picchu photo, visit hidden archaeological areas, enjoy viewpoints, and follow scenic hiking routes. 
• Does not include: access to the Inca citadel or its inner archaeological attractions. 

All Circuit 1 routes include the following points: 

• Classic 360° view of Machu Picchu, with the famous postcard landscape of the wonder: the citadel in the foreground and the mountains surrounding it. 
  • (1) Lower Platform
  • (2) Upper Platform

• Route 1-A: Machu Picchu Mountain 

With Route 1-A, you can visit the two main viewpoints of Machu Picchu. It also includes access to a high-effort hike to Machu Picchu Mountain (3,061 m / 10,043 ft), which takes about 3 hours and covers 3.8 km round trip. 

From the summit of Machu Picchu Mountain, you can enjoy a complete view of the site, along with the mountains and snow-capped peaks on the horizon, such as Salkantay and Pumasillo. 

• Route 1-B: Upper Terrace

Route 1-B allows you to visit both main viewpoints of Machu Picchu, the best spots to capture the classic Machu Picchu photo (see view from the platforms). 

This route requires moderate physical effort and covers 1.6 km round trip. The visit is short, making it an excellent option for travelers with limited time.

• Route 1-C: Intipunku Gate

With Route 1-C, you can visit the main viewpoints of Machu Picchu. It also includes a high-effort hike to Intipunku, or the Sun Gate (2,720 m / 8,924 ft), which takes about 2 to 3 hours and covers 3.4 km round trip. 

Intipunku is the point where Inca Trail hikers arrive at Machu Picchu, the historic entrance that once connected the sanctuary with Cusco. From here, you get a wide, distant, and truly unique perspective of the Inca citadel.

• Route 1-D: Inca Bridge

Route 1-D gives you access to both main viewpoints of Machu Picchu. It also includes a moderate-effort hike to the Inca Bridge , which takes about 1 hour and covers 2.6 km round trip. 

The Inca Bridge is a protected access point strategically built over a ravine, along an Inca Trail route that leaves Machu Picchu and heads toward the Amazon jungle. It is one of the least-visited spots in the sanctuary, yet it offers a different view of the citadel from its western side.

Circuit 2 in Machu Picchu (Classic)

Circuit 2 in Machu Picchu allows you to choose between two routes that take you through the interior of the citadel.

• Includes: a walk through the Inca citadel, starting at what was once its only original entrance and continuing through its plazas, streets, and some of its most important temples.
• Does not include: access to the royal sectors, the most important sacred temples, or additional hikes.

The following points are visited on the Circuit 2 routes: 

• (1) Lower Platform - Route 2-B only
• (3) Dry Moat 
• (4) Temple of the Sun Viewpoint - Route 2-A only
• (5) Granite Chaos - Route 2-B only
• (6) Temple Plaza 
• (7) Intiwatana Pyramid - external viewing
• (8) Sacred Rock
• (9) Twelve Niches
• (10) Eastern Storehouses
• (11) Water Mirrors
• (13) Pisonay Plaza
• (14) Archaeological Reserve - external viewing

• Route 2-A: Designed Classic Route

On Route 2-A, the visit begins at the original gate of Machu Picchu, known as Llacta Punku, and continues through several inner areas of the citadel. 

This route requires moderate to high physical effort because it includes dirt and stone paths, stairs, and uphill and downhill sections within the Inca city, located at 2,430 m / 7,972 ft. The visit takes about 2 hours and covers a total distance of 2.5 km round trip.

This route allows you to visit the Temple of the Sun viewpoint, an ideal spot to understand how its architecture is oriented toward the surrounding mountains and connected to solar observation. The route also includes plazas, enclosures, and representative temples of the archaeological site. It is a perfect choice if this is your first time visiting Machu Picchu.

• Route 2-B: Lower Terrace

Route 2-B begins at the lower platform of Machu Picchu’s outer terraces, one of the classic viewpoints of the site. It then continues toward the citadel, entering through its original gate, Llacta Punku, and passing through some inner areas. 

This route also requires moderate to high physical effort, as it covers a small section outside and inside the Inca citadel (2,430 m / 7,972 ft), crossing dirt and stone paths, stairs, and uphill and downhill sections. The visit takes about 2 hours and covers a total distance of 2.7 km round trip.

Route 2-B offers a panoramic view of Machu Picchu while also allowing you to explore the interior of the Inca citadel. This combination makes it one of the most requested options, as it brings together two highly sought-after experiences: Two of the best Machu Picchu photo spots + a visit to the archaeological area.

Due to high demand, we recommend planning your Circuit 2 route reservation at least 4 months in advance, especially during the high season.

Circuit 3 in Machu Picchu (Royal Circuit)

Circuit 3 in Machu Picchu offers four different routes that take you into the royal area of the Inca citadel.

• Includes: a visit through the inner areas of the Inca royal sector, as well as important sacred temples and the lower part of the citadel.
• Does not include: access through the original entrance or some enclosures in the upper part of the citadel.

The following points are visited on the Circuit 3 routes:

• Temple of the Sun, Inca’s House, and ceremonial fountains
• (8) Sacred Rock
• (9) Twelve Niches
• (10) Eastern Storehouses
• (11) Water Mirrors
• (12) Temple of the Condor
• (13) Pisonay Plaza
• (14) Archaeological Reserve - external viewing

• Route 3-A: Huayna Picchu Mountain

On Route 3-A, you visit the royal area, the interior of the Temple of the Sun, the Inca’s House, ceremonial fountains, and then continue toward plazas, enclosures, and the Temple of the Condor.

This route also allows you to continue toward the trail to the famous Huayna Picchu Mountain (2,667 m / 8,750 ft), a high-effort hike that takes about 3 hours and covers 2.4 km round trip. 

Huayna Picchu is one of the most important mountains in Machu Picchu, famous for appearing in the background of the sanctuary’s classic postcard view. What makes it even more impressive is that Inca structures and terraces still remain at the summit, built beside steep cliffs on difficult terrain.

From Huayna Picchu, you get some of the most impressive views of any hike in Machu Picchu. From the top, you can admire the full scale of the Inca citadel, its terraces, and the surrounding landscape, with the imposing Machu Picchu Mountain rising in the background.

• Route 3-B: Designed Royalty Route

Route 3-B begins at the lower terraces of Machu Picchu and continues through the royal area, where you will find the Temple of the Sun, the Inca’s House, and ceremonial fountains. The path then continues toward the eastern side of the city, visiting plazas, interesting enclosures, and the impressive Temple of the Condor.

This route requires moderate physical effort and includes some narrow passageways leading to sacred spaces. The visit takes place at an approximate altitude of 2,430 m / 7,972 ft inside the citadel. The route takes around 2 hours and covers a total distance of 1.3 km round trip.

One section of this route allows visits for people in wheelchairs or travelers with reduced mobility who need assistance during the visit.

• Route 3-C: Great Cavern

On Route 3-C, you also visit the royal area, the Temple of the Sun, the Inca’s House, ceremonial fountains, plazas, enclosures, and the Temple of the Condor.

This route allows you to follow one of the most mysterious and mystical trails in Machu Picchu, leading to the Temple of the Moon, better known as the Great Cavern (2,266 m / 7,434 ft). This hike requires high physical effort and takes about 2 hours and 30 minutes, covering 3 km round trip.

This hike shares its first section with the route to Huayna Picchu. However, unlike that hike, it does not climb to the summit of the mountain. Instead, it circles around the northern side, allowing you to explore its lesser-known face. For this reason, the view from the Great Cavern is more oriented toward the Vilcanota River and the landscape that stretches toward the jungle.

• Route 3-D: Huchuy Picchu Mountain

Route 3-D also includes a visit to the royal area, the Temple of the Sun, the Inca’s House, ceremonial fountains, plazas, enclosures, and the Temple of the Condor.

This ticket allows you to visit Huchuy Picchu Mountain, the smallest mountain in Machu Picchu and one of the most accessible hiking routes. The mountain is located at 2,497 m / 8,192 ft, requires moderate physical effort, and takes around 2 hours, covering a total distance of 1.7 km round trip.

The Huchuy Picchu Mountain is a small mountain located next to Huayna Picchu. Although the hike is shorter, the summit offers a special view of the Inca citadel, allowing you to see part of the archaeological area from an elevated angle, with Machu Picchu Mountain in the landscape.

Read next | Machu Picchu Circuits 2026: Best Routes, Maps, Prices, and Schedules

Choosing the right Machu Picchu ticket depends on your travel date, availability, fitness level, and the type of experience you want to enjoy. Before booking, carefully check the circuit, route, entry time, and current rules to avoid any setbacks. If you are still not sure which ticket best fits your trip, you can contact us, and we will help you choose the most convenient option so you can enjoy Machu Picchu with greater peace of mind.

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