Machu Picchu tickets are sold for a specific date, entry time and circuit, and the number of visitors per day is limited. You can buy them on the Ministry of Culture’s official website, at authorized offices in Cusco, or as part of a tour that also includes the train and bus. For the dry season, book at least one to three months ahead, and earlier if you want Huayna Picchu.
| Who sells them | Peru’s Ministry of Culture (official website), authorized offices and tour operators |
|---|---|
| Ticket type | Named ticket for one date, one entry time and one circuit/route |
| Circuits | 3 main circuits split into several routes · some include Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain |
| Entry times | Hourly slots from early morning (around 6 am) to mid-afternoon |
| How early to book | 1-3 months ahead in May-October · 4-6 months for Huayna Picchu |
| Full-day tour by train from Cusco | From US$335 per person (ticket, train and bus included) |
Getting the Machu Picchu ticket is the part of a Peru trip that worries travelers most, and for good reason. The site works with daily limits, timed entries and fixed routes, and the most popular combinations sell out weeks or months before the date.
We book Machu Picchu entries for our travelers every week from Cusco. This guide explains how the tickets work today, which circuit to pick, where to buy them safely and how to fit the ticket together with the train and the bus.
Table of Contents
How Do Machu Picchu Tickets Work?
Every ticket is for one person, one date and one entry time, and it is linked to your passport number. You must enter within your time slot, and inside the site you follow a one-way route: you cannot go back to a viewpoint once you have passed it.
Since 2024 the citadel is divided into three main circuits, each split into several routes. Circuit 1 and Circuit 2 cover the upper terraces and the classic postcard view, Circuit 2 is the most complete, and Circuit 3 stays in the lower part, closer to the temples. The exact names and routes have changed more than once, so always check the current list when you book.
Which Circuit Should You Choose?
If it is your first visit, choose a route of Circuit 2: it combines the famous view from the upper terraces with a walk through the main temples. If Circuit 2 is sold out, a Circuit 1 route also gives you the panoramic view, while Circuit 3 is a good option for a second visit or if you are adding Huayna Picchu.
Huayna Picchu And Machu Picchu Mountain Tickets
The two mountains next to the citadel are sold as separate ticket types that include the hike plus a route through the ruins. They have much smaller daily limits than the general entry, so they are the first tickets to disappear.
Huayna Picchu
Huayna Picchu is the steep peak behind the citadel in most photos. The climb takes about 1 to 1.5 hours up, on narrow Inca stairs with some exposed sections, and gives you a view straight down onto Machu Picchu. It is not a good idea if you are afraid of heights.
Machu Picchu Mountain
Machu Picchu Mountain is higher but less vertiginous: a wide stone trail of about 2 to 3 hours up, with a long view of the whole valley. It usually has more space than Huayna Picchu and is a good choice for fit hikers who book late.
How To Buy Machu Picchu Tickets
Avoid resellers that do not show the official ticket in your name, and never buy a ticket from someone in the street.
- Official website: the Ministry of Culture sells tickets online. Use only the government site and check the domain before paying.
- Authorized offices in Cusco: useful for student tickets or last-minute changes, but availability is the same as online.
- In Aguas Calientes: a limited number of tickets for the next day is sold in person in town. It works in low season, but you may queue for hours and still not get your preferred time.
- Through a local agency: the agency buys the ticket in your name and matches it with the train, bus and guide, which avoids the most common mistakes.
How Far In Advance Should You Book?
From May to October, and around Easter and Christmas, the popular circuits and early entry times can sell out one to three months ahead, and Huayna Picchu even earlier. From November to April it is usually easier, although the morning slots still go first.
Early entries have softer light and fewer people, but in the rainy months the mountain can be covered by clouds until mid-morning. To choose your month, read our guide to the best time to visit Machu Picchu.
Ticket, Train And Bus: Putting Your Day Together
The entrance ticket is only one piece. You also need a train to Aguas Calientes, the town at the foot of the mountain, and a bus ticket for the 25-minute ride up to the entrance, or about 1.5 hours of stairs if you walk.
Book the ticket first, then the train, and leave enough margin: the train from Cusco or Ollantaytambo takes about 1.5 to 3.5 hours, and the bus queue can be long in the morning. Compare the options in our guide to the types of trains to Machu Picchu.
If you prefer not to coordinate four reservations, our Machu Picchu full-day tour by train includes the ticket, train, bus and an English-speaking guide, with pickup in Cusco. If your dates are fixed, tell us your dates in Plan a Trip and we check availability before you pay.
Rules To Know Before Your Visit
- Bring the same passport you used to buy the ticket: it is checked at the entrance.
- Arrive at the gate within your entry time; late arrivals can be refused.
- Visits inside the citadel have a maximum time on each route, usually a few hours.
- Large backpacks, tripods, drones, food and single-use plastic are not allowed inside.
- There are no toilets inside the site, only at the entrance.
- Check our list of what to bring to Machu Picchu before you pack.
Want the logistics handled? See our Machu Picchu tours, with train, bus, entry ticket and guide included.
New to the route? Start with our guide to where Machu Picchu is and how to get there.
Local buddy tip
If your preferred circuit is sold out, do not give up on the date: check a later entry time first, then a different circuit. And book your train after the ticket, never before. We see travelers every month with a non-refundable train and no entrance, and in high season that is very hard to fix.
Full Day Tour to Machu Picchu by Train
About 15 hours, from Cusco · From US$335 per person
Train, bus, entrance ticket and guided visit in English, with pickup in Cusco.
Frequently Asked Questions
The price depends on the circuit and on your nationality, with discounts for students and children. Tickets that include Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain cost more than the general entry. Check the current price on the official website, because it is updated regularly.
No. There is no ticket office at the gate. A limited number of next-day tickets is sold in person in Aguas Calientes, but it is safer to book online or through an agency.
One to three months ahead for May to October and holidays, and four to six months if you want Huayna Picchu. In the rainy season a few weeks is often enough.
Current rules require visitors to enter with an authorized guide, especially on the main circuits. Confirm the rule when you book, because enforcement has changed in recent years.
From Cusco, plan on roughly US$300 to US$600 per person for a day trip: the entry ticket, the round-trip train, the bus up to the ruins and a guide. The train is the biggest cost and changes with the season and the class you choose.
Overview
Machu Picchu tickets are named, timed and limited, and the best circuits sell out early. Choose a Circuit 2 route for a first visit, add Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain only if you book months ahead, buy only on the official website or through a trusted agency, and book the train and bus after the ticket. If you want everything coordinated in one booking, tell us your dates in Plan a Trip or join our full-day tour by train from Cusco.
