Machu Picchu tickets are sold by Peru’s Ministry of Culture through the official TuBoleto portal (tuboleto.cultura.pe), where you choose a date, circuit, route and entry time. The ticket covers entry only. Train tickets, the bus from Machu Picchu Pueblo, guides and transfers are booked separately. In high season the most sought-after routes sell out months ahead. Choose your circuit and buy the ticket first, then build train and hotel bookings around it. For history, layout and what to expect on site, see our Machu Picchu travel guide.
How Machu Picchu tickets work
- One date, one time, one route. The ticket is valid for the date, time and circuit you bought, and you cannot re-enter with it once you leave the site.
- Linked to your ID. The ticket is tied to the identity document you enter at purchase. Foreign visitors use their passport, so enter the details exactly as they appear in it.
- Daily caps. The limit is 5,600 visitors per day in high season and 4,500 in low season. High season includes 19 June to 2 November, plus a few peak dates around New Year and Easter.
- Price. The base fee is S/152 for foreign adults and S/64 for Peruvians, depending on the circuit. From May 2026, a conservation fee of S/11 for foreign visitors and S/5 for nationals is added. A foreign adult on a standard circuit therefore pays S/163, roughly US$43 at recent exchange rates (an approximation). Students and children have reduced rates, and routes that include a mountain climb cost more.
What changed in September 2026
The Ministry has replaced the three-hour reservation with direct purchase. You select your ticket and have up to 15 minutes to complete payment. Tickets that are not paid for return to availability immediately. The new system began on 22 September with a 30-day trial period, and capacity is unchanged. Screens and procedures may be adjusted during the trial, so check the portal when you buy.
Machu Picchu circuits and routes
Since 1 June 2024, visits have been organised into three circuits containing ten routes. Two routes are high season only. The other routes you see on the portal can vary by date.
| Circuit | Route | What you get | Notes |
| 1 Panoramic | 1-A Machu Picchu Mountain | Summit hike (3,082 m) with limited time in the citadel | Over 18 only; hike about 4 hours round trip |
| 1-B Upper Terrace | Guardian’s House viewpoint for the classic postcard view; you do not walk through the temples | Up to 2 h 30 min | |
| 1-C Inti Punku | Sun Gate walk | High season only | |
| 1-D Inca Bridge | Short walk to the Inca Bridge | High season only | |
| 2 Classic | 2-A Designed, 2-B Lower Terrace | Photo platform, then the urban and religious sectors (Temple of the Sun, Temple of the Three Windows, Sacred Rock, Temple of the Condor) and agricultural terraces | Up to 2 h 30 min; the most complete visit |
| 3 Royalty | 3-A Huayna Picchu | Lower citadel plus the steep Huayna Picchu climb | Climb up to 3 hours; the only route that includes Huayna Picchu |
| 3-B Designed Royal | Royal buildings in the lower citadel | Up to 2 h 30 min; all ages | |
| 3-C Great Cavern | Lower citadel plus hike to the Great Cavern | Over 18 only | |
| 3-D Huchuy Picchu | Lower citadel plus a shorter summit hike | Over 18 only; high season only |
Circuit 2 is described as the most complete and recommended way to see the temples and terraces. It suits most first-time visitors. Choose Circuit 1 if you want panoramic views or the Sun Gate walk without touring the interior. For mountain routes, see our overview of adventure experiences at Machu Picchu.
Entry times and time on site
Entry windows are hourly from 6:00 to 15:00, with a strict grace period. Mountain routes offer fewer slots. The grace period is 30 minutes in low season and 45 minutes in high season. After that you cannot enter unless there is a proven force majeure. Each route also has a maximum stay, such as 2 hours 30 minutes on Circuit 2. Allow generous time between your train arrival in Aguas Calientes and your gate time, because the shuttle bus queue is the usual bottleneck.
How to book, step by step
- Decide your date and circuit before opening the portal.
- Go to tuboleto.cultura.pe and select Machu Picchu. Buy only through the portal or an authorised operator.
- Choose date, circuit, route and entry time, then enter each traveller’s name and passport number exactly as printed.
- Pay by card within 15 minutes.
- Save the ticket and carry your passport on the day.
When to book, and what if your date is sold out
During high season, tickets sell out quickly. Buying at least three months ahead is recommended. Circuit 2 and the mountain routes go first, so shoulder-season dates give more choice. See our guide to the best time to visit Peru.
If nothing is available online, check other routes and entry times. The Ministry also releases up to 1,000 tickets a day at its cultural centre in Machu Picchu Pueblo, sold from 15:00 to 22:00 on presentation of ID, for entry the following day. There is no same-day entry, and availability is not guaranteed.
What the ticket does not include
Train, bus and guide are separate purchases. Train tickets depend on your entry time, so read our guide on how to get from Cusco to Machu Picchu before booking. Rules on guiding inside the citadel have been revised over time, so confirm the current requirement for your date with the Ministry of Culture or your operator. Whether to go with a private or group guide is a separate decision, covered in private vs. group tours in Peru.
If you are hiking the Inca Trail
Since 2026, the Inca Trail permit no longer includes the Machu Picchu entrance ticket. Your operator should confirm which ticket and route apply. See Inca Trail vs. Salkantay to compare the hikes.
Machu Picchu sits lower than Cusco, so plan your route with altitude in mind. See our guide on how to acclimatize before Machu Picchu. If you would rather have dates, circuit, train and pace planned together, our team designs private, tailor-made itineraries around your preferred entry time.