Machu Picchu Tickets 2027: Circuits, Routes and How to Buy

Machu Picchu tickets are sold by circuit and route, with a fixed date and entry time. There are three circuits (panoramic, classic and royal), each with several routes. You choose just one, buy it well in advance and show your physical passport at the entrance to the citadel.

We are local guides based in Cusco, and every week we help travelers choose their circuit. In this guide we explain what you see on each route, which one suits your trip, when to buy and which rules to follow. Prices, entry times and daily limits change, so we always confirm them when you book.

How do Machu Picchu tickets work?

Since 2024, a Machu Picchu ticket is no longer a general pass to wander the citadel as you like. Each ticket covers one circuit and one route, with a date and an entry time. Once you buy it, it cannot be changed.

This means three important things:

• You see what your route includes. Each route follows a marked path. If you want to see another area, you need another ticket.
• Your time is limited. Each route has a maximum visiting time, which varies by circuit. When you finish the route, you exit and cannot go back in.
• The mountains are separate. Huayna Picchu and Machu Picchu Mountain are routes of their own within the circuits, with their own tickets.

So before you buy, decide what you want to see and how you will get there. If you haven’t decided between the train and a hike yet, read our guide on how to get to Machu Picchu.

Machu Picchu circuits and routes

These are the three circuits and their routes. Routes marked as “seasonal” are not open all year: check availability for your date.

Circuit	Route	What you see	Seasonal?	Best for
1, panoramic	1A: Machu Picchu Mountain	Climb up Machu Picchu Mountain, about 3,060 m (10,040 ft), with views from above	No	Strong hikers who want the highest view
1, panoramic	1B: Upper terrace	Panoramic views of the citadel from the upper area	No	Photos from above with little walking
1, panoramic	1C: Inti Punku gate	Walk to the Sun Gate, the old entrance of the Inca Trail	Yes	Walking without doing the Inca Trail
1, panoramic	1D: Inca Bridge	Path along the hillside to the Inca Bridge	Yes	A short, different walk
2, classic	2A: Designed route	The classic postcard view and the main sectors of the citadel	No	First-time visitors: it is the most complete route
2, classic	2B: Lower terrace	Route through the lower part of the citadel	No	An alternative when 2A is sold out
3, royal	3A: Waynapicchu Mountain	Climb up the peak behind the citadel in the classic photo	No	Adventurous hikers with no fear of heights
3, royal	3B: Designed royal route	Route through the lower part, with the sectors that give the circuit its name	No	Visitors who already know the classic view
3, royal	3C: Great Cavern and Temple of the Moon	Walk along the slope of Huayna Picchu to the Temple of the Moon	Yes	Hikers looking for a quieter trail
3, royal	3D: Huchuy Picchu	Short climb up a small hill next to Huayna Picchu	Yes	A different view with less effort than Huayna Picchu

Circuit 2 is the one with the classic photo of Machu Picchu and, for that reason, the most in demand. Circuit 1 gives you the views from above, and circuit 3 covers the lower part and the mountains on the Huayna Picchu side.

Which Machu Picchu circuit should you choose?

There is no “best” circuit: it depends on your time, your fitness and what you want to see. These are our recommendations as guides:

• It’s your first visit: choose circuit 2A. You get the postcard view and walk through the best-known sectors.
• You want a hike with a view from above: Machu Picchu Mountain (1A) or Huayna Picchu (3A). These are the tickets that sell out first.
• You want to reach the Sun Gate: route 1C, if it is open on your date. If you’d rather arrive on foot from far away, the best option is the Inca Trail.
• You’re doing a day trip from Cusco: your entry time has to match the train schedule. We explain how in our guide to the train to Machu Picchu.
• You’re traveling with children or older relatives: skip the mountains and check the age restrictions of each route before buying.

If you arrive on the Inca Trail, you enter the citadel through the Sun Gate at the end of the hike, and the guided visit is included in the tour. We confirm the exact circuit when you book.

Huayna Picchu and Machu Picchu Mountain

These are the two mountain routes and the most sought after:

• Huayna Picchu (route 3A): its summit is at about 2,700 m (8,860 ft). The climb follows very steep stone steps, with narrow sections and support cables. It takes around one hour, depending on your pace. It is not suitable if you suffer from vertigo.
• Machu Picchu Mountain (route 1A): it is higher, at about 3,060 m (10,040 ft). The climb is longer but less narrow, and the view of the citadel is more distant.

Both have limited spaces and sell out far in advance, especially from May to October. We cover the climb, safety and what to bring in our Huayna Picchu guide.

How and when to buy Machu Picchu tickets

Official sales are made on the platform of Peru’s Ministry of Culture, tuboleto.cultura.pe. When you buy, you choose the date, circuit, route and entry time, and you enter the passport details of each traveler. Check those details carefully: they must match the document you will show at the gate.

How far in advance? In high season, from May to October, tickets sell out weeks or months in advance. Huayna Picchu and the Mountain are the first to go. In the rainy season there is usually more availability, but don’t leave it to the last minute. We show how each month changes in our guide to Machu Picchu weather.

What about Aguas Calientes? A few tickets are sold in town the day before, but there are not many and there may be none left for the circuit you want. Don’t plan your trip around that.

A practical tip: buy your ticket first, then your train and hotel. The ticket is the hardest part to get, and its entry time shapes the rest of your day.

Machu Picchu entry rules

• Physical passport: you show it at the entry checkpoint. A photo or a copy is not accepted.
• Entry time: you enter at the time printed on your ticket. Arrive early: if you take the bus up from Aguas Calientes, add the line and the ride, approx. 25 to 30 minutes.
• Maximum time: each route has a maximum visiting time. Your guide plans the visit so you see everything without rushing.
• No re-entry: once you leave the citadel, you cannot go back in with the same ticket.
• Age: some routes have age restrictions. Check the route before buying if you are traveling with children.
• Guide: we recommend going in with a guide. Without an explanation, many sectors are just stones; with a guide you understand what you are looking at.
• Visitor rules: the official platform lists which items are allowed. Check them before you go.

Machu Picchu tickets included in our tours

If you book one of our tours, you don’t have to buy the ticket yourself: it is already included, along with a guide who speaks English, Spanish or Portuguese.

• Machu Picchu Full Day from Cusco (US$300): you travel there and back by train on the same day.
• Machu Picchu tour, 2 days and 1 night (US$350): you sleep in Aguas Calientes and visit the citadel without rushing.
• Short Inca Trail, 2 days (US$450): you hike a section of the Inca Trail and arrive through the Sun Gate.
• Classic Inca Trail, 4 days (US$650): the full route, with its own trekking permit.

Traveling independently? We can also arrange the ticket you choose, including Huayna Picchu and Machu Picchu Mountain. It is quoted when you book. Write to us through our contact page or on WhatsApp with your date, circuit and number of travelers, and we will reply with availability.

Frequently asked questions

Can I buy tickets at the Machu Picchu gate?

No. Tickets are not sold at the gate. There are limited sales in Aguas Calientes the day before, but they are not guaranteed. The safe option is to buy in advance or to travel with a tour that already includes them.

Can I change the date or circuit on my ticket?

No. Once bought, the ticket cannot be changed to another date, circuit or time. That’s why it pays to have the rest of your trip clear before you buy it.

How long can I stay inside Machu Picchu?

It depends on the route: each one has a maximum visiting time, and the mountain routes last longer. The figures change, so we confirm them when you book. To plan your day, count on a visit of a few hours.

Do I need a guide to enter Machu Picchu?

We recommend one. A guide explains the history of each sector, helps you follow the route and makes better use of your visiting time. A guide is included in all our tours.

Which circuit is best for a first visit?

Circuit 2A, the designed route of the classic circuit. It is the most complete and includes the postcard view of Machu Picchu.

Can you get me a Huayna Picchu ticket?

Yes, if there is availability for your date. We arrange Huayna Picchu and Machu Picchu Mountain tickets as an option on our tours or for independent travelers. They are quoted when you book: write to us early, especially if you are traveling between May and October.

To plan your trip, read our guide: Machu Picchu History 2027: Who Built It, Its Temples and the 1911 Rediscovery.

Secure your ticket early

Choosing the right ticket is the first step to enjoying Machu Picchu. Decide which circuit you want, buy it before your train and hotel, and bring your physical passport on the day of your visit.

If you’d rather not worry about any of it, choose our 2-day Machu Picchu tour or the Machu Picchu Full Day: the ticket, train and guide are already included. Book with 40% online and pay the balance when you arrive in Peru.