tickets and rules
Do You Need a Guide for Machu Picchu?
Do you need a guide to visit Machu Picchu? The current rules, what a licensed guide adds, how much it costs, and shared or private options.
No, a guide is not mandatory to enter Machu Picchu. But if you enter with a guide, he or she must be licensed and certified. A guide is still highly recommended: there are no signs inside, the routes are one-way, and a good guide turns the ruins into a story.
What a licensed guide adds
- The story: the history of the Incas, the temples, the astronomy and what the stones mean, none of which is explained on site.
- Navigation: guides know the one-way routes, the timing and the best photo spots on your circuit.
- Peace of mind: they help with entry, queues and rules, and with anyone who needs a slower pace.
Your options
| Option | What it is | From |
|---|---|---|
| Shared guide | Join a small group for a 2–2.5 hour tour, with your own ticket | US$ 30 per person |
| Private guide | A guide just for your group of up to 10 | US$ 110 per group |
| Guide + ticket + bus | We secure your ticket and bus and add a private guide | US$ 169 per person (2 travelers) |
| Full tour | Train, transfers, ticket and guide from Cusco | US$ 349 per person (private day tour) |
Guides can also be hired at the entrance, but quality varies and availability is not guaranteed in high season. Booking ahead lets you choose the language and the guide’s level. See our Machu Picchu Tour Guide options.
How to recognise an official guide
Licensed Machu Picchu guides carry an official identification card. Ask to see it if you hire one at the entrance.
Tours to link
Plan this with a local team
Machu Picchu journey
Machu Picchu Tour Guide
Hire a licensed Machu Picchu tour guide: shared or private, guide only or with your entry ticket and bus. Book with a local Cusco operator.
Private train tour
Machu Picchu Day Tour from Cusco
See Machu Picchu in one day from Cusco with private transport and guide, train, shuttle bus and entrance ticket included. Ask our local team for a quote.
Machu Picchu journey
Machu Picchu 2 Days
Spend a night in Aguas Calientes and enter Machu Picchu early. Train, hotel, ticket and guide included, subject to availability. Huayna Picchu add-on available.
Frequently asked questions
Quick answers
How long is a guided tour?
About 2–2.5 hours, depending on your circuit.
Can I explore on my own after the guided tour?
Only within your circuit's one-way route and time; you cannot re-enter.
Do your tours include a guide?
Yes, every Machu Picchu tour we sell includes a licensed guide.