tickets and rules
Machu Picchu Tickets 2026: How They Work and How to Book
Machu Picchu tickets in 2026: prices, circuits, entry times and how to book them alone or with a guide, bus or tour. Explained by a Cusco operator.
A Machu Picchu ticket is a timed entry for one circuit and route, issued in your name by Peru’s Ministry of Culture. In 2026 an adult foreign ticket costs S/ 152 (about US$ 40), or S/ 200 with Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain. Daily visitors are capped at 5,600 in high season and 4,500 the rest of the year, and the most popular routes sell out weeks ahead.
Machu Picchu tickets at a glance
| Official seller | Ministry of Culture, tuboleto.cultura.pe |
| Adult foreign ticket | S/ 152 (about US$ 40); S/ 200 with a mountain |
| Daily capacity | 5,600 in high season, 4,500 the rest of the year |
| Circuits | 3 circuits, 10 routes |
| Visit time | From 2 h 30 min to 7 hours, depending on the route |
| Entry | Fixed time slot; strict, with a 30-minute grace period only in exceptional cases |
| Re-entry | Not allowed |
| Documents | The passport used for the booking (and student ID if applicable) |
What your ticket includes
- One circuit and one route, with a fixed entry time. You walk the route in one direction only and cannot re-enter on the same ticket.
- Your name and passport number. They are checked at the gate, so the details must match the passport you carry. If you renew your passport after booking, bring both.
- Not included: the bus from Aguas Calientes (about US$ 24 round trip for foreign adults) and a guide. Both can be added when you book.
Ticket prices in 2026
| Foreign visitors | Standard circuits | With Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain |
|---|---|---|
| Adult | S/ 152 | S/ 200 |
| Student (25 or younger, valid student ID) | S/ 77 | S/ 125 |
| Child (3–17) | S/ 70 | S/ 118 |
| Under 3 | Free | Free |
Citizens of the Andean Community (Peru, Bolivia, Colombia and Ecuador) pay reduced fares: S/ 64 for adults and S/ 32 for students and children, or S/ 112 and S/ 80 with a mountain. Fares are set by Ministerial Resolution N° 000451-2024-MC.
Circuits, routes and visit times
Every ticket is for one route inside one of three circuits. The route decides what you see, how long you can stay and whether you climb a mountain.
| Route | What you see | Maximum visit time |
|---|---|---|
| 1A Machu Picchu Mountain | Mountain hike plus the upper terrace (1B) | 7 hours |
| 1B Upper terrace | The classic view from above, without the lower citadel | 2 h 30 min |
| 1C Sun Gate (Inti Punku) | The Inca Trail’s last stretch to the Sun Gate (high season) | 4 hours |
| 1D Inca Bridge | A short scenic trail to the Inca drawbridge (high season) | 3 hours |
| 2A Classic route | The postcard view and the main temples: the most complete first visit | 2 h 30 min |
| 2B Lower terrace | The citadel from the lower terraces | 2 h 30 min |
| 3A Huayna Picchu | The Huayna Picchu climb plus the Royalty route (3B) | 6 hours |
| 3B Royalty route | The lower sector, with royal and ceremonial buildings | 2 h 30 min |
| 3C Temple of the Moon (Great Cavern) | A long trail to the cave temple on Huayna Picchu (high season) | Varies |
| 3D Huchuy Picchu | A short climb to the small peak in front of Huayna Picchu | Varies |
For a first visit, choose 2A. For views from above, choose 1A or 1B. Read our full guide to Machu Picchu circuits.
Entry times and the late-arrival rule
Each ticket has an entry time, usually a one-hour window. The time is strict. In exceptional cases the gate staff allow up to 30 minutes of delay after your window (for a 9:00–10:00 entry, until about 10:30), but there is no guarantee. Plan to be at the gate 30 minutes early, and in high season add time for the bus queue in Aguas Calientes.
Mountain tickets have fixed slots: Huayna Picchu at 7:00 or 10:00 am (200 people a day) and Machu Picchu Mountain at 7:00 or 9:00 am (400 people a day). See our guides to Huayna Picchu and Machu Picchu Mountain.
How to buy tickets on the official site, step by step
- Go to tuboleto.cultura.pe, the Ministry of Culture’s platform, and create an account with your email. Be wary of copycat websites with similar names.
- Choose “Llaqta Machupicchu”, the official Quechua name of the site.
- Select the circuit, route, date and entry time. If your first choice is sold out, check other routes and times before changing your date.
- Choose your visitor category: foreign visitor, Andean Community or Peruvian resident, and adult, student or child.
- Enter each traveler’s details exactly as in the passport: full name, passport number, nationality and age. Names cannot be changed later.
- Pay by card. Visa and Mastercard are accepted; some foreign cards are declined, so have a second card ready. Since September 2026 you buy directly, without a prior reservation, and must complete payment within about 15 minutes.
- Download your ticket from your account, and keep it on your phone and printed. If it does not appear after payment, write to tuboleto@cultura.gob.pe with your payment receipt.
Buying in person in Aguas Calientes
About 1,000 tickets for the next day are sold each day at the Ministry of Culture office in Machu Picchu Pueblo (Aguas Calientes). Queues start very early, payment is usually in cash, and there is no guarantee of a ticket or of the circuit you want. It is a last-minute backup, not a plan.
When tickets sell out
- June to October and holidays: book 4–8 weeks ahead; Circuit 2 sells out first.
- Huayna Picchu: 2–4 months ahead in high season.
- November to May: a few weeks ahead is usually enough, except around Easter, Christmas and New Year.
Rules inside Machu Picchu
- Bags: small daypacks only, about 40 x 35 x 20 cm. Larger bags must be left in the paid storage at the entrance.
- Not allowed: food, alcohol, single-use plastic, tripods, selfie sticks, drones, umbrellas, high heels and walking poles with metal tips. Bring a rain poncho instead of an umbrella.
- Water: allowed in a reusable bottle.
- Toilets: only at the entrance. Use them before you start your route.
- Behavior: do not touch or climb the walls, leave the marked route, shout or play music. Breaking the rules can lead to removal without a refund.
Three ways to book
- Ticket only, on the official site. Good if you plan everything yourself and already know your circuit.
- Ticket + guide + bus, confirmed in one booking with our Machu Picchu Tour Guide option.
- A full tour from Cusco, with train, transfers, ticket and guide: the Machu Picchu Day Tour from Cusco or the Machu Picchu 2-Day Tour.
Whichever you choose, we only confirm and charge once your ticket is issued in your name.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Booking on an unofficial website that resells tickets at a higher price.
- Booking with the wrong passport number, an old passport or a name in the wrong order.
- Choosing an entry time that does not fit your train.
- Forgetting the bus queue in Aguas Calientes: in high season, allow extra time in the morning.
- Booking Circuit 1 or 3 when you wanted the classic postcard view of Circuit 2.
- Forgetting your physical student ID when you booked a student ticket.
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
Where can I buy official Machu Picchu tickets?
Online on the Ministry of Culture's official platform, tuboleto.cultura.pe, or through a licensed tour operator. A limited number of next-day tickets are also sold in person in Aguas Calientes.
Can I buy tickets at the entrance?
No. Tickets are not sold at the gate; the only in-person sale is in Machu Picchu Pueblo, for the next day and in limited numbers.
Can I change or refund my ticket?
No. Once issued, tickets cannot be changed, refunded or transferred.
What if I arrive late for my entry time?
Entry times are strict. In exceptional cases the gate allows up to 30 minutes of delay after your entry time or window (for a 9:00–10:00 entry, until about 10:30), but do not count on it: be at the gate 30 minutes before your time.
Are tickets cheaper for students?
Yes, for students aged 25 or younger with a valid physical university ID that shows your photo and an expiry date. Bring it to the gate with your passport.
Do children need a ticket?
Children under 3 enter free. From 3 to 17 they need a child ticket booked with their passport details.
Is the bus included in the ticket?
No. The bus between Aguas Calientes and Machu Picchu is sold separately, at about US$ 24 round trip for foreign adults. It is included in all our tours.