In a nutshell
- Buying Machu Picchu tickets is more complicated than you’d expect — we’ll walk you through every option step by step so you get the right ticket for your trip.
- The standard Machu Picchu ticket costs 152 soles — book it as far in advance as possible, especially in peak season.
- Rather skip the logistics? Your easiest option is a guided day tour from Cusco to Machu Picchu with transport and entry included.
- Keep reading for our complete guide to buying Machu Picchu tickets — including which ticket type is right for you and exactly where to buy it.
Tips for Buying Tickets
Buying Machu Picchu tickets can be genuinely confusing. Here are three things to sort out before you purchase:
Tip 1: Plan your trip to Machu Picchu
Your Machu Picchu ticket is valid for a specific day and a fixed time slot. So decide at the same time when and how you’ll get there — your travel arrangements and your ticket need to line up. Be sure to read our article about getting to Machu Picchu:
Tip 2: Book a guided tour to Machu Picchu
Don’t want to deal with travel logistics and ticket purchasing? Then book a day tour from Cusco that includes transportation there and back plus the Machu Picchu ticket. It’s the most convenient option, but it does come with a hefty price tag.
All-inclusive day tour from Cusco to Machu Picchu
Tip 3: Buy your Machu Picchu ticket online
You can buy your ticket online or in person at an office in Cusco. We’d strongly recommend buying in advance online — tickets are often sold out if you wait until the last minute. You can purchase them on the official Machu Picchu website. Keep in mind, though, that it’s in Spanish and a bit tricky to navigate. Alternatively, you can also buy Machu Picchu tickets through GetYourGuide.
Which Machu Picchu Ticket Should You Buy?
There are all kinds of ticket options for Machu Picchu. To help you make sense of them, we’ll walk you through each one in detail.
The most popular tickets:
- Standard Machu Picchu ticket
- Machu Picchu + Huayna Picchu
- Machu Picchu + Machu Picchu Mountain
Other options:
- Guided tour from Cusco to Machu Picchu
- Machu Picchu + Huchuy Picchu
- Machu Picchu + Puente Inka
The Standard Ticket for Machu Picchu
The standard ticket covers admission to the Inca ruins. The official price is 152 soles.
With the standard ticket, you need to choose a specific day and a fixed time slot. The first slot is at 6:00 AM, with additional slots every hour after that. The last admission is at 2:00 PM.
There are several different circuits inside Machu Picchu, and you can only walk one of them. When purchasing your ticket, you choose between Circuit 1, 2, and 3.
The standard ticket is what you get when you select a route on Circuit 2 — this is the most comprehensive loop at Machu Picchu.
With Circuit 1, you only walk through a smaller section of the site, but you can pair it with add-ons like Machu Picchu Mountain.
Circuit 3 is also quite extensive, and you can add on options like Huayna Picchu.
On the official Machu Picchu website, you’ll find a detailed map for each route showing exactly where the circuit goes.
You’re officially required to enter Machu Picchu with a guide — though this doesn’t appear to be strictly enforced. Guides aren’t included in the admission tickets. That said, plenty of guides wait right outside the entrance, including many who speak English.
Standard Machu Picchu ticket on GetYourGuide
Machu Picchu and Huayna Picchu
In addition to visiting the Inca ruins, you also have the option to climb Huayna Picchu (also known as Waynapicchu).
This ticket includes everything in the standard ticket, plus access to the Huayna Picchu climb. The trail to the top is about 2 kilometers long and made up of stone steps. The summit sits at an elevation of roughly 2,700 meters.
The entry times for this ticket are 7, 8, 9, and 10 AM. The official ticket price is 200 soles. On the official website, select Circuit 3, Route 3A for this option.
Note: Tickets that include Huayna Picchu typically sell out several weeks in advance. Make sure to book well ahead of time.
Machu Picchu ticket with Huayna Picchu on GetYourGuide
Machu Picchu and Machu Picchu Mountain (Montaña)
Beyond Huayna Picchu, there’s another mountain worth knowing about: Montaña (Machu Picchu Mountain). At 3,082 meters, it’s the highest peak at the site — which means the climb also takes longer than the ascent to Huayna Picchu.
From Machu Picchu Mountain, you get the best panoramic views of the entire Inca site and the surrounding landscape. The trade-off is that the hike is seriously strenuous. With this ticket, you can only enter Machu Picchu at 7 or 8 AM and must walk Circuit 3. The price is 200 soles.
To get a Machu Picchu Mountain ticket, select a circuit that includes Montaña Machupicchu when purchasing on the official website — currently that’s Circuit 1, Route 1A.
Machu Picchu as Part of a Guided Tour
You can always skip the individual ticket route and book a guided full-day tour from Cusco instead — one that includes the ticket and a guide. The big advantage: you don’t have to worry about arranging transportation separately. The trade-off is that this option is significantly more expensive.
If you don’t want to cram everything into a single day, you can also organize your own trip to Aguas Calientes, spend the night there, and book a guided tour departing from Aguas Calientes.
All-inclusive day tour from Cusco to Machu Picchu
Guided tour from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu
More Ticket Options
On the official Machu Picchu website, you’ll also find additional ticket options you might not have heard of:
- Machu Picchu + Huchuy Picchu
- Machu Picchu + Puente Inka
Huchuy Picchu is the small mountain next to Huayna Picchu, standing at 2,497 meters — and it only takes about 20 minutes to climb. This option is listed under Circuit 3, Route 3D. The price is 152 soles — the same as the standard ticket. Entry times are between 7 AM and 1 PM.
Puente Inka is a bridge made of wooden logs on a mountainside, located about 20 minutes from the Inca site and accessible via a hiking trail. This ticket also costs 152 soles. Entry is between 7 AM and 3 PM. You’ll find it under Circuit 1, Route 1D.
These two options can only be purchased on the official Machu Picchu website.
Where to Buy Your Machu Picchu Ticket?
You have three options for purchasing your Machu Picchu tickets:
- Online through a ticketing website
- Online through the official Machu Picchu website
- In person at an office in Cusco
We recommend buying your ticket online in advance — whether you’re still at home planning your trip, already traveling in Peru, or settled into your hotel in Cusco.
Note: If you buy your ticket online, it’ll be sent to you by email. It’s a good idea to print it out, though digital tickets are now generally accepted as well.
Buying Machu Picchu Tickets on a Ticketing Website
The easiest option is to book through a ticketing website like GetYourGuide. The clear advantage: you’re already familiar with how these sites work, they’re available in English, and the purchasing process is straightforward. The downside is that tickets cost more here than the official price.
- Simple purchasing process
- Website available in English
- You can book transportation there and back at the same time
- The ticket costs more than the official price
- Discounts (e.g., for students) are not available
- Not all ticket options are available
Machu Picchu tickets on GetYourGuide
Buying Machu Picchu Tickets on the Official Website
On the official website, you pay the original price — so it’s cheaper. The trade-off is that the site is harder to navigate and is entirely in Spanish.
- You can book transportation there and back at the same time
- All ticket options and discounts available
- Lowest ticket prices
- Unfamiliar website that’s entirely in Spanish
- A large number of options to choose from, which can be confusing
Machu Picchu tickets on the official website
How does the ticket purchasing process work on the official Machu Picchu website?
First, you reserve your ticket on the official Machu Picchu website. There you select your desired ticket and time slot and enter your details. Your spot is reserved in just a few clicks.
You’ll then receive a confirmation email telling you that you must pay for your ticket within 3 hours.
If you pay online by credit card, a fee of just under 5% will be added to the ticket price. If you’re already in Peru, you can pay at any Banco de la Nación branch or at the Machu Picchu offices in Cusco (more on those in a moment). In that case, you won’t pay any fees.
Buying Tickets On-Site in Aguas Calientes
You can also buy your Machu Picchu ticket in person at the Ministerio de Culturas in Aguas Calientes. We did this ourselves after completing a multi-day Machu Picchu hike.
We’d only recommend buying your ticket in person at the office in Cusco if you need to book on short notice.
Each day, a batch of 1,000 tickets for the following day is released. Go early in the morning to make sure you get the ticket you want.
Here you can check real-time availability for in-person tickets: Machu Picchu website.
Note: You’ll need your passport to buy your ticket at an in-person office.
Questions About Machu Picchu Tickets
#1 How far in advance should you buy your Machu Picchu ticket?
If you’re buying a standard ticket online, purchase it at least one week in advance. During peak season (June–August), tickets sell out faster — aim for at least one month ahead to secure your preferred time slot.
Tickets that include Machu Picchu Mountain and Huayna Picchu always sell out early. Buy those at least one month in advance, no matter when you’re traveling.
#2 What time of day is best for visiting Machu Picchu?
It really depends on how much time you have and whether you’re spending the night in Aguas Calientes. In general, we recommend the early morning slots (6–8 AM) — it’s cooler, and the light is beautiful. To make that work, though, you’ll need to stay at least one night in Aguas Calientes.
The last entry at 2 PM also has its advantages, since Machu Picchu tends to be less crowded by that point.
#3 How much later than my entry time can I enter Machu Picchu?
If your ticket is for 8:00 AM, you have until 9:00 AM to enter. After that, your ticket expires and you won’t be able to get in — so don’t cut it too close.
#4 How long can I stay at Machu Picchu?
With the standard ticket, you’re allowed four hours at the Inca ruins. With the Huayna Picchu ticket, it’s six hours, and with the Machu Picchu Mountain ticket, seven hours.
#5 Visit Machu Picchu with a Guide or Without?
As of 2026, you can only visit Machu Picchu with a tour guide, though it seems this isn’t strictly enforced. The rules here keep changing — for a while, visiting without a guide was also permitted.
You can either book a guide in advance or find one right on site. Plenty of guides wait outside Machu Picchu, many of whom speak English. You can hire a private guide or join a group. The latter is cheaper, but you’ll get less out of the experience than you would with someone dedicated to your group.
Our tip: It’s totally normal to negotiate the price with guides. If you don’t, you’ll likely overpay.
Most guides know an incredible amount about the Inca site — which is really helpful, since there are no signs inside Machu Picchu explaining what you’re looking at. They also tend to take plenty of photos of you along the way.
#6 Is there a ticket limit for Machu Picchu?
Yes, there is. Our latest information is that 5,940 people per day are allowed at Machu Picchu. The limit for Huayna Picchu is 400 people per day, and for Machu Picchu Mountain it’s 800.
Info: We regularly update the information about Machu Picchu. Even so, rules and prices can change without notice. Always double-check the conditions of your ticket at the time of purchase.
