Machu Picchu Tickets
On this page you find the complete guide for buying Machu Picchu Tickets online, in Cusco or Aguas Calientes, or with a reliable travel agent in Cusco. Below you will find information about different Machu Picchu Tickets (with or without the extra mountain trails, like e.g. Huayna Picchu, Huchuy Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain).
Tourism in Machu Picchu
According to an investigation of UNESCO, the daily weight of the tourists visiting Machu Picchu can damage the ground of the archaeological site. It could even cause the site to sink, or worse, even to slide ‘off the hill’… To slow down the damage by tourism, a system has been implemented in 2017 with a two-shift entry.
According to Peru’s Ministry of Culture, those rules are implemented to control how visitors and guides access the site, to maintain the integrity of the site and its legacy for future visitors.
If you hike the Inca trail to Machu Picchu, the entrance fee to Machu Picchu used to be included but there are some changes coming soon.
Machu Picchu Tickets
Machu Picchu Tickets: where to buy
Book your ticket online, weeks or months in advance. If you missed out, since October 2022, there are 1,000 tickets per day for sale in Aguas Calientes. Depending on how busy it is, for some it’s been possible to buy a ticket there, while others have had to wait in line for many hours, unsure whether the tickets would sell out before they reached the counter. Plan at least 1 - 2 extra days to stay in Aguas Calientes in case you want to try to get a ticket here, giving you enough time to get a pass. Tickets can only be paid for in cash and by the person who will use them. Therefore, make sure you bring enough Soles and your original passport.
But remember that booking on time online is the only secure option.
When buying your Machu Picchu ticket (online) you need to know that there are different circuits (different tickets) through Machu Picchu. If you are on time, you can choose what ticket you want.
In case you ready and want to plan ahead and buy online, be informed that travelers comment that the website is not very easy to navigate and often offline. Also, the only accepted payment method is Visa. Another good recommendation is buying your Machu Picchu ticket through a travel agency in Cusco.
In Cusco, you can buy the Machu Picchu tickets at the ‘Ministerio de Cultura’.
(only in low season and many weeks ahead)
Address: Casa Garcilaso on Calle Garcilaso
(just before the Plaza Regocijo and near the Museo de Chocolate)
Opening hours: Mon-Sat, 7 am- 7:30pm.
Payment method: credit card or cash
In Aguas Calientes, head to the Machu Picchu Cultural Centre
Address: Direccion Regional de Cultura Aguas Calientes Office, Av. Pachacutec (just off the main square)
Opening hours: Mon-Sun, 5am -10 pm.
Payment method: cash only *
* there are ATM’s in Aguas Calientes but they charge a higher fee as the ones in Cusco or elsewhere in Peru.
Ticket system
Machu Picchu Tickets: different tickets and circuits
There are different entrance tickets for Machu Picchu tickets and if you buy the ticket on time and all options are available, you can decide kind of ticket is best for you. There are different tickets (a different ticket for each circuit), and every option offers different time slots, giving you the possibility to chose from more than 15 different options.
Read more about Machu Picchu circuits here.
Ticket Museo Manuel Chávez Ballon
For $ 7 you can buy the separate entrance ticket to the museum Manuel Chávez Ballon. It’s a small, interactive museum with interesting information. The museum is located near Aguas Calientes (it is not located at Machu Picchu itself) at Altura del Antiguo Puente Ruinas, km 112 vía férrea. The opening hours are everday from 9.00am- 4.00pm; however from 12.00pm – 4.00 pm the museum is for free. Next to the museum is a botanic garden.
Additional information about Machu Picchu tickets
- Children: require a passport in-person for proof of age on arrival at Machu Picchu. Children under 7 do not pay. From 8 – 17, children pay 3$.
- Students: foreign undergraduate students must have a valid student ID card issued by the university that is valid within a year of the date of visit (not more than a year). Make sure your student card meets the requirements (not every student card is accepted). Student tickets cannot be bought online (but in Cusco or through a travel agency ); many requests are rejected.
- Everyone: always bring your passport; otherwise, you cannot enter Machu Picchu.
- Cancellations: are not allowed, no refunds are possible.
- Changes: you can make one change (but not the date of the type of circuit), but it has an additional cost (e.g. a spelling error in your name).