Official Machu Picchu Entrance Tickets for 2026
Ten different circuits, limited availability and strict entry times make planning essential. We handle the booking so you secure the right ticket before slots run out.
More Than Just an Entrance Ticket
Visiting Machu Picchu is not as simple as showing up at the gate. Since the Peruvian government introduced a new ticketing system to protect the site and manage visitor numbers, every traveler must book a specific circuit in advance, choose a fixed entry time and present a valid ticket upon arrival. There are no walk-up sales at the entrance and no flexibility on the day itself.
The system currently offers ten distinct circuits inside the citadel, each designed to guide visitors through a different section of the site without overcrowding the most sensitive areas. Some circuits are short and accessible, ideal for families or travelers with limited mobility. Others involve steep climbs to mountain peaks that rise above the ruins and reward the effort with views that are difficult to put into words.
Understanding the differences between each circuit before you book is what makes the difference between a visit that meets your expectations and one that truly exceeds them. At Inka Tickets, we not only handle the booking process but also take the time to help you choose the circuit that matches your travel dates, physical condition and what you most want to experience inside the citadel.
AVAILABILITY WARNING
Availability Is Strictly Limited — Book Early
Each circuit at Machu Picchu has a fixed capacity per entry time slot. Once those slots are filled, they are gone. The Peruvian Ministry of Culture does not release additional tickets and last-minute cancellations are rare. For the most popular circuits, particularly Circuit 2A and the Huayna Picchu Mountain ascent, we strongly recommend booking three to four months before your intended visit date. During the high season months of June, July and August, and around national holidays, even the less visited circuits can sell out weeks in advance.
If you are traveling with a group, the situation becomes even more urgent. Securing ten or twenty tickets on the same circuit, for the same time slot and on the same day requires early action. Our team manages group bookings regularly and knows how to navigate availability windows to get everyone in together.
THE 10 CIRCUITS
Circuit 1A — Machu Picchu + Machu Picchu Mountain
Above the Clouds — Machu Picchu Mountain Circuit 1A
Machu Picchu Mountain is the peak that rises directly behind the citadel on the opposite side from Huayna Picchu. The climb follows a trail of stone steps and switchbacks through cloud forest vegetation and takes between one and a half to two hours to reach the summit, depending on fitness level and pace. At the top, the view opens to reveal the full scale of the Inca settlement below and the surrounding mountain ranges stretching to the horizon in every direction. It is one of the most physically demanding experiences available at the site and one of the most rewarding.
Circuit 1A combines the mountain ascent with the panoramic Circuit 1 route through the citadel. Entry to the mountain control point is available from 07:00, with the last access at 08:00 for the first slot and 10:00 for the second. Visitors should be in reasonable physical condition and wear appropriate footwear, as the trail surface becomes slippery after rain.
Entry times: 07:00 and 09:00
Duration: approximately 4 to 5 hours total
Difficulty: demanding
Price: $77.00 USD per adult foreign visitor
Circuit 1B — Machu Picchu Terraza Superior
The Panoramic Viewpoint — Machu Picchu Circuit 1B
Route 1B is the circuit that leads to the upper terraces of Machu Picchu, the elevated stone platforms that overlook the entire citadel from above. This is where the most recognizable photograph of the site is taken, with the ancient city spread out below and Huayna Picchu mountain rising sharply in the background. The circuit follows a path along the outer perimeter of the ruins before climbing to the terrace level, where visitors have approximately two and a half hours to explore and take in the view.
This circuit is well suited for travelers who want the iconic experience without an extreme physical challenge. The path involves some inclines and uneven stone steps but does not require the level of fitness needed for the mountain ascents. Entry slots run from 06:00 in the morning through to 15:00, and the earlier time slots tend to offer the clearest light for photography before the morning clouds settle over the valley.
Entry times: 06:00 through 15:00 (hourly slots)
Duration inside: approximately 2 hours 30 minutes
Difficulty: moderate
Price: $59.00 USD per adult foreign visitor
Circuit 1C — Machu Picchu + Intipunku
The Sun Gate — Machu Picchu Circuit 1C
Intipunku, meaning Sun Gate in Quechua, is the ancient Inca gateway that marks the final point of the classic Inca Trail before it descends into the citadel. Hikers who walk the Inca Trail pass through Intipunku at dawn and see Machu Picchu emerge from the morning mist below them. For those not trekking the full trail, Circuit 1C offers access to this same gateway as part of a guided route from within the site.
The walk to Intipunku follows a flat and relatively easy path along the mountainside, taking approximately 45 minutes each way from the citadel. The views back toward Machu Picchu from this vantage point are unlike anything seen from within the ruins themselves, offering a wider perspective that reveals how the settlement fits into the dramatic Andean landscape around it. Entry slots are available from 07:00 through 10:00.
Entry times: 07:00 through 10:00
Duration inside: approximately 2 hours
Difficulty: easy to moderate
Price: $59.00 USD per adult foreign visitor
Circuit 1D — Machu Picchu + Inca Bridge
The Hidden Path — Machu Picchu Circuit 1D
The Inca Bridge is one of the most intriguing and least visited features of the Machu Picchu complex. It sits along a narrow ledge carved into the steep cliff face on the western side of the citadel, reached by a forested path that branches off from the main ruins. The bridge itself is a short section of removable logs set into the rock, a feature that would have allowed the Incas to control access to the citadel from the Inca road network below. Visitors walk to an observation point just above the bridge, close enough to appreciate the engineering and the vertiginous drop below.
Circuit 1D is one of the most limited tickets available, with a maximum capacity of just twenty people per entry slot. Bookings for this circuit sell out quickly and should be secured well in advance. Entry is available from 08:00 through 11:00.
Entry times: 08:00 through 11:00
Duration inside: approximately 2 hours
Capacity: very limited, maximum 20 visitors per slot
Difficulty: moderate
Price: $59.00 USD per adult foreign visito
Circuit 2A — Machu Picchu Classic Designed
The Sun Gate — Machu Picchu Circuit 1C
The Classic Route — Machu Picchu Circuit 2A
Circuit 2A is the most complete and most sought-after route inside Machu Picchu. It follows the traditional path through the heart of the citadel, passing through the agricultural terraces at the lower entrance before ascending to the Main Plaza, the Temple of the Sun, the Royal Tomb, the Sacred Plaza and the Intihuatana stone. This is the route that takes visitors through the most historically and architecturally significant sections of the site and provides the fullest understanding of how the city was organized and what daily life within its walls may have looked like.
Because it covers the widest area and includes the most important structures, Circuit 2A is also the most popular route and the first to sell out. We recommend booking this circuit a minimum of three months ahead for any visit between May and September. Entry slots run from 06:00 through 15:00 and each visit allows two and a half hours inside. The 07:00 and 08:00 slots are the most popular among photographers and early risers.
Entry times: 06:00 through 15:00 (hourly slots)
Duration inside: approximately 2 hours 30 minutes
Difficulty: moderate
Availability: books out fastest — reserve early
Price: $59.00 USD per adult foreign visitor
Circuit 2B — Machu Picchu Lower Terraces
Temples and Terraces — Machu Picchu Circuit 2B
Circuit 2B follows a route through the lower section of the citadel, focusing on the agricultural terraces, the industrial district and the residential areas that once housed the workers and craftspeople who maintained the site. This part of Machu Picchu is less visited than the upper temples and plazas, which means visitors tend to have more space to move and more time to observe the details of Inca stonework without crowds pressing around them.
The lower terraces also offer a different perspective on the overall layout of the site, particularly the remarkable engineering that allowed the Incas to build on the steep mountain slope without the land giving way. This circuit is a strong choice for travelers with an interest in archaeology and everyday Inca life rather than the ceremonial areas, and it pairs well with a second visit on a different circuit if time allows.
Entry times: 06:00 through 15:00 (hourly slots)
Duration inside: approximately 2 hours 30 minutes
Difficulty: easy to moderate
Price: $59.00 USD per adult foreign visitor
Circuit 3A — Machu Picchu + Huayna Picchu
The Summit Above the Citadel — Huayna Picchu Circuit 3A
Huayna Picchu is the dramatic peak that rises directly behind the citadel in virtually every wide-angle photograph of Machu Picchu. The mountain was not simply a backdrop for the Inca settlement — it was an active part of it, home to temples and terraces that cling to the rock face at extraordinary heights. The climb to the top is steep, narrow in places and involves sections where hands and feet are both needed to navigate the stone steps. It takes between 45 minutes and one and a half hours to reach the summit depending on fitness and conditions.
The reward is a view of Machu Picchu from directly above, with the entire layout of the citadel visible at once and the surrounding valleys dropping away on all sides. Only 150 visitors are admitted per slot, making this one of the most exclusive experiences in all of Peru. Entry is available at 07:00 and 10:00, with access to the mountain control point opening 45 minutes after the main citadel entry time.
Entry times: 07:00 and 10:00
Capacity: 150 visitors per slot
Duration: approximately 3 to 4 hours total
Difficulty: demanding — steep, narrow trail
Price: $77.00 USD per adult foreign visito
Circuit 3B — Machu Picchu Royal Designed
The Royal Quarter — Machu Picchu Circuit 3B
Circuit 3B takes visitors through the areas of Machu Picchu associated with Inca royalty and ceremony, including the lower temple complex and the residential sector believed to have housed the site’s most important inhabitants. The route passes through intricately carved stone doorways, past water channels that still carry mountain spring water today and through enclosed courtyards where the proportions and finishing of the stonework reveal the level of craft reserved for spaces of high status and ritual significance.
This is a quieter circuit than the Classic route and tends to attract visitors who want more time with the architecture and less time navigating crowds. Entry is available throughout the day from 06:00 to 15:00, and the later time slots in the afternoon can be particularly peaceful as the morning tour groups have moved on.
Entry times: 06:00 through 15:00 (hourly slots)
Duration inside: approximately 2 hours 30 minutes
Difficulty: moderate
Price: $59.00 USD per adult foreign visitor
Circuit 3C — Machu Picchu + Temple of the Moon
Into the Mountain — Temple of the Moon Circuit 3C
The Temple of the Moon, also known as the Great Cavern, is one of the most mysterious and least visited sacred spaces in the entire Machu Picchu complex. It sits inside a natural cave on the northern face of Huayna Picchu mountain, accessible via a trail that descends steeply from the upper path. The cave walls are lined with Inca stonework of extraordinary quality, with carved niches and platforms that suggest the space was used for important ritual purposes, possibly connected to ancestor veneration and lunar ceremonies.
Reaching the Temple of the Moon requires stamina and a good head for heights. The trail is challenging and involves sections with significant exposure on narrow paths above steep drops. Only 100 visitors are permitted per slot, preserving the sense of remoteness and silence that makes this site so remarkable. Entry is available at 08:00 and 09:00.
Entry times: 08:00 and 09:00
Capacity: 100 visitors per slot
Duration: approximately 4 hours total
Difficulty: very demanding
Price: $77.00 USD per adult foreign visitor
Circuit 3D — Machu Picchu + Huchuy Picchu
The Royal Quarter — Machu Picchu Circuit 3B
A Gentler Summit — Huchuy Picchu Circuit 3D
Huchuy Picchu, meaning Little Peak in Quechua, is the smaller mountain that sits between Huayna Picchu and the main citadel. It offers a mountain experience that is considerably more accessible than either of its neighbors while still rewarding climbers with elevated views across the ruins and the surrounding valley. The ascent takes approximately 30 to 40 minutes and follows a clear trail with manageable gradients for most reasonably fit visitors.
Circuit 3D was introduced as part of the updated ticketing system and quickly became popular among families, older travelers and those who want the feeling of a summit without the intensity of the Huayna Picchu trail. Only 25 visitors are admitted per slot, making it one of the most intimate experiences available at the site. Entry is at 09:00 and 11:00.
Entry times: 09:00 and 11:00
Capacity: 25 visitors per slot
Duration: approximately 2 to 3 hours total
Difficulty: easy to moderate
Price: $59.00 USD per adult foreign visitor
Machu Picchu Ticket Prices 2026
Entrance fees to Machu Picchu vary depending on the circuit selected and the visitor category. Reduced rates are available for students, children and nationals of Andean Community countries including Colombia, Bolivia and Ecuador. Peruvian nationals have their own rate structure. Our team confirms the correct rate for your group at the time of booking and applies any applicable discounts automatically. All prices are in US dollars and are subject to change by the Peruvian Ministry of Culture without prior notice.
Ticket Type | Foreign Adult | Foreign Student/Child | Andean Community Adult | Andean Community Student/Child | Peruvian Adult | Peruvian Student/Child |
Classic Circuits 1B, 2A, 2B, 3B | $59.00 | $33.00 | $29.00 | $18.00 | $25.00 | $15.00 |
MP + Huayna Picchu — Route 3A | $77.00 | $53.00 | $49.00 | $36.00 | $46.00 | $34.00 |
MP + Machu Picchu Mountain — Route 1A | $77.00 | $53.00 | $49.00 | $36.00 | $46.00 | $34.00 |
MP + Huchuy Picchu — Route 3D | $59.00 | $33.00 | $29.00 | $18.00 | $25.00 | $15.00 |
MP + Inca Bridge — Route 1D | $59.00 | $33.00 | $29.00 | $18.00 | $25.00 | $15.00 |
MP + Intipunku — Route 1C | $59.00 | $33.00 | $29.00 | $18.00 | $25.00 | $15.00 |
MP + Temple of the Moon — Route 3C | $77.00 | $53.00 | $49.00 | $36.00 | $46.00 | $34.00 |
Prices shown are the official entrance fees and do not include our booking service fee, train tickets, bus tickets or guide services. Contact us for a full package quote.
Book Your Machu Picchu Ticket
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- Circuits 2A and 3A sell out 3–4 months in advance
- Confirmation within a few hours
- Free digital travel guide with every booking
