Tourist Tickets for Cusco, the Sacred Valley & Beyond
From the Cusco Tourist Ticket that opens the doors to the city’s most important archaeological sites, to entrance tickets for Rainbow Mountain, Humantay Lake and the Inca Trail, we handle the bookings so you arrive ready to explore.
Peru's Most Important Sites, All in One Place
Peru has more archaeological sites, natural reserves and cultural attractions than most travelers realize until they arrive. Many of them require entrance tickets that must be purchased in advance, and some of the most popular ones have limited daily capacity that fills up weeks or months ahead of time. Knowing which ticket covers which sites, how the Cusco Tourist Ticket circuits work and which trekking permits need to be secured earliest can make the difference between a well-organized trip and a frustrating one.
At Inka Tickets we book entrance tickets and permits across all the major attractions in the Cusco region and beyond. We explain what each ticket covers, help you choose the right combination for your itinerary and handle the reservation so that every site on your list is confirmed before you travel.
CUSCO TOURIST TICKET
The Cusco Tourist Ticket — BTC
The Boleto Turístico del Cusco, known as the BTC, is the official entrance ticket that provides access to a rotating set of archaeological sites, museums and cultural attractions across the city of Cusco and the surrounding Sacred Valley. The ticket is divided into three partial circuits that can be purchased individually or as a full combined ticket, depending on which sites you plan to visit and how much time you have.
Understanding exactly what each circuit covers and which sites are worth prioritizing for your specific interests is the first step in making the most of the BTC. Our team helps you decide whether the full ticket or one or more partial circuits makes more sense for your itinerary and books accordingly.
CIRCUITS OF CUSCO TOURIST TICKET (BTC)
BTC Circuit 1 — The Cusco Archaeological Sites
Above the City — Circuit 1 of the Cusco Tourist Ticket
Circuit 1 covers the archaeological sites that sit on the hillsides surrounding Cusco, all within a short distance of the city center. The centerpiece is Sacsayhuamán, the massive Inca fortress whose precisely fitted stone walls rise in three dramatic terraces above the city and whose scale only becomes apparent when you stand at its base. The circuit also includes Qenqo, a ceremonial site carved directly into a large limestone outcrop with underground channels and carved niches, Puca Pucara, a small military complex that guarded the road to the Sacred Valley, and Tambomachay, an elegant Inca water temple where spring water still flows through perfectly constructed stone channels today.
These four sites can be visited comfortably in a morning or afternoon with private transportation between them. They are best combined with a guided tour that brings the history and function of each site to life, particularly Sacsayhuamán where the sheer scale of the construction raises questions about Inca engineering that a knowledgeable guide can begin to answer.
Sites included: Sacsayhuamán, Qenqo, Puca Pucara, Tambomachay Recommended time: half day
BTC Circuit 2 — Sacred Valley Sites
Into the Valley — Circuit 2 of the Cusco Tourist Ticket
Circuit 2 takes visitors into the Sacred Valley of the Incas, covering the market town and hillside ruins of Pisac, the imposing fortress and temple complex of Ollantaytambo and the weaving community and colonial church of Chinchero. These three sites are spread along the length of the Sacred Valley and are typically visited as part of a full day tour that follows the valley road from Cusco toward Machu Picchu.
Pisac’s terraced ruins climb high above the valley floor and offer sweeping views of the agricultural landscape below. Ollantaytambo is one of the few places in Peru where Inca urban planning can still be clearly read in the streets and water channels of the living town, and its steep temple hill with its unfinished ritual platform is one of the most impressive structures the Incas left behind. Chinchero sits at a higher altitude above the valley and combines Inca terracing, a colonial church built directly on top of Inca foundations and one of the Sacred Valley’s most important traditional weaving centers.
Sites included: Pisac ruins, Ollantaytambo, Chinchero Recommended time: full day
BTC Circuit 3 — South Valley Sites
The Road South — Circuit 3 of the Cusco Tourist Ticket
Circuit 3 follows the road south of Cusco toward the altiplano, covering three sites that are less visited than those on the northern circuits but no less interesting for travelers with a genuine curiosity about Inca and pre-Inca civilization. Tipón is a remarkable hydraulic engineering site where an intricate system of Inca canals, terraces and fountains still functions exactly as it was designed centuries ago. Pikillacta is a large pre-Inca urban settlement built by the Wari culture and one of the most significant archaeological complexes in the region outside of Cusco itself. Andahuaylillas is home to the Church of San Pedro Apóstol, often called the Sistine Chapel of the Americas for its extraordinary baroque interior covered floor to ceiling in gilded altarpieces, murals and painted ceilings.
This circuit requires a vehicle and works well as a half day excursion south of Cusco, often combined with lunch in one of the valley towns before returning to the city.
Sites included: Tipón, Pikillacta, Andahuaylillas Recommended time: half day
INDIVIDUAL ATTRACTION TICKETS
Individual Entrance Tickets — Beyond the BTC
Qorikancha — Temple of the Sun
The Golden Temple — Qorikancha and the Convent of Santo Domingo
Qorikancha was the most sacred temple in the entire Inca Empire, a building whose interior walls were once lined with sheets of solid gold and whose courtyards contained golden replicas of plants, animals and figures used in religious ceremonies. The Spanish colonial church and convent of Santo Domingo was built directly on top of the Inca foundations after the conquest, and the result is one of the most extraordinary architectural contrasts in Peru: precisely fitted Inca stonework supporting the arches and walls of a seventeenth century church.
The entrance to Qorikancha is not included in the Cusco Tourist Ticket and must be purchased separately. The site is located in the heart of Cusco and can be visited in one to two hours. It is most rewarding when explored with a knowledgeable guide who can explain the original layout of the temple, the ritual functions of each space and the history of its transformation after the conquest.
Location: Plaza Regocijo, Cusco city center Recommended time: 1 to 2 hours
Rainbow Mountain — Vinicunca
The Mountain of Seven Colors — Rainbow Mountain
Vinicunca, known internationally as Rainbow Mountain, is one of the most visually extraordinary natural landscapes in Peru. The mountain’s distinctive striped appearance, with bands of red, pink, gold, green and white running across its slopes, is the result of mineral deposits exposed by erosion and by the retreating glacier that once covered the summit. At an altitude of approximately five thousand one hundred meters, it is also one of the highest accessible viewpoints in the entire Cusco region.
The hike to the summit takes between one and a half and two and a half hours from the base camp, depending on fitness and acclimatization. The trail crosses high grassland, passing herds of alpaca and llama grazing at altitude, before the final steep ascent to the ridge. Entrance to the mountain requires an official ticket that must be purchased in advance and combined with the guided day tour that handles transportation from Cusco in the early morning hours.
Altitude: approximately 5,100 meters above sea level Difficulty: demanding — high altitude, steep final ascent Season: accessible year round, best May to October
Humantay Lake
The Turquoise Lake — Humantay
Humantay Lake sits in a glacial bowl at approximately four thousand two hundred meters above sea level, fed by meltwater from the Humantay glacier that rises directly above it. The water is a vivid turquoise color that intensifies in clear morning light, and the combination of the snow-covered peak reflected in the still surface of the lake and the surrounding high-altitude grasslands makes this one of the most photogenic natural sites near Cusco.
The hike from the trailhead to the lake takes approximately one hour and involves a steady uphill climb that is demanding at altitude but manageable for most travelers who have spent a day or two acclimatizing in Cusco first. The lake is a sacred site for local Andean communities and offerings are made at the water’s edge by visitors who wish to participate in this tradition. Entrance requires an official ticket purchased in advance through the local community that manages access to the site.
Altitude: approximately 4,200 meters above sea level Difficulty: moderate — steep but short ascent Season: accessible year round
Palcoyo — The Alternative Rainbow Mountain
Three Mountains, No Crowds — Palcoyo
Palcoyo is often described as the alternative to Rainbow Mountain and the description is accurate in almost every sense. The site features not one but three adjacent mountains with the same distinctive mineral coloring as Vinicunca, the walk from the trailhead to the viewpoint is considerably shorter and less steep, and the number of visitors is a fraction of what Rainbow Mountain receives on a typical day. For travelers who want the visual experience of Peru’s colored mountains without the crowds and the extreme altitude of the more famous site, Palcoyo is the better choice.
The access road to Palcoyo is longer than the road to Rainbow Mountain and the journey from Cusco takes approximately three and a half hours in each direction, making it a full day excursion. The walk to the viewpoint takes around forty-five minutes and the altitude is lower than Vinicunca, reaching approximately four thousand nine hundred meters at the highest point.
Altitude: approximately 4,900 meters above sea level Difficulty: easy to moderate Crowd level: significantly lower than Rainbow Mountain
Inca Trail Permits — 4 Days / 3 Nights
The Classic Trek — Inca Trail Permit (4 Days)
The classic four-day Inca Trail is one of the most celebrated trekking routes in the world. The trail follows the original Inca path through cloud forest, high mountain passes and past a series of archaeological sites before descending through the Sun Gate at dawn on the final morning and revealing Machu Picchu below. The combination of extraordinary scenery, genuine Inca infrastructure underfoot and the emotional arrival at the citadel after three days of walking makes this one of the great overland journeys available anywhere.
Access to the Inca Trail is strictly regulated by the Peruvian government. A maximum of five hundred people per day are permitted on the trail, including guides and porters, which means the total number of independent trekkers is considerably lower than that figure suggests. Permits are issued months in advance and the most popular departure dates, particularly those in June, July and August, sell out quickly. We strongly recommend booking your Inca Trail permit as early as possible, ideally five to six months ahead for high season departures.
Duration: 4 days, 3 nights Distance: approximately 43 kilometers Maximum altitude: approximately 4,215 meters at Dead Woman’s Pass Capacity: strictly limited, permit required Season: closed during February
Inca Trail Permits — 2 Days / 1 Night
The Short Route — Inca Trail Permit (2 Days)
The two-day Inca Trail covers the final section of the classic route, beginning at kilometer 104 on the train line and following the trail through the archaeological site of Chachabamba and the high ruins of Wiñay Wayna before descending to the Sun Gate and arriving at Machu Picchu on the morning of the second day. It is a significantly shorter and less strenuous experience than the four-day route but still delivers the iconic arrival through Intipunku that makes the Inca Trail so different from any other way of reaching the citadel.
Permits for the two-day route are also limited and must be booked in advance, although they are generally easier to secure than the four-day permits. The route is ideal for travelers who want the experience of hiking into Machu Picchu but have limited time or prefer a less demanding physical challenge.
Duration: 2 days, 1 night Starting point: Kilometer 104 train station Maximum altitude: approximately 2,700 meters Season: closed during February
Salkantay Trek Permits — 5 Days
The High Route — Salkantay Trek
The Salkantay Trek is the most popular alternative to the Inca Trail and widely considered to be the most scenically dramatic trekking route to Machu Picchu. The trail passes directly beneath the snow-covered peak of Salkantay mountain at an altitude of over four thousand six hundred meters before descending through dramatic changes in landscape from high glacier terrain to lush cloud forest and tropical vegetation as it approaches Aguas Calientes on the fourth day.
Unlike the Inca Trail, the Salkantay route does not require an official government permit and has no daily capacity limit, but the organized tour that guides the trek and handles camping, meals and transportation does need to be booked well in advance during the high season. The fifth day is spent visiting Machu Picchu with a guide before returning to Cusco.
Duration: 5 days, 4 nights Maximum altitude: approximately 4,630 meters at Salkantay Pass Difficulty: demanding Season: best May to October, accessible year round
COMO RESERVAR
How to Book Your Tourist Tickets with Inka Tickets
Tell us which sites or attractions you want to visit, your travel dates and the number of people in your group. Our team confirms availability, advises on the best ticket combination for your itinerary and handles the booking. For trekking permits, especially the Inca Trail, we strongly recommend reaching out as early as possible to avoid missing your preferred dates.
If you are combining tourist tickets with a guided tour, a train ticket or a transfer, we coordinate all of it together so everything is properly aligned for your trip.
Inka Tickets · Tourist Tickets
Book Your Tourist Tickets
Select the tickets and attractions you want to visit. Our team will confirm availability, advise on the best combination for your itinerary and handle everything before you arrive.
- Cusco Tourist Ticket — BTC Circuits 1, 2 and 3
- Rainbow Mountain, Humantay, Palcoyo
- Inca Trail and Salkantay permits
