The entrance to Machu Picchu can be purchased online through its official website. However, many visitors wait until the last minute to get a ticket, since there is no availability. In these cases, many tourists choose to travel to the town of Aguas Calientes, also called Machupicchu village, to get their entrance ticket to the Inca citadel. The Peruvian authorities have provided a thousand tickets for tourists to buy their tickets in person. Learn how to make the purchase!

• Tickets available in Aguas Calientes
• Buying the entrance ticket to Machu Picchu online
• Buying the entrance to Machu Picchu in Aguas Calientes
• Which ticket to choose?
• Important information about the purchase of the ticket to Machu Picchu in Aguas Calientes
• Questions and answers about the purchase of the ticket to Machu Picchu in Aguas Calientes

Tourist couple appreciating the incredible views at Machu Picchu

Availability of entrance tickets to Machu Picchu
The Peruvian Ministry of Culture is the entity in charge of organizing the number of visits to the archaeological site of Machu Picchu. The number of visitors is limited to approximately 5 thousand visitors per day. This is due to the fact that the overload of tourists in Machu Picchu can cause damage to its structures and the collapse of the archaeological site in the future. Because of this, the number of tickets and the circuits that tourists can do in Machu Picchu have been reorganized. The purchase of tickets can be done online, through the official website or on the website of a tourist agency, or in person at the authorized offices in the city of Cusco or in the town of Aguas Calientes. This last option is special since the Peruvian Ministry of Culture enabled up to one thousand tickets for in-person purchase in Aguas Calientes. However, the most recommended way to buy a ticket is online through the official website.

Tickets available in Aguas Calientes

Machu Picchu is one of the best tourist attractions in the world. To protect the archaeological site into the future, the Peruvian Ministry of Culture implemented a daily visitor limit. Thus, each day, the Inca citadel allows access to up to 4,500 visitors, a number that helps to improve the sustainability of the historic site.

However, due to the high demand for tickets, especially in the high tourist season months, a maximum number of 5,600 per day was also implemented during the high season months, i.e., June 1 through October 15.

Thus, it is estimated that Machu Picchu receives a little more than 1.5 million visitors a year. Thus, to better organize the visit of the large number of people, ten entrance tickets were chosen, which allow the visit in three different circuits, all offering a different experience in the Inca citadel.

Currently these are the ten types of entrance tickets to Machu Picchu:

• Entrance Machu Picchu Classic Photo – Circuit 1.
• Entrance Machu Picchu Classic – Circuit 2.
• Entrance Machu Picchu Classic lower terrace – Circuit 2.
• Entrance Machu Picchu Lower Temples – Circuit 3.
• Entrance Machu Picchu with Huayna Picchu – Circuit 3.
• Entrance Machu Picchu with Mountain – Circuit 1.
• Entrance Machu Picchu with Huchuy Picchu – Circuit 3.
• Entrance Machu Picchu with Intipunku – Circuit 1.
• Entrance Machu Picchu with Inca Bridge – Circuit 1.
• Entrance Machu Picchu with Temple of the Moon – Circuit 3.

Tourist observing the Inca citadel on a cloudy day

Buying the entrance ticket to Machu Picchu online

The purchase of the entrance ticket to Machu Picchu can be done in two ways: a) in person at the authorized offices in the city of Cusco or the town of Aguas Calientes. Or b) online through the website of a tourist agency or the official website of the Ministry of Culture of Peru.

Definitely buying online is the safest way since it allows you to purchase from anywhere in the world. And, considering that all tickets have limited availability, it is the most efficient way to get a ticket in advance.

To purchase the entrance ticket to Machu Picchu by internet you must follow the following steps:

• Enter the website of the official sales site (Ministry of Culture of Peru) or an authorized travel agency.
• Choose the type of ticket to Machu Picchu on the day of your preference (check for availability).
• Choose the schedule of your preference (check if there is availability).
• Fill in the information of each ticket holder: full names, date of birth, nationality, ID number.
• Make the purchase with credit or debit card.
• Receive the ticket in PDF format in the inbox (or spam) of the e-mail address you registered. Present it on the day of your visit to Machu Picchu.

Buying the entrance to Machu Picchu in Aguas Calientes

The purchase of the entrance to Machu Picchu in person is done a) in the authorized offices in the city of Cusco. Or b) at the Machu Picchu town office (Aguas Calientes town).

There are two authorized offices in the city of Cusco: 324 Maruri Street (office of the Dirección Desconcentrada de Cultura Cusco) and Garcilaso Street (office of the Peruvian Ministry of Culture in Cusco).

In both cases there is a high risk of not finding free tickets, as these tickets are also sold on the website of the Ministry of Culture of Peru. Most visitors want to make their purchase a few days in advance. Many of them, especially in high tourist season (from June to October), do not find tickets available.

In view of this, the best solution is to make the purchase in person in the town of Agua Calientes. The Ministry of Culture of Peru has made available for sale one thousand tickets to Machu Picchu for each day.

To purchase the entrance ticket to Machu Picchu in the town of Aguas Calientes you must follow these steps:

• Make the trip from the city of Cusco to the town of Aguas Calientes, either by train from Ollantaytambo or with the optional route through the Hidroeléctrica station.
• Go to the sales office of the Ministry of Culture of Peru, located just a few steps from the main square of the town of Aguas Calientes.
• Queue up to make the purchase. This is mainly done in the mornings.
• Once at the ticket window, choose the type of ticket on the day of your preference. Usually tickets sell out quickly, so the ticket purchase is made for the day after the day of purchase.
• Provide the necessary information for the purchase of the ticket: full names, e-mail, document number, date of birth and nationality.
• Purchase the ticket (usually with cash).
• Receive the ticket to Machu Picchu in physical format. Present it on the day of the visit to the Inca citadel.

Aguas Calientes, also known as Machupicchu pueblo

Which ticket to choose?

These are the ten types of tickets to Machu Picchu that you can choose from when you buy them in Aguas Calientes town:

Important information about the purchase of the ticket to Machu Picchu in Aguas Calientes

Keep this in mind before purchasing your ticket to Machu Picchu in the town of Aguas Calientes:

• The purchase in person in the town of Aguas Calientes is an emergency option if you did not get the ticket before. The most recommended option is to buy the ticket to Machu Picchu online in advance.
• The purchase of the ticket to Machu Picchu in the town of Aguas Calientes is done in person with the identity card or passport in hand. It is not allowed that another person makes the purchase with the document of another person.
• At the time of purchase of the ticket to Machu Picchu in the town of Aguas Calientes there is also limited availability. Therefore, the most requested tickets at the best times are sold out in the morning. It is recommended to arrive early to the village to get the best tickets.
• Usually, especially during the high tourist season (June 1 to October 15), tickets are sold out for visitors who want to visit the same day. In those cases, tourists have to register, spend the night in a hotel in town, to get their ticket to visit the next day upon arrival in Aguas Calientes.
• The payment of the entrance tickets to Machu Picchu is usually done with cash.
• In the town of Aguas Calientes you can get the bus tickets to Machu Picchu and the tour guide service. In Cusco you can get train tickets to Aguas Calientes.

Main track on which the train runs – Aguas Calientes

Questions and answers about the purchase of the ticket to Machu Picchu in Aguas Calientes

• 1) Can I buy my entrance ticket to Machu Picchu in Cusco?

  Yes, the purchase in Cusco or Aguas Calientes is allowed. However, buying online will always be the best option as tickets have limited availability.

• 2) Which are the ticket sales offices for Machu Picchu in person?

  In Cusco there are two offices: a) 340 Maruri Street and b) Garcilaso Street s/n. In Aguas Calientes, at the office of the Peruvian Ministry of Culture (a few steps from the main square).

• 3) Is it better to buy the entrance to Machu Picchu online or in person?

  Buying the entrance to Machu Picchu online will always be the safest option because the availability of tickets is limited.

• 4) What are the entrances to Machu Picchu available in Aguas Calientes?

  All tickets to Machu Picchu are available at the Aguas Calientes town offices:

  • Entrance Machu Picchu Classic Photo – Circuit 1.
  • Entrance Machu Picchu Classic – Circuit 2.
  • Entrance Machu Picchu Classic lower terrace – Circuit 2.
  • Entrance Machu Picchu Lower Temples – Circuit 3.
  • Entrance Machu Picchu with Huayna Picchu – Circuit 3.
  • Entrance Machu Picchu with Mountain – Circuit 1.
  • Entrance Machu Picchu with Huchuy Picchu – Circuit 3.
  • Entrance Machu Picchu with Intipunku – Circuit 1.
  • Entrance Machu Picchu with Inca Bridge – Circuit 1.
  • Entrance Machu Picchu with Temple of the Moon – Circuit 3.

• 5) Where is the Machu Picchu ticket office in Aguas Calientes?

  The office of the Peruvian Ministry of Culture in the town of Aguas Calientes is a few steps from the main square of the town.

• 6) How much does the entrance fee to Machu Picchu cost in Aguas Calientes?

  The prices during the on-site purchase are the same as in the online purchase: 152 soles for foreign adults.

• 7) Is it necessary to sleep one night in Aguas Calientes to get a ticket to Machu Picchu?

  Occasionally, especially during the high tourist season (June 1 to October 15), tickets are sold out for visitors who want to visit on the same day. In those cases, tourists have to register, spend the night in a hotel in town, to get their ticket to visit the next day upon arrival in Aguas Calientes.

• 8) How high is Aguas Calientes in Machu Picchu?

  The town of Aguas Calientes is located at 2,040 meters above sea level.

• 9) How far is it from the town of Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu?

  Machu Picchu is only 10 kilometers from the town of Aguas Calientes.

• 10) With which document should I buy my entrance ticket to Machu Picchu in Aguas Calientes?

  The purchase is made in person with your passport or identity card in hand.

Advice from people who have been there

Machu Picchu

By: Julián L.

“Machu Picchu“

“Undoubtedly a world wonder, I look forward to visiting Huayna Picchu next year. There are no excuses to visit it once in a lifetime.“

By Ticket Machu Picchu – Last updated, September 19, 2024