Machu Picchu is located in the Andes Mountains of Cusco, Peru. The visit takes place every day of the year from 6 am to 5 pm. Due to low availability, it is recommended to purchase the ticket online two or three months in advance. At the time of purchase you must choose between the 10 new routes through Machu Picchu. Each one offers a different experience expressed in three circuits that were enabled since June 1, 2024. Which one to choose? Know their similarities and differences!

• Visit Machu Picchu without a tour
• Entrance fees and the different experiences in Machu Picchu
• The four circuits in Machu Picchu
• Similarities and differences of the Machu Picchu circuits
• Tips for choosing the right entrance and circuit
• Questions and answers

Machu Picchu Inca Citadel

What type of entrance fee or route does the Machu Picchu tour include?
Tourists who visit Machu Picchu want to have a trip without many problems. Therefore, many choose to do the tour with the Machu Picchu Full Day tours. However, many times the type of ticket or the route through Machu Picchu that will be granted. There are many travel agencies that will work with the tickets of Circuit 2 or Classic Routes of Machu Picchu. These routes will allow the tour of the main constructions and temples of Machu Picchu. There are now two tickets that allow this type of tour. However, you can also choose if you want the Huayna Picchu and Machu Picchu Mountain routes.

Visit Machu Picchu without a tour

If you visit Machu Picchu without a tour you will have to buy your entrance, train ticket, and bus, as well as book the tour guide service in the Inca city (this service is optional). The most important thing, the first thing to do, is to buy the entrance ticket and choose a train ticket with a schedule that fits your itinerary.

On the other hand, if you choose to visit Machu Picchu for a tour, the tourist agency is in charge of acquiring your entrance tickets, train and bus tickets, and the tour guide.

For many, the option to visit Machu Picchu with a tour is much simpler. However, other visitors prefer to customize their trip at their own pace, choosing a specific type of entrance and circuit. This option is recommended, above all, for young visitors who do not like a strict itinerary.

So to visit Machu Picchu without a tour the first thing to do is to buy the entrance ticket online. You have two options: do it through the official website or an authorized tourist agency. In both cases, you must buy your ticket two or three months in advance because availability is limited. The type of ticket and the circuit to choose depends on the experience you want to live in the Wonder of the World.

Entrance fees and the different experiences in Machu Picchu

There are 10 new routes to visit Machu Picchu

• Ticket Machu Picchu Classic Photo – Panoramic Circuit 1

  This route and entrance to Machu Picchu allows the entrance to the upper platforms, from this place you can take the postcard photograph. You can also have views from the viewpoints closest to the Guardian’s House. However, you will not be able to do any trekking route or have a tour of the main temples of Machu Picchu. This route is a truly contemplative activity and experience. The tour can take 2 hours and 30 minutes and is valid for all ages. In addition, it has 10 groups of schedules, you can enter from 6:00 in the morning until 15:00 hours.

• Ticket Machu Picchu + Mountain – Panoramic Circuit 1

  This ticket allows you to have a quite fascinating trekking route, due to the incredible views that the tour offers. In addition, you can have the classic postcard photo of Machu Picchu. You can also have a tour of the main viewpoints near the Guardian’s House. The ticket for this route is currently only valid for people over 18 years old. The experience is really beautiful for the extraordinary views of the place. Likewise, it has 2 groups of schedules. The first group will enter at 6:00 am and the second at 8:00 am.

• Ticket Machu Picchu + Inti Punku – Panoramic Circuit 1

  New route enabled for the high season. The high season will begin on June 1st, 2024. This season will last until October 15, in that sense, this route will only be accessible during that period of time. The experience will allow a tour to the Inti Punku, ancient and original checkpoint of Machu Picchu. You will follow part of the Inca Trail and you will also be able to appreciate the panoramic views of Machu Picchu. Also, you can have the postcard photo and the tour of the viewpoints closest to the Guardian’s House. This ticket has 4 schedules that will start at 8:00 and end at 11:00 in the morning.

• Ticket Panoramic Circuit + Inca Bridge – Panoramic Circuit 1

  This ticket will also be valid during the high season (June 1st – October 15th). During this time it will be possible to make the tour of this place. However, it will be possible to make the reservation throughout the year or months before the high season. The experience by this route allows you to reach the Inca Bridge of Machu Picchu. Before arriving there, it will be possible to have a postcard photo and a glimpse of some of the Machu Picchu viewpoints along the route. It will not be possible to do any other tour, as well as all the tickets or routes of Circuit 1 or Panoramic. It has 4 groups of schedules, the first one will start at 8:00 am and the last one at 11:00 am. Like the hiking tickets, it will only be valid for people over 18 years old.

• Ticket Machu Picchu Classic – Classic Circuit 2

  This route allows the classic tour of the main constructions of Machu Picchu. You will even be able to reach the Sacred Rock, that is to say, you will be able to go through most of the temples and enclosures of the Inca llaqta. However, you will not have access to the upper platforms and therefore you will not have the classic postcard photo. Likewise, your tour will be limited to visit only the archaeological site of Machu Picchu. It is one of the routes or tickets with greater availability and has 10 groups of schedules.

• Ticket Machu Picchu Classic Lower Terrace – Classic Circuit 2

  This new route is a variation of the Machu Picchu Solo or llaqta Machu Picchu circuit, in this case you are allowed a brief tour of the lower platforms. That is to say, you will be able to arrive near the Guardian’s House, from where you will be able to have a picture similar to the postcard. In addition, you can have the tour of the main temples and enclosures of Machu Picchu. This ticket is one of the best alternatives to tour Machu Picchu. It is suitable for the general public and has 10 entrance groups.

• Ticket Machu Picchu Lower Temples – Circuit 3 Machu Picchu Royalty

  This route is easy to do, because it allows a simple entrance to Machu Picchu, without the need to climb to the upper platforms. It is ideal for people of legal age. It is one of the new circuits that were enabled after the change of the Ministry of Culture. For this route were enabled 50 (regular season) and 75 tickets (high season). During the tour it allows to appreciate part of the temples of the lower zone and to arrive until the Sacred Rock. In addition, all the routes of the Machu Picchu Royal Circuit will allow the tour along this route. This route has 10 schedules to enter. The first group will start at 6:00 am and the last one at 3:00 pm.

• Ticket Machu Picchu + Huayna Picchu – Circuit 3 Machu Picchu Royalty

  This ticket allows you to visit the archaeological site, as well as the hike to the top of Huayna Picchu, the most popular mountain in the Inca city. It is one of the tickets that sells out the fastest because it offers availability to only 400 people per day. The hike can only be done by people over 18 years old. During the circuit you can appreciate part of the Inca citadel, specifically the sector of the lower temples. This ticket does not allow an additional tour to the route of Huayna Picchu. offers the option to enter in 2 schedules the first at 7:00 and the second at 9:00 in the morning.

• Ticket Machu Picchu + Huchuy Picchu – Circuit 3 Machu Picchu Royalty

  This ticket allows a brief tour of Machu Picchu, after that, it will be possible to climb to the top of this small mountain or also known as Huchuy Picchu. This ticket, suffered some variations for examples only have 50 tickets available daily and also only be valid during high season. In this sense, it can be a backup ticket for those who did not manage to purchase their ticket on time. In addition, it offers a 1 hour hike and you can see some plants and insects along the route. Besides having a particular view of Machu Picchu. This ticket has 50 entrance tickets in two schedules. The first one will be at 7:00 in the morning for Machu Picchu and the second one at 13:00 hours.

• Ticket Machu Picchu + Temple of the Moon – Circuit 3 Machu Picchu Royalty

  The Great Cavern or Temple of the Moon Route is one of the new alternatives to increase the number of visitors to Machu Picchu. In addition, this route will only be valid during the high season. This route offers a previous tour of Machu Picchu, specifically the lower temples and also the walk along the Qhapac Ñam or Inca Trail. The hike will culminate at the Temple of Inca Fertility, also known as the Temple of the Moon or the Great Cavern. It has two schedules and an availability of 200 tickets. Only for sale online.

The 3 new Circuits to know Machu Picchu

These are the new circuits and sectors that can be found in Machu Picchu. See all the information below:

• Circuit 1 – Panoramic Route

  The same name details more of the routes that can be done in this circuit. Circuit 1 or Panoramic allows a tour of the upper areas of Machu Picchu. Most of the tours will be done through the viewpoints that are located following the upper platforms or those near the Guardian’s House. As mentioned, all the tickets that follow this circuit have the main attraction of taking the postcard photo. Unfortunately, it will not be possible to take the tour to other places in Machu Picchu such as the descent to the Inca citadel or the ascent to the other mountains found in the Royal Route.

• Circuit 2 – Classic Route

  This second circuit is based precisely on the tours inside the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu. That is to say, it will not contemplate the ascent by the upper platforms and neither the hike to other tours such as the mountains of Huchuy Picchu or Huayna Picchu. It is divided into 2 tickets or routes in which it will highlight that the Lower Terrace circuit, which will allow you to reach the terraces near the Guardian’s House. It does not guarantee a postcard photo as such, but a very similar one. In the other ticket, it will not be possible to get to the respective place. In both tickets you will be able to make a tour of the main temples of Machu Picchu, until you reach the Sacred Rock. The return will be through the temples of the lower sector where the Temple of the Condor is located.

• Circuit 3 – Machu Picchu Royalty Route

  The third circuit of Machu Picchu allows a tour of the area, knowing most of the constructions of the Inca citadel. It also allows the ascent to several mountains. Of course, for this you will need the corresponding tickets. These tickets only cover one tour or route. There are four tickets or routes in total. Three of them allow the tour to different destinations and Inca constructions. While the last one, only the circuit inside the Inca citadel is made. Circuit 4 in general, will reach the Sacred Rock and from that control point. It is from this point that the routes to Huayna Picchu, Huchuy Picchu and the Temple of the Moon will be divided.

Main differences in the new Machu Picchu Circuits

Tips for choosing the right entrance and circuit

• If you are looking for the classic photo of Machu Picchu, the only way to get it is by purchasing any of the Panoramic Circuit tickets.
• The least complicated circuit and that allows a tour of Machu Picchu is the Circuit 3 or Circuit of royalty. Specifically the ticket Machu Picchu Temples of the lower part.
• If you wish to have a tour of the entire Inca citadel, the best option is to take either of the two options of Circuit 2 or the Classic Route of Machu Picchu.
• If you wish to have extra treks to have beautiful views of Machu Picchu, you can take the Machu Picchu + Machu Picchu Mountain ticket or the Machu Picchu + Huayna Picchu ticket.

Tourists taking a picture with Machu Picchu in the background

Questions and answers

• 1) What is the best circuit in Machu Picchu?

  For many, circuit 2 is the best of Machu Picchu because it allows you to visit most of the Inca constructions. This tour can be done for 2 hours and 30 minutes; in any of its variations.

• 2) Which is the circuit that allows me to know more in Machu Picchu?

  After the new changes, it is now important to know what kind of experience you want to have. Now there are 3 circuits which can offer you different activities. Circuit 2 could be a good alternative because of all the information that the guides will provide during the tour.

• 3) Which circuit allows me to take the best picture of Machu Picchu?

  Circuit 1, in any of its tickets or routes, will allow you to take the tour through the upper platforms and have the postcard photo you want.

• 4) Which circuit in Machu Picchu to choose if I am traveling with children?

  The trekking routes near Machu Picchu are now only valid for people over 18 years old. So you will only have to do Circuit 2 in any of its routes or tickets.

• 5) Which circuit in Machu Picchu to choose if I travel with a person in a wheelchair?

  Circuit 3 with the Ticket Machu Picchu Temples of the lower part.

• 6) Which circuit lasts longer in Machu Picchu?

  In this case the longest circuits will be comprised by the routes to the mountains. The minimum time for these tours will be 6 hours. The alternatives are:

  • Machu Picchu + Mountain Ticket
  • Machu Picchu + Huayna Picchu Ticket
  • Machu Picchu + Temple of the Moon Ticket

• 7) Which circuit should I choose in Machu Picchu to visit the Inca House?

  Any of the routes or tickets of Circuit 2 or Machu Picchu Classic.

• 8) Which Machu Picchu circuit should I choose to visit Huayna Picchu?

  You can only get to Huayna Picchu with the ticket “Machu Picchu + Huayna Picchu”. In this sense, you will not be able to access other trails or routes with this ticket.

• 9) Which circuit in Machu Picchu should I choose if I am traveling with seniors?

  Circuit 3 with the route or the Machu Picchu Temples Ticket of the lower part. It is the easiest to do. However, seniors can consult with their doctor if they are able to make new tours.

• 10) Which is the worst circuit in Machu Picchu?

  The 3 circuits offer an incredible experience, each one very different from the others. In this sense, there is not a better or worse one, but it will depend more on the experience that the tourist or tourists wish to have.

Advice from people who have been there

Machu Picchu

By: Raphael C.

“The best!“

“Simply Machu Picchu is one of the best places I have ever visited in my life. To see Machu Picchu from there, huge with its history and constructions is indescribable. Without a doubt the best trip of my life.“

By Ticket Machu Picchu – Last updated, August 16, 2024