Machu Picchu receives awards every year for being considered one of the best tourist destinations in the world. The history, the scenic beauty and the different activities that can be done there allow for a unique experience. The first step in organizing the trip is to choose between going with a tour or on your own. If you choose the first option, the first thing you must do is buy the entrance to Machu Picchu. This way you can ensure your visit since availability is limited and entrance tickets usually sell out two or three months in advance. Learn about the other steps to follow for your visit to the Wonder of the World.

• The trip to Machu Picchu: tour or on your own
• Step 1. Buy the ticket to Machu Picchu
• Step 2. Book train tickets
• Step 3. Flight to Cusco, hotels and other tours
• Questions and answers about visiting Machu Picchu in simple steps

Tourist in Machu Picchu

The ten types of tickets to Machu Picchu and the available circuits
Since 2024, there are ten types of tickets to Machu Picchu, which offer the tour of the archaeological site in three different circuits. Some tickets allow you to take short hiking routes such as the hikes to the Huayna Picchu mountains or to the Machu Picchu mountain. Other tickets only allow you to walk the circuits, without any additional walks. Circuit 2 is the most recommended as it allows you to see more Inca constructions. This circuit is included in the Machu Picchu Classic ticket. It includes a visit to constructions such as the Guardian’s House (classic photo), the Temple of the Sun, the Main Temple, the Temple of the 3 Windows, the Sacred Rock, the Water Mirrors, the agricultural sector and more.

The trip to Machu Picchu: tour or on your own

The trip to Machu Picchu begins with a simple choice: are you going to visit the Inca city on an all-inclusive tour or on your own?

• Machu Picchu tour – This type of trip is done by entrusting a travel agency with the entire itinerary, tickets and other services. There are various types of tours, all of which depart from the city of Cusco: Machu Picchu 1-day tour, Machu Picchu 2-day tour, Machu Picchu tour via the Salkantay trek 5 days, etc. The Inca Trail 4-day tour can only be done with a travel agency. The 1-day tour costs 300 dollars per visitor on average.
• Self-guided tour to Machu Picchu – This type of tour is undertaken by the visitor on his/her own, purchasing all necessary tickets separately and creating his/her own itinerary. This type of tour offers two advantages: the tourist can organize a tailor-made trip with his/her own itinerary. The first and most important thing is to obtain entrance to Machu Picchu, as availability is limited. Self-guided tour can be cheaper than going on a tour.

Travel to Machu Picchu with tour

Step 1. Buy the ticket to Machu Picchu

The entrance to Machu Picchu is the most important thing to plan your trip. Tickets are available in limited quantities . For this reason, it is recommended to buy tickets two or three months in advance. To do so, you must make the purchase online through the official website of the Ministry of Culture of Peru or through a travel agency. In any case, these are the steps to follow:

1. Reserve

The first step to obtain your Machu Picchu Ticket is to make your reservation. To do so, simply visit the website of a travel agency or the Ministry of Culture of Peru. Choose the experience that you like the most or the one that best suits you (there are 10 types of entrance tickets). Check the calendar for the availability of entrances for the date you want.

Once you have chosen the date, fill out the reservation form. It is very easy to do so:

• Choose the type of Machu Picchu ticket from the drop-down menu.
• Enter your email (very important).
• Enter the date of your entry to the Inca city.
• Choose the number of people for your reservation.
• Continue filling in the required information with your personal data. You must fill in the information for all the people you will register for the reservation.

Once you have completed this process, send the information by clicking on the respective button. Your reservation will be verified at the entrance gate of Machu Picchu when you show your passport or the identification document with which you made your purchase.

Before submitting your reservation, please check that all the information submitted is correct.

2. Make the payment for your reservation

Once your reservation has been verified, we will send you a receipt for the value of the chosen ticket. Payment can be made with credit or debit cards: Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Dinres Club, American Express or PayPal. All payment methods are secure because they protect the privacy of your data. They also allow online payment from anywhere in the world.

It is important to make payment as soon as possible, as ticket availability varies constantly. Making your payment on time will guarantee your reservation.

3. Receive your ticket in your email

Once you have made the payment for your reservation, your Machu Picchu Ticket will be generated and issued. The process takes place within a maximum period of 24 hours (48 hours for reservations made on the weekend). The entrance ticket(s) will be sent to your email in digital format, one for each registered person.

On the day of your entry to Machu Picchu you will only need to carry a printed copy of your digital ticket, or failing that, show it using an electronic device (Smartphone or Tablet), and present it along with your personal documents at the entrance gate to the Inca city.

Entrance ticket to Machu Picchu

Step 2. Book train tickets

After obtaining the entrance to Machu Picchu, train tickets must be purchased online. The train journey is the way most visitors arrive to Machu Picchu from Cusco. The route that most visitors follow is: from Cusco to Ollantaytambo by bus, from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes by train and from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu by bus.

There are only two companies that complete the route by train: Peru Rail and Inca Rail. Both have websites where you can purchase train tickets in different types of services.

Peru Rail Trains:

• Local train (only for Peruvians).
• Expedition tourist train (economy service).
• Vistadome tourist train (economic service but with better amenities).
• Vistadome Observatory Sightseeing Train (service that includes a balcony car and music show).
• Hiram Bingham tourist train (one of the most luxurious trains in the world).

Inca Rail Trains:

• The Voyager tourist train (economy service).
• The 360 tourist train (economic service but with better services).
• The First Class tourist train (executive service with balcony car and show on board).
• The Private Sightseeing Train (exclusive luxury service for one visitor and their private group).

When booking your train ticket, you must take into account the day and time of your visit to Machu Picchu. It is recommended to choose a time at least 4 hours before the time of entry to the archaeological site.

These are the steps to book a train ticket:

1. Reserve

The first step is to go to one of the train ticket sales websites: Peru Rail or Inca Rail. Then choose the day of your outbound trip and the day of your return trip. You will be shown all the types of services available, as well as the schedules. Choose the type of service you prefer at the most suitable time in relation to your entry to Machu Picchu.

After choosing the type of service at the appropriate time, proceed to fill out the necessary personal information for each of the visitors who purchase their train ticket. It is important to register a valid email address as the PDF tickets will be sent there.

2. Make the payment for your reservation

You can make the payment on the Peru Rail or Inca Rail payment platforms. The available payment methods are Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Diners Club, etc. After making the reservation, it is recommended to make the payment as soon as possible. Otherwise, the reservation will be lost.

3. Receive your ticket in your email

Once you have made the payment for your reservation, your train ticket is generated and issued at the same time.

Train ticket to Machu Picchu

Step 3. Flight to Cusco, hotels and other tours

The two most important steps to organize your trip to Machu Picchu are purchasing your entrance to Machu Picchu and your train ticket. Both must be in line with the day and time of your visit in order to be able to coordinate the other services in Machu Picchu, such as:

• Bus trip from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu – This ticket can be obtained in the town of Aguas Calientes at the time of the trip. It can also be purchased online. Availability is wide so there are no problems in doing it in person.
• Tour guide service in Machu Picchu – At the entrance to Machu Picchu there are tour guides offering their services. These are group services (shared with other tourists) or private (for your partner, friends or family). You can also hire this service online with a travel agency.
• Hotel in Cusco or Aguas Calientes – In the city of Cusco there are 2, 3, 4 and 5 star hotels. It is recommended to book them online so you don’t have to drag your suitcases on the day of your arrival. You can also choose to spend a night in the town of Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu town). There are also 2, 3, 4 and 5 star hotels there.
• Flights to Cusco – Cusco is located in the Andes Mountains of Peru. To get there you must first organize a flight to Lima, the capital of the country. From Lima to Cusco the flight time is 1 hour. It is recommended to spend two or three nights in Cusco before making the trip to Machu Picchu.
• Other tours in Cusco – Cusco is not just Machu Picchu, so the itinerary should be organized to visit the other tourist attractions in the region. Highlights include places such as the city of Cusco, the Sacred Valley of the Incas, the Mountain of 7 Colors, the Humantay lagoon, the South Valley of Cusco and more.

Consettur bus ticket – Hop on and off

Questions and answers about visiting Machu Picchu in simple steps

• 1) Where to buy tickets to Machu Picchu?

  You can purchase this ticket on the website of the Ministry of Culture of Peru or through the website of a travel agency.

• 2) What is the most important step in organizing a trip to Machu Picchu?

  The most important step to go to Machu Picchu is to purchase the entrance ticket. If you choose to go with a tour, you should book one or two months in advance.

• 3) Where to buy train tickets to Machu Picchu?

  You can buy train tickets on the Per Rail or Inca Rail websites.

• 4) Where can I get the tour guide service in Machu Picchu?

  You can get this service at the entrance gate of Machu Picchu or on the website of a travel agency.

• 5) What are the three steps to go to Machu Picchu on my own?

  The steps are: a) buy the entrance to Machu Picchu, b) buy the train ticket and c) organize the hotels, buses, guide and so on.

• 6) How to get a hotel in Cusco and Machu Picchu?

  You can book a hotel online and in advance. In the city of Cusco there are 2, 3, 4 and 5 star hotels. It is recommended to book them online so you don’t have to drag your suitcases around on the day of your arrival. You can also choose to spend a night in the town of Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu town). There are also 2, 3, 4 and 5 star hotels there.

• 7) Can I organize my trip to Machu Picchu at the last minute?

  It is not recommended because the availability of tickets to Machu Picchu is limited. It is recommended to organize everything two or three months in advance.

• 8) How to organize the bus trip from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu?

  This ticket can be obtained in the town of Aguas Calientes at the time of the trip. It can also be purchased online. Availability is wide so there are no problems in doing it in person.

• 9) How do I organize the purchase of my ticket to Machu Picchu?

  You can make your purchase online with Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Diners Club, etc. debit or credit cards. It is recommended to do so two or three months in advance.

• 10) How do I organize my train trip to Machu Picchu?

  It is recommended to choose the train ticket according to the day and time of visit to Machu Picchu.

Advice from people who have been there

Machu Picchu

By: Juan T.

“Increíble experiencia“

“No soy muy bueno para describir mis experiencias, pero creo que basta con decir que fue una increíble. Es un lugar realmente asombroso, cada uno de sus rincones vale cada minuto que le dediques – del limitado tiempo –, aunque también creo que los boletos de tren son algo caros.“

By Ticket Machu Picchu – Last updated, November 21, 2024