Many people with disabilities wonder if they can visit the Inca city of Machu Picchu. The answer is yes, however, there are some limitations. The Inca citadel does not have ramps so it is necessary the help of one or two people to overcome the stone steps. Know some recommendations to visit Machu Picchu if you are a person with some kind of physical disability.

• Can people with physical disabilities visit Machu Picchu?
• Which people with disabilities will need assistance to tour the Inca city of Machu Picchu?
• Which Machu Picchu ticket do we recommend to book?
• What is the best route to Machu Picchu for visitors with disabilities?
• Travel recommendations for people with disabilities
• Frequently asked questions about travel to Machu Picchu for visitors with disabilities.

A dream come true – A visit to Machu Picchu

Is there a special entrance to Machu Picchu?
Machu Picchu has 10 types of tickets: the Machu Picchu + Mountain ticket (Route 1A), Machu Picchu Classic Photo or Upper Terrace (Route 1B), Machu Picchu + Inti Punku (Route 1C), Machu Picchu + Inka Bridge (Route 1D), Machu Picchu Classic Circuit or Designed Classic (Route 2A), Machu Picchu Classic Circuit or Lower Terrace (Route 2B), Machu Picchu + Huayna Picchu Mountain or Waynapicchu (Route 3A), Machu Picchu Temples Lower Part or Designed Royalty (Route 3B), Machu Picchu + Temple of the Moon or Great Cavern (Route 3C), Machu Picchu + Huchuy Picchu (Route 3D). For a special visit, for example, in a wheelchair, it is recommended to choose tickets that allow you to take circuit 3, such as Machu Picchu Temples Lower Part or Designed Royalty (Route 3B).

Can people with physical disabilities visit Machu Picchu?

• Machu Picchu is a tourist destination suitable for everyone.
• However, due to its geography, the archaeological site does not have adequate access within the citadel for visitors with any type of physical disability.
• For example, in the Inca citadel there are only ramps for easy access for visitors in wheelchairs at the entrance.
• Despite this, it is still possible to visit Machu Picchu. Visitors with physical disabilities must hire a specialized travel agency or visit independently, always with the support of someone.
• However, to facilitate access for visitors in wheelchairs, visitors with physical disabilities, or senior citizens, a shorter route was created to facilitate travel. This is Circuit 3, which allows you to explore the buildings in the lower part of Machu Picchu.
• Machu Picchu is open to everyone, every day of the year from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Which people with disabilities will need assistance to tour the Inca city of Machu Picchu?

• Visitors with hearing disabilities will need a specialized tour guide who knows sign language. They will have no problem doing the classic circuit (1 or 2), which also allows them to reach the sector of the Guardian House and get the most famous picture of Machu Picchu.
• Visitors with mobility disabilities will require a guide and at least one other person to assist them while navigating the stone steps (there are no ramps at the archaeological site). They must complete Circuit 3 during their visit to Machu Picchu. This circuit allows them to explore the lower part of the Inca citadel, where they can enjoy a beautiful view and visit the stone buildings.
• Visitors with visual impairments require the assistance of a specialized tour guide. Guide dogs are permitted to enter the archaeological site. These visitors can take any of the three tours available. Tour 1 is recommended, which includes the classic postcard photo and a visit to most of the Inca buildings.
• All the buildings in the Machu Picchu citadel are made of stone, from the temples to the stairways and paths, everything is made of stone, so access can be difficult for people with severe disabilities.
• People who visit Machu Picchu at the same time as you will help you; however, if you come in a wheelchair or suffer from total blindness, you will need more than just the help of other visitors.

Which Machu Picchu ticket do we recommend to book?

These are the tickets to Machu Picchu and the recommendations, according to the type of physical disability:

• Machu Picchu + Mountain (Route 1A): Although the climb to Machu Picchu Mountain is less steep than Huayna Picchu, it is still a long hike. The need to climb to a viewpoint requires effort and travel on steep terrain.
• Machu Picchu Classic Photo or Upper Terrace (Route 1B): This tour ends at the Guardian’s House for the classic postcard photo. Although this is an iconic route, it includes steps leading to the upper terrace, which may be difficult for people with reduced mobility.
• Machu Picchu + Inti Punku (Route 1C): While it allows you to enjoy the Inca City and get an excellent photo opportunity at the Guardian’s House, it includes a 2-kilometer hike to Inti Punku. This route, although short, involves sustained effort and altitude changes that may not be suitable for those with mobility limitations.
• Machu Picchu + Inca Bridge (Route 1D): In addition to visiting the Inca city, this ticket requires an approximate 30-minute hike to reach the Inca Bridge. Although the hike is short, the route may include uneven roads that make it difficult for people with disabilities.
• Machu Picchu Classic or Designed Classic Circuit (Route 2A): Offers the same classic photo, but from a lower platform than the Guardian’s House. Being at a lower level, it presents fewer obstacles, making it somewhat more suitable.
• Machu Picchu Classic Circuit or Lower Terrace (Route 2B): This circuit combines classic photography from a lower terrace with a tour of the main temples. Like Route 2A, its lower level may improve accessibility, but it’s important to consider that there are uneven sections when touring the temples.
• Machu Picchu + Huayna Picchu (Route 3A): This ticket combines a visit to the lower temples with a climb up Huayna Picchu, a notoriously steep and physically demanding route, making it not recommended for people with reduced mobility.
• Machu Picchu Temples Lower Part or Designed Royalty (Route 3B): This tour focuses on the lower part of Machu Picchu, specifically the royal buildings. Because it is an area with a lower elevation and is located at the bottom of the archaeological site, physical obstacles are minimized, making it the most suitable option for people with disabilities.
• Machu Picchu + Temple of the Moon or Great Cavern (Route 3C): Includes a visit to the Inca City and a hike to the Temple of the Moon. This route requires minimal physical capacity to navigate, so it is not the most friendly option for those with mobility limitations.
• Machu Picchu + Huchuy Picchu (3D Route): This tour includes a hike to the summit of the small mountain, Huchuy Picchu. The climb, even though it’s a “small” mountain, involves physical effort and is not suitable for people with disabilities.

What is the best route to Machu Picchu for visitors with disabilities?

• There are three routes to reach Machu Picchu: a) the 4-day walking route through the Inca Trail, b) the alternative route by Hydroelectric in the jungle of Cusco, or c) the classic train route. The latter is the safest, fastest, and most suitable for people with physical disabilities.
• The train route starts in the city of Cusco. Usually, a trip is made by land transport to Ollantaytambo. There you board the train to the town of Aguas Calientes. Finally, the stretch to the entrance gate of Machu Picchu. This route takes a total of 4 hours.
• Unfortunately, however, many transportation services are not suitable for tourists with motor disabilities, such as visitors in wheelchairs.
• Tourist trains do not have ramps or internal spaces for wheelchairs. Tourists will need the support of the staff in charge of the train, both to access, to descend, and to settle into a seat.
• The same is true for the final stretch from Aguas Calientes to the entrance gate of Machu Picchu by tourist bus. It is recommended to have the support of a friend, partner, or family member.

Travel recommendations for people with disabilities

• Book Machu Picchu tickets in advance.
• Book train tickets in advance, they sell out very fast, so do it after booking Machu Picchu tickets.
• Book hotels, you will not like having to wander around the town of Aguas Calientes looking for a hotel, the streets are very steep and do not have wheelchair access. But you can find hotels very close to the train station.
• In case you need a wheelchair we recommend you come with at least 2 people to help you, do not forget that half of the tour of Machu Picchu is carried through stone steps.
• Yes, it is true that blind people cannot see the incredible structures of Machu Picchu, but if someone describes them to them they will be amazed. On the other hand, we know from experience that blind people are more sensitive to feeling the energy of Machu Picchu.

Frequently asked questions about travel to Machu Picchu for visitors with disabilities.

• 1) Does Machu Picchu have wheelchair access ramps?

  No, unfortunately, the archaeological site of Machu Picchu does not have wheelchair ramps. It is recommended to be accompanied by your guide, friends, partner, or family to negotiate the sections with stone steps.

• 2) Can I visit Machu Picchu with a guide dog?

  Although it is not allowed to enter Machu Picchu with dogs or pets, it is allowed in the case of guide dogs.

• 3) How to get a tour guide with knowledge of sign language?

  Guides with knowledge of sign language are very few in Machu Picchu. The best way to get one is to hire one through the internet with a specialized tourist agency in Cusco.

• 4) Does the train to Machu Picchu have wheelchair spaces?

  No, the train to Machu Picchu does not have wheelchair spaces. However, the staff on board will help you get to your seat in the best way possible.

• 5) Does the bus from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu have wheelchair ramps?

  No, the Consettur tourist bus that covers the Aguas Calientes – Machu Picchu route does not have access ramps or spaces for wheelchairs.

• 6) Can I enter Machu Picchu with walking sticks?

  People with motor disabilities can enter with canes or trekking poles, as long as they do not have metal tips.

• 7) What circuit to do in Machu Picchu if I go in a wheelchair?

  For tourists visiting Machu Picchu in a wheelchair, the best option is to choose circuit 2 or 3, which allow for a shorter but more accessible tour.

• 8) Which circuit can I do in Machu Picchu if I am visually impaired?

  Visually impaired tourists can take any tour of Machu Picchu, provided they are accompanied by a tour guide.

Advice from people who have been there

Machu Picchu

By: Juan A.

“Incredible stone city“

“I recommend taking the first buses in the morning, this can make you find Machu Picchu with fewer people. And Machu Picchu with few people is a treat.“

By Ticket Machu Picchu – Last updated, March 26, 2025