Machu Picchu is one of the best tourist attractions in South America and the world. It was an Inca citadel that served as a religious center, a sporadic palace of the Inca, and an Inca strategic point with their domains in the east. Touring all its stone constructions can take all day. Today the authorities have arranged the visit in four different circuits, as well as optional routes to the mountains surrounding the archaeological site. So, to visit all or almost all of Machu Picchu, it is necessary to choose the right circuit and type of entrance ticket. Learn how to do it!

• The constructions of Machu Picchu
• All the tickets and circuits of Machu Picchu
• Which ticket and which circuit to choose to visit all of Machu Picchu?
• The optional routes in Machu Picchu
• Tips for a satisfactory visit to Machu Picchu
• Questions and answers

Machu Picchu archaeological site

What is the best circuit in Machu Picchu?
In total, there are four circuits in Machu Picchu. Each circuit belongs to a different type of entrance ticket to the Inca city. The most requested ticket by tourists is the ‘Machupicchu Solo’ ticket, which allows you to do Circuit 2 in the Inca citadel. This circuit is considered the best because it allows you to see most of the stone constructions, as well as the classic postcard photo from the sector of the Guardian’s House. The most famous Inca constructions included are the Temple of the Sun, the Main Temple, the Temple of the 3 Windows, the Intihuatana, the Sacred Rock, and the Temple of the Condor. However, this circuit does not allow you to visit other buildings such as the House of the Inca, or to take alternative trekking routes such as the Inca Bridge, the Machu Picchu Mountain, the Huchuy Picchu Mountain, or the famous Huayna Picchu.

The constructions of Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu is an Inca city built in 1450 A.D. by orders of the emperor Pachacutec to be a religious and urban center of importance in his eastern domains, in the upper Amazon jungle.

The Inca citadel covers an area 540 meters long by 200 meters wide. However, its constructions extend higher, in the mountains surrounding the citadel. In addition, under its terraces and terraces, the Incas built a solid base made of stone that keeps it in good condition until today despite earthquakes, heavy rains, and the passage of time.

A total of 172 stone constructions have been recorded including famous enclosures, such as the Temple of the Sun, the Main Temple, the Intihuatana, the Temple of the 3 Windows, the Sacred Rock, the Temple of the Condor, and more.

Most of the Inca constructions are agricultural terraces and terraces, which extend mainly into the lower part of the citadel. Even many terraces are waiting to be excavated and put in value. In the upper part, there are also Inca roads or qhapac ñan, which allowed access to and from the city in Inca times.

Most of the Inca constructions are located in the urban and religious center of Machu Picchu. However, you can also find roads, stairways, platforms, and some temples in the mountains. For example in the Huayna Picchu mountain stands out a little-known construction called The Great Cavern or Temple of the Moon.

It is estimated that touring all of Machu Picchu would take a whole day, about 10 hours. Only the archaeological site, with the main temples and constructions, takes 3 or 4 hours. The most difficult part is to walk around the mountains, located 1 or 2 kilometers away. There are even some constructions whose tourist visit is currently prohibited, such as the route to the Temple of the Moon or the Intipunku. This last building can only be visited with the Inca Trail tour 4 or 2 days.

Guardian House – Entrance to Machu Picchu

All the tickets and circuits of Machu Picchu

There are a total of five types of tickets to Machu Picchu, all of which allow different circuits of the archaeological site:

These are the prices and discounts for each of the entrances to Machu Picchu:

And these are the four circuits in Machu Picchu:

Which ticket and which circuit to choose to visit all of Machu Picchu?

The ticket ‘Machupicchu with Inca Bridge’ is the one that allows to observe more constructions in the visit to the Inca citadel. This type of ticket includes circuit 2 in the visit to the archaeological site. This circuit offers to know the most important Inca constructions, by the urban and religious sector: the House of the Guardian (where you get the classic photos), the Temple of the Sun, the Main Temple, the Temple of the 3 Windows, the Intihuatana, the Sacred Rock, the Temple of the Condor, the Water Mirrors, the Water Fountains and the Agricultural Sector.

In addition, this ticket allows you to hike to one of the least known constructions in Machu Picchu: the Inca Bridge. This route is less than 1 kilometer by flat roads away from the citadel. At the end, you reach the eastern limit of the Inca enclosure, where the bridge that was removed in case of invasions stands out. The visit to the Inca Bridge is allowed to people of all ages.

However, the visitor still did not see a few Inca constructions that can only be seen from circuit 3 or 4. That is to say, to know more of the Inca citadel you will have to buy another ticket. The most recommended is the ticket ‘Machupicchu with Huayna Picchu’. This ticket offers the walk through circuit 4, which includes a visit to the Temple of the Sun (from the lower part) and the House of the Inca, a place that served as the residence of the emperor during his sporadic visits to Machu Picchu.

This ticket also allows you to hike to the top of the Huayna Picchu mountain. This route is known as the most adventurous in the Inca city as it runs almost 2 kilometers uphill to the top of the ‘Huayna’ with unforgettable scenic views. Currently, this entrance does not allow you to visit the Temple of the Moon (the Great Cavern) as it is closed to the public.

That is, the tickets that allow you to know more and better all Machu Picchu are: a) the ticket Machu Picchu with Inca Bridge and b) the ticket Machu Picchu with Huayna Picchu. Both can be purchased on the same day or for different days. The latter option is the most recommended. The only constructions you will not be able to see are the Intipunku (only available with the Inca Trail tour) and the peaks of the Machu Picchu and Huchuy Picchu mountains.

Machu Picchu tour circuit 2 + Inca Bridge

The optional routes in Machu Picchu

In addition to the visit to the archaeological site, the visit to Machu Picchu offers optional routes to the peaks of its mountains, as well as to the Inca Bridge:

• Optional route to Huayna Picchu – This hike of almost 2 kilometers covers hundreds of steps to the top of the Huayna Picchu mountain. Along the way, you will see terraces, terraces and stone buildings. It is suitable for people over 12 years old.
• Optional route to Machu Picchu mountain – This hike of a little more than 2 kilometers goes through trails and stone stairs to the top of Machu Picchu mountain (at the highest point of the site). From its paths, you can observe beautiful natural flora and fauna. It is suitable for visitors of all ages.
• Optional Huchuy Picchu mountain hike – This hike of just under 1 kilometer is the easiest and most accessible route. It runs along stone steps up a slope of Huayna Picchu, called Huchuy Picchu (small mountain). The route is suitable for visitors of all ages.
• Optional route to the Inca Bridge of Machu Picchu – This hike of a little less than 1 kilometer runs along flat trails but with frightening views until arriving at a viewpoint. From there you can see a wooden bridge over stone that marked the eastern exit of the Inca city. The hike is suitable for people of all ages.

Tips for a satisfactory visit to Machu Picchu

• If you want to visit all of Machu Picchu, choose one type of ticket for one day (for example Machu Picchu with Inca Bridge) and another for the next day (for example Machu Picchu with Huayna Picchu). This way you will be able to do the hikes with more energy.
• If you only have one day to see all of Machu Picchu, choose two entrances. The first is Machu Picchu with Huayna Picchu for the morning and the second is Machu Picchu with Inca Bridge for the afternoon. This way you will be able to better distribute your time.

Questions and answers

• 1) How to visit all of Machu Picchu?

  To tour all of Machu Picchu you must purchase five types of tickets: a) Machupicchu Solo, b) Machupicchu with Huayna Picchu, c) Machupicchu with Mountain, d) Machupicchu with Huchuy Picchu and e) Machupicchu with Inca Bridge.

• 2) Which circuit allows me to see all of Machu Picchu?

  Circuit 2 is the most complete as it includes the visit of most of the Inca constructions in Machu Picchu.

• 3) How to visit the Intipunku in Machu Picchu?

  The Intipunku or Sun Gate can only be visited by doing the Inca Trail, either in its 4 or 2 day version.

• 4) How to visit the Inca Bridge in Machu Picchu?

  This construction can only be visited by acquiring the ticket ‘Machupicchu with Inca Bridge’.

• 5) How to visit Huayna Picchu in Machu Picchu?

  This mountain can only be visited by acquiring the ‘Machupicchu with Huayna Picchu’ ticket.

• 6) How to visit the Machu Picchu mountain in Machu Picchu?

  This mountain can only be visited by acquiring the ‘Machupicchu with Mountain’ ticket.

• 7) How to visit the Inca’s House in Machu Picchu?

  This construction can be visited by acquiring two types of tickets: a) Machupicchu with Huayna Picchu or b) Machupicchu with Mountain.

• 8) How to visit the Huchuy Picchu mountain in Machu Picchu?

  This mountain can only be visited by acquiring the ‘Machupicchu with Huchuypicchu’ ticket.

• 9) How to visit the Temple of the Moon in Machu Picchu?

  This construction was included in the ‘Machupicchu with Huayna Picchu’ ticket, however, it is currently closed to the public.

• 10) How to visit the Guardian’s House in Machu Picchu?

  This construction is included in two types of tickets a) Machupicchu Solo or b) Machupicchu with Inca Bridge.

Advice from people who have been there

Machu Picchu

By: Ruth V.

“I would come back a thousand times“

“I just finished my visit to Machu Picchu with Franklin, a great guide, and I swear I would come back a thousand times, an experience worth living, the landscapes, the energy, the history, everything makes it memorable. I am sure I will be back soon.“

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