Because there are now ten types of tickets to Machu Picchu, visitors do not know which one to choose. Each ticket offers a different experience in the Inca citadel. From incredible hikes to almost complete tours of the main temples and stone buildings. And, of course, the classic photo of Machupicchu, the one that is shared on social networks. Most visitors prefer the Classic Machupicchu ticket that offers circuit 2 at the archaeological site. But there are other options. What is the type of ticket I should not choose for my visit?

• The new entrances to Machu Picchu: its circuits
• The entrance to Machu Picchu that the majority of tourists prefer
• The entrance to Machu Picchu that I should not choose. Why?
• When to choose the Machu Picchu Classic Photo ticket?
• Questions and answers about the entrance ticket to Machu Picchu Classic Photo

Traveler in Machu Picchu on a cloudy day

Why do most visitors prefer to do circuit 2 in Machu Picchu?
Most tourists prefer to do circuit 2 in Machu Picchu. This circuit is included in two entrance tickets: the Classic Machu Picchu entrance and the Machu Picchu Classic Lower Terrace entrance. Consequently, both tickets are the most requested by visitors, which also sell out faster. Circuit 2 allows the tour of most of the Inca temples, of the upper, middle and lower part, such as: the Temple of the Sun, the Main Temple, the Temple of the 3 Windows, the Sacred Rock, the Hall of Mirrors, the Water Fountains, the agricultural sector and more. Likewise, circuit 2 allows the visit to the House of the Watcher, also called the House of the Guardian. In this place, in the upper part of the archaeological site, you can get the classic photo in Machu Picchu, the most famous and shared on social networks. Circuit 2 can be completed in 2 hours or more, depending on the visitor’s pace. The purchase of the only two tickets that include this circuit can be done online. It is recommended to do it 2 or 3 months in advance, otherwise you run the risk of not finding availability for the preferred date.

The new entrances to Machu Picchu: its circuits

In 2024, the authorities of Machu Picchu – Peru’s Ministry of Culture, reorganized the visit to Machu Picchu into ten types of entrance tickets. The objective is to improve visitor traffic and, in this way, prevent the Inca citadel from collapsing in the future.

Each of the entrances to Machu Picchu allows you to make one of the three types of circuits in the archaeological site: circuit 1, circuit 2 or circuit 3. All circuits allow you to visit a part of the Inca city.

These are the ten entrances to Machu Picchu and the circuits they include:

• Entrance Machu Picchu Classic Photo – Includes circuit 1 in the archaeological site: sector of the Guardian’s House. It does not offer any additional trekking route.
• Entrance Machu Picchu Classic – Includes circuit 2 in the archaeological site: House of the Guardian (classic photo), Temple of the Sun, Main Temple, Temple of the 3 Windows, Sacred Rock, Water Mirrors, Sacred Fountains and Agricultural Sector. It does not offer any additional trekking routes.
• Entrance Machu Picchu Classic lower terrace – Includes circuit 2 in the archaeological site: House of the Guardian (classic photo from lower terrace), Temple of the Sun, Main Temple, Temple of the 3 Windows, Sacred Rock, Water Mirrors, Sacred Fountains and Agricultural Sector. It does not offer any additional trekking route.
• Entrance Machu Picchu Lower Temples – Includes circuit 3 in the archaeological site: Royal Tomb, Temple of the Sun, House of the Inca, Three Gates, Temple of the Condor, Sacred Fountains and Agricultural Sector (postcard photo). It does not offer any additional trekking routes.
• Entrance Machu Picchu with Huayna Picchu – Includes circuit 3 in the archaeological site: Royal Tomb, Temple of the Sun, House of the Inca, Three Gates, Sacred Rock, Temple of the Condor, Sacred Fountains and Agricultural Sector (postcard photo). It also includes the hike to the top of Huayna Picchu Mountain.
• Entrance Machu Picchu with Mountain – Includes circuit 1 in the archaeological site: sector of the Guardian’s House (classic postcard photo). It also includes the hike to the top of the Machupicchu mountain.
• Entrance Machu Picchu with Huchuy Picchu – Includes circuit 3 in the archaeological site: Royal Tomb, Temple of the Sun, House of the Inca, Three Gates, Sacred Rock, Temple of the Condor, Sacred Fountains and Agricultural Sector (postcard photo). It also includes the hike to the top of the mountain Huchuy Picchu.
• Entrance Machu Picchu with Inca Bridge – Includes circuit 1 in the archaeological site: sector of the Guardian’s House (classic postcard photo). It also includes the hike to the Inca Bridge of Machu Picchu.
• Entrance to Machu Picchu with Intipunku – Includes circuit 1 in the archaeological site: sector of the Guardian’s House (classic postcard photo). It also includes the hike to Intipunku (the Sun Gate of Machu Picchu).
• Entrance to Machu Picchu with Temple of the Moon – Includes circuit 3 in the archaeological site: Royal Tomb, Temple of the Sun, House of the Inca, Three Gates, Sacred Rock, Temple of the Condor, Sacred Fountains and Agricultural Sector (postcard photo). It also includes the hike to the Temple of the Moon (the Great Cavern).

Tourist photographing from the Guardian’s House

The entrance to Machu Picchu that the majority of tourists prefer

According to tourism experts, most first-time visitors to Machu Picchu prefer to purchase the ‘Machu Picchu Classic’ or ‘Machu Picchu Classic Lower Terrace’ tickets.

Both tickets allow you to do circuit 2, the most recommended circuit in the Inca citadel for two main reasons: it allows you to take the classic postcard photo in Machu Picchu (in the Guardian’s House) and to visit most of the Inca constructions in the upper, middle and lower parts of the archaeological site.

Therefore, it is recommended to purchase these tickets online with an average of two or three months in advance. Otherwise, there is a risk of not finding current availability. Both tickets usually sell out earlier than other types of tickets.

Likewise, adventurous visitors also like to choose the ‘Machu Picchu with Huayna Picchu’ type of ticket, which allows you to do circuit 3 of Machu Picchu (route through the temples of the lower part not included in circuit 2), as well as the hike to the famous Huayna Picchu mountain. This hike is one of the most memorable in the visit to the Inca citadel.

Therefore, many visitors prefer to choose up to three types of tickets: a) the Classic Machu Picchu ticket, b) the Classic Machu Picchu lower terrace ticket and c) the Machu Picchu with Huayna Picchu ticket.

Map of Machu Picchu Circuit 2

The entrance to Machu Picchu that I should not choose. Why?

According to the experience of visitors who have already visited Machu Picchu, the ‘Machu Picchu Classic Photo’ ticket is the one that fewer visitors prefer. The reason? The ticket offers the shortest and easiest experience in the Inca citadel. It is a route of 1 hour or less in which you climb stone steps up to the Casa del Vigilante (also called the Guardian’s House). After taking the postcard photo, seeing the scenery of the Inca city and, if you hired one, receive the explanation of the tour guide, it is time to descend more stone stairs to retire.

These are the prices of the Machu Picchu Classic Photo ticket:

These are the Machu Picchu Classic Photo ticket schedules:

• Group 1 (from 6 to 7 am).
• Group 2 (from 7 to 8 am).
• Group 3 (from 8 to 9 am).
• Group 4 (from 9 to 10 am).
• Group 5 (from 10 to 11 am).
• Group 6 (from 11 am to 12 pm).
• Group 7 (from 12 to 1 pm).
• Group 8 (from 1 to 2 pm).
• Group 9 (from 2 to 3 pm).
• Group 10 (from 3 to 4 pm).

Map of the shortest route to Machu Picchu

When to choose the Machu Picchu Classic Photo ticket?

Although the Machu Picchu Classic Photo ticket is the ticket that fewer visitors prefer on their trip to Machu Picchu, it is sometimes the ticket of choice for tourists.

• Last minute trip to Machu Picchu – Most visitors who choose the Machu Picchu Classic Photo ticket do so because they found no other option. Many did not buy their tickets on time and wait for the last days or weeks to get their ticket. In those cases, the only ticket that has availability is precisely the ‘Machu Picchu Classic Photo’ ticket.
• Complement the visit to Machu Picchu with another ticket – Sometimes visitors decide to choose the ‘Machu Picchu Classic Photo’ ticket to complement their route with another ticket. Generally they do it to complement the routes to the Huayna Picchu, Huchuy Picchu or the Great Cavern. These routes do not include the classic photo of Machu Picchu that the ‘Machu Picchu Classic Photo’ ticket offers.

Tourist observing Machu Picchu from the Guardian’s House

Questions and answers about the entrance ticket to Machu Picchu Classic Photo

• 1) Which is the ticket that tourists prefer the least in their visit to Machu Picchu?

  The Machu Picchu Classic Photo ticket is the ticket that the fewest visitors choose when visiting Machu Picchu.

• 2) And what is the ticket that most tourists prefer when visiting Machu Picchu?

  The Classic Machu Picchu ticket and the Machu Picchu Classic lower terrace ticket is the one that most visitors choose when visiting Machu Picchu.

• 3) How much does the Machu Picchu Classic Photo ticket cost?

  This ticket costs 152 Peruvian soles for foreign adults and 64 Peruvian soles for adults from the Andean Community of Nations: Peru, Colombia, Ecuador and Bolivia.

• 4) What circuit does the Machu Picchu Classic Photo ticket include?

  This ticket offers circuit 1 in the archaeological site of Machu Picchu.

• 5) What discounts does the Machu Picchu Classic Photo ticket offer?

  The ticket offers discounts for visitors under 18 years old, for university students under 25 years old (undergraduate students), as well as citizens of the Andean Community of Nations: Peru, Colombia, Ecuador or Bolivia.

• 6) What are the entrance hours for the Machu Picchu Classic Photo ticket?

  The visiting hours for this type of ticket are: Entrance hours: Group 1 (from 6 to 7 am) Group 2 (from 7 to 8 am) Group 3 (from 8 to 9 am). Group 4 (from 9 to 10 am) Group 5 (from 10 to 11 am) Group 6 (from 11 to 12 pm). Group 7 (from 12 noon to 1 pm) Group 8 (from 1 to 2 pm) Group 9 (from 2 to 3 pm) Group 10 (from 3 to 4 pm).

• 7) How long can I stay in Machu Picchu with the Machu Picchu Classic Photo ticket?

  This ticket allows a maximum visit of 2 hours in Machu Picchu. Usually circuit 1 is completed in 1 hour or so.

• 8) What Inca constructions can I see with the Machu Picchu Classic Photo ticket?

  This ticket only includes the visit to the Casa del Vigilante, the famous Casa del Guardián where the classic postcard photo is taken.

• 9) How can I buy the Machu Picchu Classic Photo ticket?

  You can buy the ticket online from the official website of the Ministry of Culture of Peru or through the website of an authorized tourist agency.

• 10) Can I buy my Machu Picchu Classic Photo ticket in Cusco?

  Yes, the ticket can be purchased at the authorized offices in Cusco or Aguas Calientes. However, due to limited availability it is recommended to do it online.

Advice from people who have been there

Machu Picchu

By: Selena B.

“Excellent“

“Machu Picchu was on my list for a long time. I finally made it and in what a way by visiting the Huayna Picchu.“

By Ticket Machu Picchu – Last updated, September 27, 2024