Machu Picchu tickets for 2026 will be available throughout this year. According to the Ministry of Culture, the price of tickets to Machu Picchu will increase by S/20 (approximately USD 8) in 2026. This additional fee includes entry to the natural panoramic areas managed by SERNANP.
The Machu Picchu tickets for 2026 have no changes in the circuits. Availability is set at 4,500 tickets per day during the low season and 5,600 tickets per day in the high season. Additionally, 1,000 last-minute tickets will be available daily in the town of Aguas Calientes.
If you plan to visit Machu Picchu in 2026, we strongly recommend booking your ticket in advance. In 2025, tickets sold out up to seven months in advance, and leaving many travelers were unable to visit the Inca citadel during peak season due to high demand and limited availability.
Machu Picchu Tickets 2026: Availability and Important Updates
The 2026 Machu Picchu tickets are categorized by circuits, and the site is divided into three main circuits. These circuits offer a total of 10 different routes, each providing unique viewpoints from which to admire Machu Picchu.
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Circuit 2 Machu Picchu |
Which Machu Picchu Ticket Should I Get?
Currently, Circuit 2 Machu Picchu is the most popular option. It has only 500 tickets available per day, divided into two scheduled entry times.
This circuit is split into two routes:
Route A: The classic route, which allows you to explore the entire Inca citadel, starting from the Guardian House, where you can take the iconic panoramic photo.
Route B: A shorter route that covers the lower terraces of Machu Picchu, but still offers the opportunity to take the classic postcard photo of the site.
What Will the Cost of a Machu Picchu Ticket Be in 2026?
In 2026, ticket prices are expected to increase by S/20 (approximately USD 8). This additional fee includes access to the natural panoramic areas managed by SERNANP. Full pricing details will be confirmed by the Ministry of Culture on the official Machu Picchu website.
| Circuits | Route | Price |
| Circuit 1 Machu Picchu | Route A: Mount Machu Picchu | U$ 80 |
| Route B: Panoramic Machu Picchu | U$ 62 | |
| Route C: Inti Punko | U$ 62 | |
| Route D: Puente Inca | U$ 62 | |
| Circuit 2 Machu Picchu | Route A: Classic Machu Picchu | U$ 62 |
| Route B: Lower Terrace | U$ 62 | |
| Circuit 3 Machu Picchu | Route A: Huayna Picchu | U$ 80 |
| Route B: Royalty | U$ 62 | |
| Route C: Great Cavern | U$ 80 | |
| Route D. Huchuy Picchu | U$ 80 |
RELATED INFO: MACHU PICCHU CIRCUITS 2026
How to choose the type of entrance to Machu Picchu?
The basic entrance ticket allows access to the Inca citadel, but does not include climbing any of the surrounding mountains. Please note that this ticket is one-way only. Once you exit, you cannot return to the starting point.
Which Machu Picchu Ticket Is Best?
As mentioned earlier, Circuit 2 Machu Picchu is the most popular ticket option. This ticket allows access to the classic viewpoints and a more complete tour of the Inca citadel. However, availability is limited, and tickets often sell out months in advance.
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Machu Picchu: Circuit 2 |
If Circuit 2 is sold out, the next best recommended option is Circuit 3 Machu Picchu Royalty. This circuit allows you to explore the lower part of the Inca citadel, where you can visit important sites such as the Temple of the Sun and the Temple of the Condor.
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Machu Picchu: Circuit 3 |
Huayna Picchu Ticket
This Circuit 3 Machu Picchu ticket includes entry to the citadel and the Huayna Picchu Mountain, which is one of the most popular hikes among visitors. The trail has an elevation gain of approximately 300 meters. You must select one of two available time slots:
First Shift: 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.
Second Shift: 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Machu Picchu Mountain Ticket
This ticket includes entry to the citadel and access to Machu Picchu Mountain, the highest mountain in the area at 3,061 meters above sea level. It is less frequented than Huayna Picchu. The hike involves a significant elevation gain of approximately 500 meters, so being in good physical condition is recommended.
First Shift: 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m.
Second Shift: 09:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.
How to Buy an Entrance Ticket to Machu Picchu
If you’re not planning to purchase your ticket through a tour operator, which is highly recommended to avoid inconveniences, you should be aware of potential issues with the official website. The Ministry of Culture’s website often has reservation issues, and sometimes travelers have paid but never received confirmation. In past years, travelers have arrived at Machu Picchu only to find that their tickets were invalid. To resolve these issues, travelers were forced to return to Cusco, where the Ministry of Culture's main office is located. There is also a central office in Lima.
Buying Tickets on Your Own
If you're confident and still wish to buy your ticket independently, it’s very important to use the Ministry of Culture's official website: tuboleto.cultura.pe. Create an account, and you can purchase up to five tickets per account.
Adult Tickets
You can make a reservation on the official site and pay online with a VISA card, or pay in person at Banco de la Nación in Peru. Note that the reservation is only valid for three hours.
If you pay by credit card, note that a bank commission will be added depending on your card.
redit card, note that a bank commission will be added, depending on your card.
Student Tickets
Student tickets must be purchased in person at the Ministry of Culture office in Cusco:
📍 Garcilaso Street S/N, Casa Garcilaso Museum
🕒 Monday to Saturday, from 7:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
More Information: How to Buy Machu Picchu Tickets for 2026
Ticket to Inca Trail 2026
According to the Ministry of Culture's new 2026 regulations, entry tickets to Machu Picchu will no longer be included with the Inca Trail permit. This means travelers must purchase a separate ticket to visit the Inca citadel.
This change is especially important for last-minute bookings, as there’s a risk that Machu Picchu entry tickets — particularly for the most popular circuits — may be sold out, preventing hikers from visiting the site after completing the trek.
Many Inca Trail tour operators disagree with this new rule because it complicates matters for travelers. They will now need to purchase Machu Picchu tickets separately. Due to limited availability, their clients may miss out on the preferred circuits or be forced to hire a different tour guide, which could alter the planned experience.
If you plan to hike the Inca Trail in 2026, it is essential to book well in advance for both the trail permit and the Machu Picchu entrance ticket.
The Inca Trail Ticket Does Not Include Huayna Picchu
The Inca Trail permit does not include entry to Huayna Picchu. If you want to climb this mountain, it is important to purchase the Circuit 3 + Huayna Picchu ticket. This ticket allows you to explore the lower part of the Inca citadel before walking to the Huayna Picchu entrance gate for the hike.
Adding this experience to your Inca Trail journey is an excellent option for travelers who want to see Machu Picchu from a different and more elevated perspective.
How long is the entry ticket to Machu Picchu valid?
The ticket is valid for one day, specifically the date selected during the online reservation process.
No refunds are available unless the Ministry of Culture cancels entry to the archaeological site.
Additionally, it is not possible to change the name or date on the ticket once it has been issued.
How long can you stay in Machu Picchu?
According to current Machu Picchu rules 2026, the amount of time you can stay inside the citadel depends on the circuit and type of ticket you choose.
- Classic circuits allow you to stay inside the archaeological site for approximately 2 to 3 hours.
- Mountain tickets, such as those for Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain, allow for a longer visit, typically 5 to 7 hours, including the time required to complete the hike.
Machu Picchu Museum Tickets
The museum of Machu Picchu called Museo de Sitio Manuel Chávez Ballón is located in Aguas Calientes. It houses a collection of pieces found at Machu Picchu. This allows you to learn more about the history of the citadel as well as the Inca Empire. All details are explained carefully. It also offers an interesting multimedia exhibition. The Machu Picchu + Museum Tickets provide with a unique and complete cultural experience since one is enable to travel back in time to the era when the Incas inhabited Machu Picchu.
Opening hours of the museum:
Monday – Sunday: 9 am to 4:30 pm
The schedule of your visit depends on the shift you chose to enter Machu Picchu.
Cusco Machu Picchu tour
Hiking tours to Machu Picchu
Many are the routes that take you to Machu Picchu, but none is like the Inca Trail Tours, the most famous pedestrian path in the Americas. After flying from the capital of Perú, Lima, you will arrive in Cusco to walk for four days along a path through forests and dense fog, millenary stone steps and discovering the ruins of ancient fortifications and Inca cities, and all the time enjoying majestic views.
- Salkantay Trek 5 days
- Hiking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu 5 days
- Inca Quarry Trail 4 Days
- 2 Day Inca Trail Tour
- 2 Day Inca Trail with Camping
- 3 Day Inca Trail
- Vilcabamba Hike to Machu Picchu 6 days
- Choquequirao trek to Machu Picchu 9 days
- Ausangate trek 7 days
If you want to visit Machu Picchu, we recommend you to book your Machu Picchu Ticket in advance, so you will enjoy your Vacation in Machu Picchu without any problem.
When is the best time to hike to Machu Picchu?
The best season is during the dry season, which covers the months April to the end of September. In October the rains begin and you can find Machu Picchu covered by clouds. If you travel in June, we recommend you to book the Inti Raymi 2026 Tour that takes place in June 24th, and also hike the Palcoyo Mountain Tour, which is an incredible Rainbow Mountain located in the Andes.
