If you plan to travel to Cusco, one of the best-kept secrets to make the most of your stay is the Cusco Tourist Ticket. This pass allows you to access a wide variety of archaeological sites, museums, and monuments, connecting history, culture, and nature in a single experience.
What is the Cusco Tourist Ticket and why is it convenient?
The Cusco Tourist Ticket is a personal document that offers you access to multiple tourist attractions in the Cusco region. It is not just an “input”, but a tool designed to:
- Make it easy to visit numerous sites without having to buy individual tickets.
- Promote heritage conservation and local sustainable development.
- Make your tourist route more comfortable, especially if you have several days to travel.
With it you can explore more than 16 emblematic sites, such as Sacsayhuamán, Pisac, Ollantaytambo, Moray, Chinchero, Tipon, museums such as the Museum of Contemporary Art, the Qorikancha Site Museum and others.
Types of tourist ticket
There are several options here. The first is the Integral Tourist Ticket, which is valid for 10 calendar days and includes the 16 main sites:
- Sacsayhuamán
- What a mess
- Puka Pukara
- Tambomachay
- Coricancha (Temple of the Sun)
- Cusco Regional Museum
- Regional Historical Museum
- Museum of Pre-Columbian Art
- Inka Museum
- Museum of Contemporary Art
- Ollantaytambo
- Pisac
- Chinchero
- Moray
- Tipón
- Pikillaqta
If you don’t plan to visit everything or your time is limited, you can opt for partial circuits:
- Circuit I: valid for 1 day, includes archaeological sites around Cusco (Sacsayhuamán, Q’enqo, Puca Pucara, Tambomachay).
- Circuit II: valid for 2 days, covers some museums in the historic center and sites in the south valley.
- Circuit III: valid for 2 days, ideal for visiting the archaeological centers of the Sacred Valley (Pisac, Ollantaytambo, Chinchero, Moray).
| Feature | Integral Ticket | Circuit I (Partial) | Circuit II (Partial) | Circuit III (Partial) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sites Included | 16 main sites: Sacsayhuamán, Qenqo, Puka Pukara, Tambomachay, Coricancha, Cusco Regional Museum, Regional Historical Museum, Museum of Pre-Columbian Art, Inka Museum, Museum of Contemporary Art, Ollantaytambo, Pisac, Chinchero, Moray, Tipón, Pikillaqta | Sacsayhuamán, Qenqo, Puka Pukara, Tambomachay | Museums in the historic center and sites of the South Valley: Coricancha, Regional Museum, Regional Historical Museum, Museum of Pre-Columbian Art, Inka Museum, Museum of Contemporary Art | Archaeological sites of the Sacred Valley: Pisac, Ollantaytambo, Chinchero, Moray |
| Duration / Validity | 10 days | 1 day | 2 days | 2 days |
| Approach | Complete, includes archaeology, museums and cultural centers | Archaeological sites near Cusco | Downtown Museums and Historic Sites | Archaeology and culture of the Sacred Valley |
| Approximate price (foreigners) | S/ 130 (~US$34) | S/ 70 (~US$19) | S/ 70 (~US$19) | S/ 70 (~US$19) |
| Approximate price (domestic) | S/ 70 | S/ 40 | S/ 40 | S/ 40 |
| Ideal for | Multi-day visitors who want to see everything | Those who are short on time and want the essentials | Interested in museums and urban heritage | Those looking to explore the Sacred Valley with ease |
| Restrictions | Single use per site, personal ticket | Single use per site, personal ticket | Single use per site, personal ticket | Single use per site, person ticket |
Recommendations before buying
To get the most out of it:
- Check the validity of the ticket you are going to purchase.
- Plan which sites you want to visit to decide between full or partial ticket.
- The ticket does not include a guide or transportation, these services will be managed separately.
- Bring your identity card or passport, as you will be asked for it both to buy and to enter.
- Consider travel times between sites (attractions are distributed in different valleys and areas).
- If you’re not interested in visiting all the sites, a partial ticket may be more efficient and cheaper.
How many days do you need to explore Cusco?
To really soak up the essence of Cusco, a minimum stay of 4 days is recommended. This time allows you to visit the most emblematic places and enjoy the historical, cultural and natural wealth of the region without haste.
With a visit of this duration, you will be able to explore the historic center of Cusco, including the Plaza de Armas, the Cathedral and the ancient Qorikancha, where Inca and colonial history are uniquely combined. You will also have time to take the Cusco City Tour, which includes the impressive archaeological sites nearby: Sacsayhuamán, Q’enqo, Puca Pucara and Tambomachay.
In addition, it is possible to visit the Sacred Valley of the Incas, visiting Pisac, Ollantaytambo, Moray and Chinchero, to appreciate the architecture, traditional agriculture and landscapes that have fascinated travelers for centuries.
If your stay extends beyond 4 days, you can add excursions such as the Mountain of 7 Colors, the Humantay Lagoon or alternative routes to Machu Picchu, thus completing an unforgettable experience of Cusco and its surroundings.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’S)
The BTC is a personal pass that allows you to visit a number of archaeological sites, museums, and monuments in the Cusco region without having to buy individual tickets for each.
It serves both to make the visit more comfortable and to support the conservation of local heritage.
There are at least four options:
The “Comprehensive” ticket that lasts 10 days and covers ~16 main sites.
Three partial tickets: Circuit I (1 day, main archaeological sites nearby), Circuit II (2 days, museums and sites of the historic center) and Circuit III (2 days, sites of the Sacred Valley).
It depends on the type: the “Integral” lasts for 10 calendar days. The partials are valid for 1 or 2 days depending on the circuit. It is key to make sure of validity when buying.
The ticket usually does not include a guide, transportation, or other services other than entrance to the sites. You also can’t use it more than once in the same place; is “Site Use Only.”
A minimum stay of 4 days is recommended to be able to visit both the center of Cusco and the nearby archaeological sites and perhaps start the Sacred Valley. If you stay longer, you can add additional excursions.
Prices vary according to nationality (national vs foreign) and type of circuit. Approximate example: for foreigners, the “Integral” ticket costs ~ S/ 130 (~US$34). It is important to confirm the updated values before buying.
