Machu Picchu tickets 2026: how and when to buy them

Machu Picchu tickets are bought on Tu Boleto, the official site of Peru's Ministry of Culture, or through an agency, always in your name and with your passport number. What goes wrong most is not where you buy them but when: in high season the good tickets sell out months in advance. Here is how to buy them, how far ahead, and the mistakes we see every week at the entrance checkpoint.

Where to buy Machu Picchu tickets

There are three ways, and it helps to know what each one offers:

• Tu Boleto (official site): the Ministry of Culture's platform. You choose Machu Picchu, the date, the circuit, the route and the time, and pay online. Be wary of look-alike sites that charge extra.
• A travel agency: buys the ticket for you and coordinates it with the train, the bus and the guide. The most practical option if you don't want to work out the timings.
• In person in Aguas Calientes: the Ministry sells a limited number each day in town, usually for the following day. It is a backup, not a plan: nothing is guaranteed and in high season you may wait several days.

There is no ticket office in Cusco where you can buy a Machu Picchu ticket on arrival, so don't count on that.

How far ahead to book

Daily capacity is limited, and how early you need to book depends on the season and on what you want to see:

• High season (June to October) and holidays: 3 to 4 months ahead. Circuit 2, the most popular, sells out first.
• Shoulder season (April, May and November): 1 to 2 months ahead.
• Rainy season (December to March): there is usually space a few weeks out, but Easter and New Year fill up like high season.
• Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain: as early as possible in any season. Spots are minimal.

If you haven't picked your dates yet, the best time to visit Cusco and Machu Picchu compares weather, crowds and prices month by month.

What you choose when you buy: circuit, route and time

You don't just ask for "a Machu Picchu ticket": you choose one of the 3 circuits, a route within that circuit and an entry time. Routes are one-way and you can't switch between them inside the citadel, so that choice decides what you will see.

• Circuit 1 (Panoramic): the view from above and Machu Picchu Mountain.
• Circuit 2 (Classic): the classic photo and the temples; the one we recommend for a first visit.
• Circuit 3 (Royalty): the lower sector and Huayna Picchu.

What exactly you see on each one and which suits you best is in Machu Picchu circuits: which one to choose. For the time slot, think about how you get there: on a day trip from Cusco you enter mid-morning or around noon; to get in very early you need to sleep in Aguas Calientes, as we explain in sleep in Aguas Calientes or return to Cusco.

Tickets with Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain

Neither mountain is bought separately on the day: each one comes with a specific route and is booked together with your ticket.

• Huayna Picchu: the pointed peak behind the citadel in every photo. It belongs to Circuit 3, has very few daily spots and a steep climb on narrow steps. Not for anyone with vertigo.
• Machu Picchu Mountain: part of Circuit 1. It is higher and the hike is longer, but the gradient is steadier, and it has a few more spots.

If you can't get either, don't rearrange your trip for it: the guided visit to the citadel is what really matters.

Mistakes that can keep you out

We see these every week at the entrance checkpoint:

1. Misspelled details: the name or passport number doesn't match the document. Check every letter before you pay.
2. A different or forgotten passport: if you renewed your passport after buying, sort it out in advance. And bring the original, not a photo.
3. Arriving late for your slot: there is a short grace period, currently around 30 minutes. Allow extra time for the train and the bus queue.
4. Thinking you can leave and come back in: there is no re-entry. The restrooms are at the entrance, outside the citadel.
5. Buying from a fake website: if it isn't Tu Boleto or an agency you know, be suspicious.

What to carry that day and which items aren't allowed in is covered in what to pack in your backpack for Machu Picchu.

Buying on your own or through an agency

Buying on your own on Tu Boleto works well if you are clear on the circuit, the time and how you will get there. The challenge is that the ticket, the train to Aguas Calientes and the bus up to the citadel each have schedules that must fit together, and if one fails, the rest falls apart.

With an agency you buy it all together and someone answers if anything changes. On our tours, such as Machu Picchu Day Trip on the Vistadome Train, we arrange the ticket subject to availability and coordinate the panoramic train from Ollantaytambo, the bus and the official guide. You can compare all the ways to get there in how to get to Machu Picchu.

Entry to Machu Picchu is always subject to availability: the earlier you book, the more circuits and time slots you'll have to choose from.

Frequently asked questions

Where can I buy official Machu Picchu tickets?

On Tu Boleto, the official platform of Peru's Ministry of Culture, or through a travel agency. There is also a limited number sold in person in Aguas Calientes, with no guaranteed availability.

Can I buy a Machu Picchu ticket on the same day?

In practice, almost never. In-person sales in Aguas Calientes are usually for the next day and the quota is small. The safe option is to buy online in advance.

Do I need my passport to enter Machu Picchu?

Yes. The ticket is personal, and at the checkpoint they verify that the name and number match your original passport.

What happens if I arrive late for my entry time?

There is a short grace period, currently around 30 minutes. After that you may be refused entry, so allow plenty of time for the train and the bus.

Can I change the date or time of my ticket?

Change conditions are set by the Ministry of Culture and are not always allowed. Before paying, double-check the date, circuit and time, and confirm the current policy on Tu Boleto.