A Machu Picchu ticket is the timed entrance permit to the citadel itself, sold directly by Peru's Ministry of Culture. It's the one booking in this entire trip that actually sells out. Here's what it covers, what it costs, and exactly where to buy it. This happens without wandering into flights, trains, Inca Trail permits, or circuit comparisons that already have their own dedicated guides linked below.
- Buy directly from the official government platform: machupicchu.gob.pe. This site routes you into the Ministry of Culture's booking system at tuboleto.cultura.pe to complete the purchase.
- The base entrance ticket runs roughly $45 to $60 for foreign adults; add-on hikes like Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain cost more on top of that. Government pricing shifts periodically. Therefore, treat the official site as the source of truth at checkout, not this page or any other.
- Daily visitors are capped at 4,500 in regular season and 5,600 in peak season (June through November plus certain holidays). Visitors are spread across 10 numbered sub-circuits.
- A ticket is not the same thing as an Inca Trail permit. If you're hiking in, see our Inca Trail permits guide instead.
What the Ticket Actually Covers
Every visitor needs a Machu Picchu entrance ticket: a specific date and a specific entry time slot, tied to the sub-circuit you booked. A licensed tour guide is required for entry. You can arrange a guide through an agency, in Cusco, or at the site. Your ticket also gets checked against your passport. So bring the same document you used to book.
This is separate from getting yourself to the site (train and bus logistics are covered in our how to travel to Machu Picchu guide). It is also separate from an Inca Trail permit, which is a trekking permit for the trail itself, not a citadel entry ticket. If you're hiking the Inca Trail, its permit already includes your Machu Picchu entry at the end. For cost, cap, and booking window, see our Inca Trail permits guide.
Ticket Types and Pricing
All tickets include entry to the main citadel. Add-ons unlock an extra hike or site. Each of these is mapped to a specific circuit, and each has its own separate, tighter daily cap.
| Ticket | What it adds | Book how far ahead |
|---|---|---|
| Machu Picchu Only | Citadel access, no additional hike | 2 to 4 weeks in most seasons |
| + Huayna Picchu | Steep 45-minute climb above the ruins, capped at roughly 400 visitors/day | 2 to 3 months |
| + Machu Picchu Mountain | Longer, less steep climb with panoramic Sacred Valley views | 1 to 2 months |
| + Huchuy Picchu | Shorter 30-minute hike, easier alternative to Huayna Picchu | 3 to 4 weeks |
| + Inca Bridge | Easy 30-minute walk to a stone bridge built into a cliff face | 2 to 4 weeks |
| + Museum | Adds the Machu Picchu Museum in Aguas Calientes | 2 to 4 weeks |
For a full breakdown of which circuit each add-on maps to, and which route suits your fitness level and time, see our Machu Picchu circuits guide.
How to Buy Yours
Book through machupicchu.gob.pe, the official government site, which hands off to the Ministry of Culture's own booking platform to complete your purchase. A small number of tickets are sometimes available in person at the Ministry of Culture office in Aguas Calientes, but treat that as a backup, not a plan. It means arriving without a confirmed date, and Machu Picchu has a well-documented problem with third-party sites designed to look official. For the full picture on spotting a fake booking site and why "guaranteed sold-out tickets" offers are a red flag, see our guide to avoiding Machu Picchu booking scams.
Machu Picchu Tickets: FAQ
How much does a Machu Picchu ticket cost?
Roughly $45 to $60 for the base foreign-adult ticket, more for hike add-ons like Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain. The Peruvian government adjusts pricing periodically, so check the official site at booking time for the exact current price rather than relying on any single article, including this one.
What is the best website to buy Machu Picchu tickets?
machupicchu.gob.pe is the official government site, which routes your purchase through the Ministry of Culture's own platform. That's the only channel we'd call fully reliable; see our scam-avoidance guide linked above for how to spot lookalike sites.
Is it hard to get tickets to Machu Picchu?
Not for a standard entry ticket booked a few weeks out in most seasons. It gets harder for the hiking add-ons: Huayna Picchu in particular is capped at around 400 visitors a day and is worth booking 2 to 3 months ahead. This is especially true if your travel dates fall in June through August.
When can I buy Machu Picchu tickets?
The government typically opens sales for a given year several months ahead, in stages, rather than all at once. Because the exact release schedule shifts year to year, check the official site directly for current availability rather than a specific advance date.
Want Your Tickets Handled For You?
Our 8-day Cusco to Machu Picchu package includes your entrance ticket, guide, and transport, already booked.
See the 8-Day Package →Source: machupicchu.gob.pe, official ticket portal.
Related Guides: Machu Picchu Circuits Explained, Avoid Machu Picchu Booking Scams, Inca Trail Permits: Cost, Cap & Booking Window, How to Travel to Machu Picchu, Machu Picchu Rules and Regulations.
