Machu Picchu Circuits and Tickets Explained

To protect the citadel, the Peruvian Ministry of Culture regulates every visit to Machu Picchu. You enter at a fixed time on a fixed circuit, with a limited number of visitors per day. Here is an overview.

The three circuits

• Circuit 1 – Panoramic: Leads to the upper terraces with the classic postcard view of Machu Picchu. In high season, routes to the Sun Gate (Inti Punku) and the Inca Bridge are also available.
• Circuit 2 – Classic: The most complete route through the citadel, with the main temples, plazas and residential areas plus the lower terraces. A good choice for a first visit.
• Circuit 3 – Royalty: Focuses on the lower part of the site with the royal quarters and temples; in high season it can be combined with the Huchuy Picchu route.

Each circuit is a one-way route – you cannot go back or switch circuits once you are inside.

Mountains: Huayna Picchu and more

Huayna Picchu, Machu Picchu Mountain and the Great Cavern trail are separate routes with their own, very limited tickets. They are steep and exposed and require good fitness and a head for heights.

Visitor limits, tickets and entry

As of October 2026, the number of visitors per day is capped at 5,600 in high season (roughly mid-June to early November) and 4,500 for the rest of the year. These limits apply until the Ministry of Culture publishes the rules for 2027, which usually happens by ministerial resolution towards the end of the previous year. We will update this post as soon as the new rules are out.

• Fixed entry window: Every ticket is valid for a one-hour entry slot with about 30 minutes of grace. Once you leave the site, you cannot re-enter.
• Official channels only: Since late September 2026 (initially as a trial), tickets are sold only through the Ministry of Culture’s official platform and authorised sales points. They are issued in your name and passport number and must be paid in full within a few minutes – unpaid slots are released again.
• Last-minute tickets on site: Around 1,000 tickets a day are sold in Machupicchu Pueblo (Aguas Calientes) for the following day – a fallback, not a plan.
• Inca Trail: Since 2026, Inca Trail trekkers need a separate circuit ticket for their arrival day and enter via Circuit 3-B. On our treks, we take care of this for you.
• With a guide: Officially, visits are only allowed with a licensed guide – and a guide brings the site to life anyway.

Tips from our guides

• Book early: Tickets for popular circuits and Huayna Picchu sell out weeks or months ahead in the dry season.
• Bring your original passport – it is checked at the entrance.
• Take the first buses from Aguas Calientes for the morning light and fewer crowds.
• Large backpacks (over approx. 40 × 35 × 20 cm), tripods, drones, food and single-use plastics are not allowed inside – a small daypack is fine.

On all our tours, we take care of tickets, buses and your guide – you can simply enjoy the visit. See our Machu Picchu tours and Inca Trail treks.