Every visit to Machu Picchu needs a named ticket for a specific date, time and route, bought on the Ministry of Culture’s official website. In 2026 a standard ticket costs S/152 for a foreign adult, plus the S/11 SERNANP conservation fee. Tickets for 2027 are expected to go on sale around October–November 2026, as the 2026 ones did. And if you are hiking the Inca Trail, you don’t buy one yourself: your entrance on route 3-B comes with your permit. Here is everything else, from prices and sell-out dates to buying step by step and the mistakes we see every season.
- S/152 + S/11standard ticket for a foreign adult in 2026, about US$45–50 depending on the exchange rate.
- 5,600 / 4,500visitors per day in high season / the rest of the year (RM 000285-2025-MC).
- 17 Nov 2025the day 2026 tickets went on sale; 2027 tickets are expected in a similar window.
Machu Picchu ticket prices (2026, heading into 2027)
| Ticket | Foreign adult | University student | Child 3–17 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard routes (Circuits 1, 2 and 3) | S/152 | S/77 | S/70 |
| Routes with a mountain or cavern (1-A Machu Picchu Mountain, 3-A Huayna Picchu, 3-C Great Cavern) | S/200 | Reduced rate | |
| SERNANP conservation fee (since 1 May 2026) | + S/11 | Applies to foreign visitors; not to entries through the Inca Trail | |
Prices in Peruvian soles as published by the Ministry of Culture for 2026; the platform converts them at checkout. Citizens of Peru and the Andean Community pay lower rates. Students need a valid university card; children under 3 enter free. Always confirm the final price on the official platform before you pay.
Remember that the entrance is only one part of the day. The Consettur bus between Machu Picchu town (Aguas Calientes) and the gate costs about US$24 round trip for foreign adults, the train from Cusco or Ollantaytambo is the biggest single cost, and you will want a licensed guide inside. Our guide to what the Inca Trail really costs in 2027 puts all of it together.
When do 2027 Machu Picchu tickets go on sale?
The Ministry of Culture usually opens the next year’s tickets in the last months of the year. Tickets for 2026 went on sale on 17 November 2025, in the same weeks as the 2026 Inca Trail permits. As of 29 September 2026, no date has been announced for 2027, and neither have the 2027 prices or daily capacity. They are normally set by ministerial resolution in October–November, and we will update this page when they are published. Our 2027 permit release tracker follows the Inca Trail side of the same announcement.
How far ahead do Machu Picchu tickets sell out?
| Travel dates | Standard routes | Huayna Picchu / Mountain |
|---|---|---|
| June–August, Easter, Inti Raymi week | Buy as soon as your dates are fixed; ideally 2–3 months ahead or more | First to sell out; buy 3–4 months ahead or at release |
| April–May, September–October | 1–2 months ahead | 2–3 months ahead |
| November–March | 2–4 weeks is usually enough | 1–2 months ahead |
Based on what we see when booking tickets for our travelers each season; not an official rule. Morning time slots and the classic routes go first.
How to buy Machu Picchu tickets online, step by step
- Go to the official platform, tuboleto.cultura.pe, run by Peru’s Ministry of Culture. It is the only official online seller; many look-alike sites charge extra or sell packages.
- Choose Llaqta de Machu Picchu, then the circuit and route. If you are not sure which one, our Machu Picchu circuits guide explains all 10 routes.
- Pick the date and the entry time. Leave at least 1.5–2 hours between your train’s arrival and your entry time if you arrive the same day.
- Enter each traveler’s details exactly as in the passport: name, nationality and passport number. Students and children need the right category and proof on the day.
- Pay straight away. Since 2026 (RM 000334-2026-MC) a reservation must be paid within about 15 minutes, or the spaces go back on sale.
- Download and keep the ticket in PDF on your phone, and ideally on paper. You will show it with your original passport at the gate.
Buying tickets in person in Machu Picchu town
About 1,000 tickets a day are sold in person in Machu Picchu town, only for the following day and only with the visitor’s ID. It is a useful backup in the low season or if your plans change, but in the high season the queues start very early and the tickets run out quickly. Don’t plan a once-in-a-lifetime trip around it.
Which ticket should you buy?
- You want the famous postcard view: Circuit 1 route 1-B or Circuit 2 route 2-A.
- You want the temples up close: route 2-A, or 3-B for the royal sector.
- You want a summit: Machu Picchu Mountain (1-A) or Huayna Picchu (3-A). Compare them in is Huayna Picchu dangerous?
- You are hiking the Inca Trail: route 3-B is already yours. Add a second ticket only for a mountain or the postcard view.
- You have limited mobility: route 3-B is the gentlest.
Rules at the gate
- Bring your original passport. The name and number must match the ticket; a photo or copy is not enough.
- Be on time. Each ticket has a fixed entry time with about 30 minutes’ tolerance; after that, entry can be refused.
- One entry per ticket. Once you leave, you cannot go back in with the same ticket, and each route has a maximum visit time.
- Travel light. Large bags, food, tripods, drones and hard-soled shoes are not allowed, and walking sticks only for visitors who need them, with rubber tips. There is a luggage storage outside the gate.
If you arrive on the Inca Trail
Inca Trail hikers get the most memorable entrance of all: the first view of the citadel from the Sun Gate, on foot. The Machu Picchu entrance on route 3-B is part of your permit, and it is bought by your licensed operator at the same time as the permit, with the same passport details. That is why it matters to send your details correctly the first time. The SERNANP conservation fee does not apply to entries through the Inca Trail.
- Classic Inca Trail, 4 days: Sun Gate at dawn on day 4, then a guided visit on route 3-B.
- Short Inca Trail, 2 days: Sun Gate on the afternoon of day 1 and guided visit on route 3-B on day 2.
- 1-Day Inca Trail: Sun Gate and guided visit on route 3-B on the same day.
Want to add Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain? It is a separate ticket for another time or the next morning; with us it costs US$80, and it is best to ask for it when you book, because it sells out first.
Mistakes we see every season
- A typo in the passport number, or a ticket bought with an old passport. You get one correction of the number; the name cannot change.
- An entry time too close to the train, especially on day trips from Cusco.
- Buying on a look-alike website that resells official tickets with a large markup.
- Waiting for the “best” route in high season and ending up with no ticket at all. Secure an entrance first, then add a mountain.
- Buying a Machu Picchu ticket when you are doing the Inca Trail: you already have one.
Planning the trek as well? Check live Inca Trail dates on our permits and availability page and read how far in advance to book for 2027.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a Machu Picchu ticket in 2026?
When will Machu Picchu tickets for 2027 go on sale?
Where can I buy official Machu Picchu tickets?
Do I need a Machu Picchu ticket if I hike the Inca Trail?
Can I change the date or name on my ticket?
How far in advance should I buy Machu Picchu tickets?
About the author
Raquel Sánchez co-founded Terra Quechua Peru in Cusco in 2012 together with Edwin Medina, both with extensive trekking experience. She writes our Inca Trail guides from the day-to-day work of securing permits and organizing every departure with our guides, cooks and porters.