For almost all travelers who visit Peru, visiting Machu Picchu is at the top of the ‘to-do’ list. By extension, Machu Picchu entrance tickets are pretty high up on the ‘must-buy’ list. A DIY Machu Picchu trip is certainly possible, but it requires a little logistical limbering up. This blog will guide you through everything you need to know about your Machu Picchu tickets, and about getting to the ancient citadel.
Where is Machu Picchu located?
When travelers ask the inevitable question “where is Machu Picchu?” The short answer is in the middle of the Vilcabamba Mountain Range. As such, it’s not just entrance tickets that can be a bit of a headache, navigating your way to the citadel is a challenge in itself.
The longer answer is that Machu Picchu is found in Southern Peru, in the greater Cusco region. The closest town is the small pueblito of Aguas Calientes (otherwise known as Machu Picchu Pueblo), which is located right at the bottom of the mountain that Machu Picchu sits on. Machu Picchu’s nearest city is Cusco and the nearest big town is Ollantaytambo. Cusco is famous for being the capital city of the Incas, and is several hours away from the citadel.
How to buy tickets for Machu Picchu?
The actual purchase of your Machu Picchu entrance ticket is relatively simple if you know what you want!.
When you know which Machu Picchu tickets you want….go ahead and purchase them online at the government website, choose the day you wish to travel on, and the circuit you wish to walk on and it will show you the available time slots with the number of unsold tickets. Sounds easy, right? Well which Machu Picchu tickets and train tickets do you want? That is where it gets hard to figure out.
First you will need to know if you want to hike Huayna Picchu, Machu Picchu Mountain or just the usual circuits. Researching that ahead of time will help in your ticket buying decision. Then you will need to decide which time slot you would like and check if it is available.Times slots sell out, especially the 6 am entrance and the Huayna Picchu tickets. Once you know that information, double check that the train tickets you need are available.
Once you have selected your chosen time slot for your Machu PIcchu entrance you can proceed to inputting your information. There is a time limit on how long you have to input information so be sure to have your details, including your passport, on hand and make sure that they are correct. Incorrect details may result in your ticket being voided, and leaving you unable to visit the citadel. You will receive a reservation code after you are done with the information section. Make sure you pay for the reservation otherwise it will expire a couple of hours later.
It is not possible to buy a Machu Picchu ticket ‘on the door’ or at the gate of the citadel, so come prepared and with a physical copy of your ticket in hand- people have been turned away in the past for not printing their tickets. A pdf or a screenshot on your phone is not the same as a printed ticket.
You should also make sure that you have the actual ticket, and not the reservation, which expires after two hours. The reservation confirmation is not a ticket and it will not grant you entry to the citadel. This is an unfortunately common mistake that many travelers make.
Note: Remember that in order to enter Peru, you must have a minimum of 6 months validity left on your passport. If you need to renew your passport before coming to Peru, be sure to either bring your old passport with you or wait until your new passport arrives before booking your Machu Picchu ticket.
When to Visit Machu Picchu?
Machu Picchu tickets are staggered by entrance time. This means that when you purchase your ticket you must have already decided on the best time for you to visit. There are positive aspects of all entrance times- from the earlier sunrise slots, to the warmer, less crowded, afternoon visits.
The time you choose will depend on you, but there are several factors to consider. If you would like to do a sunrise entrance or an additional hike such as Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain you will need to sleep in Aguas Calientes the night before. This results in a two day trip.
If your timing only allows for a day trip, or a day trip is what you prefer then you will be aiming for a slightly later entrance, between 10am and 12pm. This gives you time to arrive from the Sacred Valley and explore at a relaxed pace.
While not recommended, a one-day Machu Picchu trip from Cusco means you will need to leave from Cusco at around 4am, grabbing whichever ticket best fits your arrival time in Aguas Calientes.
Tip: A one day trip to Machu Picchu involves a lot of traveling, making for an exhausting day. However, we rarely recommend a night in Aguas Calientes (unless you are looking for the 6am sunrise or the additional hikes) as it has comparatively higher prices and lower quality than the rest of Peru.
If you are DIY-ing your Machu Picchu trip, be sure to factor in extra time for getting to the citadel from the train station. You can either hike up the stairs- which is 1600 steps directly upwards, or wait for the bus.
The high season sees travelers queueing up from 3am for the first Machu Picchu bus at 6am, and even later on in the day these queues can take as long as two hours. Bear in mind that the bus is $12 each way- a $24 round trip. It is not free, but is included in a lot of tours to Machu Picchu. You must have your bus ticket in advance. You can not buy the ticket once at Machu Picchu itself. If you purchase the bus ticket in Aguas Calientes you need to stand in two long lines, once for the tickets and then another one for the bus itself.
Note: High Season in Peru runs from May to August. It is common for tickets to Machu Picchu to sell out completely months in advance. If you are planning to visit during these months it is strongly advised to book in advance, you may need the help of an agency.
If you are still thinking of doing a self guided tour, you will also need to procure your own guide. Guides are a requirement of entering the citadel for the first time, and let’s face it. Why would you travel across the world to visit the incredible ruins of Machu Picchu and not hire a guide? Guides must be officially licensed Machu Picchu guides, so avoid scammers and check credentials.
In short? Choosing the best time to visit Machu Picchu depends heavily on how you are planning to visit Machu Picchu. There’s no bad time to visit- but there are bad times to book- depending on how you plan to organize your trip.
How to get to Machu Picchu?
There are three main ways to get to Machu Picchu. You can do a multi-day hike and arrive by foot or you can choose the train to Machu Picchu, or go by taking an exhausting bus from Cusco. If a hike interests you then explore our selection here. But for those short on time or money, we will break down the options of the inexpensive local bus vs train below.
Machu Picchu by Train
Machu Picchu by train is the easiest, fastest and most luxurious way to get to Machu Picchu. You will enjoy a beautiful scenic ride along the Vilcanota river taking you from the Peruvain sierra down into the cloud forest. The train pulls right into the town of Aguas Calientes and you can simply hop on the bus (or more accurately, in the queue for the bus) and make your way to the citadel. However, there are a few things to note:
- The train is the only way to truly visit Machu Picchu in one day.
- This option requires a round trip train ticket and in addition to that a round trip bus ticket, or a 2 hour hike from the station up the stairs to the citadel, as well as the hike back.
- The Machu Picchu train times come with many different price tags and time frames and often sell out.
- During the dry season (May-August) the train leaves from either Poroy, a town very close to Cusco, or Ollantaytambo in the Sacred Valley. The Poroy stop does not run during the rest of the year but instead has a bus take you to the Sacred Valley to pick up the train. Be sure to buy your ticket from the right place.
- A one day trip from Cusco is not recommended as there is a lot of traveling and it makes for a very tiring day. However, for those who are short on time it is a very popular option.
- Train times sell out, so make sure that the time you will need to be in Machu Picchu (as listed on your ticket) lines up with available train times. Do not forget to factor in the bus travel and time of year with this.
- You can purchase your train tickets online, but you will not receive the tickets online. Instead, you must go to the main office in Cusco. Here, you can pick them up but only after you show the credit or debit card you used to make the purchase. Factor in extra time if you plan to pick them up at the Ollantaytambo train station as there are often very long lines.
There are plenty of reasons why the vast majority of travelers opt for an organized tour instead of doing it themselves, it’s not just the Machu Picchu tickets that you need to worry about!
Trying to match up the Machu Picchu train tickets and Machu Picchu entrance tickets, combined with the additional time it takes to get to the citadel (be it by bus or by walking) can be a headache. On top of this, common errors include mistaking your Machu Picchu reservation for your actual ticket and having to pick up your train ticket while navigating the Cusco city streets.
Choosing the agency route means that you won’t have to worry about spending $150 usd on train tickets before you realize that the Machu Picchu tickets are sold out for that day, or missing your time slot because you waited so long in the queue for the bus, or even having a bad guide caught on the fly.
We can’t forget to mention that there are 4 circuits and 3 additional hikes- plus 9 different entrance times and about 12 different train times. All of these reasons, and more, make it far less of a headache to book in advance with an agency and use them to help you get what’s right for you.
You can explain your itinerary, how much time you have and where you are staying and where you wish to return to. Even little details like if you enjoy an early morning sunrise or if you prefer the less crowded times. An agency will take care of all the details for your Machu Picchu adventure.
A local travel agency can also provide other types of benefits, such as offering suggestions for what to do in the Sacred Valley, the best restaurants to try in Aguas Calientes (as you can be sure, there are plenty of overpriced tourist traps there), and generally just giving back to the local people.
Train Summary
- Travel from Cusco to the Sacred Valley (2.5 hours)
- Take the train from the Sacred Valley to Aguas Calientes (2 hours)
- Taking the bus from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu (25 minutes + wait time)
- OR hiking up the stairs (2 hours on average)
- Return, (Same again)
Machu Picchu by Bus
The public bus is by far the cheapest way to visit Machu Picchu- but not the fastest nor the most comfortable. Public transport in Peru is not known for being the best, safest, or most comfortable in the world, so this route is often reserved for backpackers on a tight budget. In fact, public buses in Peru are known for not sticking to their schedules or stops, so be sure to factor in more time for yourself on this one.
We should also mention that there are tourist vans that take this route as well and you can find them through vendors in the Plaza de Armas in Cusco for a bit more money. They also are not incredibly reliable and could leave you so make sure to be early to the meeting points and aware when they are looking for who their passengers are.
Remember: Roads can become dangerous and during the rainy season (December to March) the route to Machu Picchu is prone to constant landslides. The road from Santa Maria to Santa Teresa is one of the most dangerous in the area and cars have been known go over the edge or get crushed in landslides.
The bus route doesn’t go directly to Aguas Calientes. The last stop is in Hidroelectrica. Hidroelectrica is just over 10km away from Aguas Calientes and there is no road, so no cheeky taxis to take on the final leg. Hiking is the only option. The route follows the train tracks, and is not strenuous but 10km on one long, flat, straight road is quite monotonous.
The bus to Machu Picchu option will take a minimum of two days and best done in three. Day one would be taking the bus to Hidroelectrica, hiking to Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu town), arriving around dinner time and sleeping in Aguas Calientes.
Day two is a visit to Machu Picchu itself, with an option to explore Aguas Calientes and spend another night there (recommended), or hiking back to Hidroelectrica and taking the bus back to Cusco in the afternoon. Beware that the bus times are generally early like 2 pm meaning you need to hurry back to Hidroelectrica. This means you can’t spend too long in Machu Picchu as you have a strict deadline to adhere to.
The optional day three is much more relaxed as you enjoy your second day meandering through the ruins and exploring the town before waking up on day three and hiking back along the tracks before catching the bus.
The public bus is certainly the more challenging of the two options, hence the smaller price tag. But those who are up for the 8 hour drive on very curvy mountain roads while crammed in with locals heading to the market, accompanied by the 3-4 hour walk will save a little money for their hassle.
Bus Summary
- Take a shared bus to Santa Maria (5-6 hours)
- Shared colectivo to Santa Teresa (1 hour)
- Find a shared taxi (a ‘collectivo’ or a ‘combi’) to take you to Hidroelectrica (30 min – 1 hour)
- Skip the three previous options by taking a tourist van from Cusco to Hidroelectrica
- Hike from Hidroelectrica to Aguas Calientes (3-4 hours)
- Following day, take the bus from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu (25 minutes + wait time)
- OR hiking up the stairs (2 hours on average)
- Return, (Same again)
Which Machu Picchu Trip is right for you?
The right Machu Picchu trip for you really boils down to how much logistical work you wish to do. Remember, Machu Picchu tickets are controlled by the government, the train is controlled by a private company, and the public transport is controlled by the local transport department, none of whom are particularly incentivised to make it easy for travelers doing it by themselves.
There are no options that line up perfectly. You must make them line up without making a single mistake. This pressure is high, and it’s not ideal if you’re just trying to enjoy your holiday.
However, if we are to put it in simple terms, the public bus is great for backpackers who have nothing but time and a tight budget, and the train is a great option for people who want to make the most of their vacation time and have a comfortable trip to Machu Picchu.
If you are looking to simply relax on your trip to Peru, and not have to worry about train times, bus times, passport numbers, guide quality, road quality, or any of the plethora of anxieties that await, it is going to be a lot easier for you to book through an agent.
If you are determined to buy Machu Picchu tickets on your own and save a few dollars by all means do your research and do it all as far in advance as possible. If you find you need just a bit of help we can do a consultation phone call for a small fee. That will save you money and allow you to buy your own tickets, while still casting an expert eye onto your plans to ensure smooth sailing.
When does Machu Picchu Close?
The last entrance to Machu Picchu is between 2 and 3pm, and the site closes around 5:30pm- just before nightfall. You are not allowed to spend the night in the site, the $800+ a night Belmond Sanctuary Lodge is as close as you will get to that.
What are Machu Picchu Circuits?
Set routes around the citadel is a new, post-covid introduction. Pre-Covid any Machu Picchu entrance ticket was enough to see travelers wander around the citadel for the entirety of their permitted time slot if they wished.
Unfortunately, these times have passed and we now must visit Machu Picchu in defined circuits. Below we will briefly outline each of these routes and the sites you will see on each. It’s worth noting that the iconic image of the ruins with Huayna Picchu mountain rising majestically in the background is visible on all routes. So no need to panic about not being able to get the ideal instagram shot.
Circuit 1
Time taken: Approximately 2 hours
Sites visited:
- Upper platform
- Lower platform
- Dry moat
- Viewpoint of the Sun Temple
- Granite Block Field
- Water mirrors
- Plaza of the Pisonay
- Archeological reserve
Circuit 2
Time taken: Approximately 3 hours
Sites visited:
- Upper platform
- Lower platform
- Dry moat
- Viewpoint of the Sun Temple
- Granite Block Field
- Temple Plaza
- Pyramid of Intiwatana (between 7am and 10am)
- Sacred Rock
- Twelve Bays
- Oriental Qolqas
- Water mirrors
- Temple of the Condor (between 10am and 1pm)
- Plaza of the Pisonay
- Archeological reserve
Circuit 3
Time taken: Approximately 1.5 hours
Sites visited:
- Qolqas
- Agricultural zone
- Water channel
- Dry moat
- Temple of the sun
- Inca house
- Water mirrors
- Plaza of the Pisonay
- Archeological reserve
Circuit 4
Time taken: Approximately 2.5 hours
Sites visited:
- Qolqas
- Agricultural zone
- Water channel
- Dry moat
- Temple of the sun
- Inca house
- Water mirrors
- Sacred Rock
- Twelve Bays
- Oriental Qolqas
- Water mirrors
- Temple of the Condor (between 10am and 1pm)
- Plaza of the Pisonay
- Archeological reserve
Circuit 5
Time taken: Approximately 1.5 hours
Sites visited:
- Qolqas
- Agricultural zone
- Water channel
- Dry moat
- Temple of the sun
- Inca house
- Water mirrors
- Joint three covers
- Plaza of the Pisonay
- Archeological reserve
Note: This is the circuit taken by those who have completed the Inca Trail.
You can choose any of the routes that you wish, but if you wish to add an additional hike such as Huayna Picchu, Machu Picchu Mountain, Huchuy Picchu, or the Inca Bridge then your options become a little more restricted.
If you want to hike Huayna Picchu (the big mountain seen behind the ruins in pictures) then you must hike circuit 4. Huchuy Picchu is the smaller mountain seen next to Huayna Picchu in pictures, and it also requires a circuit 4 ticket. Beware that the Huayna Picchu hike is also written as Wayna Picchu. This hike is in very high demand and often sells out months in advance.
Machu Picchu Mountain, which is on the opposite side of the citadel and is a much higher but a technically easier climb than Huayna Picchu, requires a circuit 3 ticket.
A visit to the Inca bridge demands either circuit 1 or 2.
Visiting any of these ‘extra’ sites means you have to buy them as you buy your Machu Picchu ticket. They cannot be added on later.
Which Machu Picchu Ticket Should You Buy?
Which Machu Picchu entrance ticket you choose will depend a lot on you. If you’re an avid hiker then you’ll probably want to choose one of the peaks. Huayna Picchu has several Inca ruins on the mountain itself, whereas Machu Picchu mountain has a much higher peak. The Huayna Picchu hike is like a steep scramble to the top and the Machu Picchu Mountain hike is a bit less technical. Remember both these entrance times are early and require sleeping in Aguas Calientes the night before.
If you aren’t huge on hiking but still want to climb something- or you have just completed a multi-day trek but want a view from above you should choose Huchuy Picchu. This is a smaller hill and an easier summit, but it still has a great view.
If you want to see everything that Machu Picchu has to offer, Circuit 2 will offer a much more comprehensive cover of the site. But, if you are mostly interested in the view rather than the history, circuit 2 may be a little too exhaustive for you.
What if I Want to Hike a Peak and do Another Circuit?
If this is you, then you simply need to purchase a second ticket for the second circuit you want to do. Since you can not leave Machu Picchu and reenter with the same ticket or with an expired time slot, you should purchase the second entrance at a time that allows you to step outside, use the bathroom, buy a drink, have a snack, and head back in. It is a tiring day, so be sure to factor that in.
If you want to take on one of the additional hikes and see the main part of the city, you should buy two tickets. The additional hikes are always in the morning, so budget yourself the time to have lunch before returning in the afternoon for your second tour. After all, it is cheaper to do it now than to come back later.
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Buying Machu Picchu tickets and ensuring that you get to see everything you want at the citadel has gotten a lot more complicated since the pandemic, but visiting the citadel by yourself is still very possible as long as you understand what you are getting yourself in for.
Alternatively if you want to escape the inevitable headache of organizing it yourself, get in touch with us today to chat with one of our experts. We can help you to organize your dream visit to Machu Picchu, stress free.
