Official ticket, booked in your name
Pick your Machu Picchu date, any day through September 2027
Choose the route, the day and the entry hour. We buy the Ministry ticket in your name and email it to you. From $62 per adult.
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Why Machu Picchu has 11 circuits now (and what changed in 2025)
Machu Picchu has 11 official circuits because Peru's Ministry of Culture replaced free roaming with fixed one-way routes to protect the site from overtourism — rolled out in 2019 and locked into the current 11-route structure in mid-2025. Each circuit fixes your path, entry window and daily cap, and cannot be changed after purchase.
Until 2019, Machu Picchu was essentially one big open sanctuary — you walked in with a ticket and roamed the site more or less freely. That model became impossible after visitor numbers passed 1.5 million a year: paths eroded, walls got touched, and the site's UNESCO World Heritage status was under quiet pressure.
The Peruvian Ministry of Culture rolled out a new circuit system in 2019, refined it during COVID, and locked in the current 11-route structure in mid-2025. Each circuit is a fixed one-way path with an entry-time window and a daily visitor cap. What you book is exactly what you get at the gate — you can't switch to a different route inside the sanctuary. For the current 2026 rules in plain English, see our guide to the new Machu Picchu rules.
Quick comparison — all 11 circuits at a glance
Prices are in USD and show the adult rate for foreign visitors as sold on machupicchu.world. Each ticket page has the full fare table: students 18–24, children 3–17 (except on 3A and 3C, which we sell to adults only) and the lower Peru & Andean Community rate.
| Circuit | Duration | Price | Difficulty | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Circuit 1A Mountain Route guide | Up to 7 h | $78 | Challenging | Adventurers, dramatic views |
| Circuit 1B Upper Terraces Route guide | 2 h 30 max stay | $62 | Easy | The classic photo, tight schedules |
| Circuit 1C Sun Gate Route guide | Up to 4 h | $62 | Moderate | Inca Trail feel (busiest Jun–Oct) |
| Circuit 1D Inca Bridge Route guide | Up to 3 h | $62 | Easy | Off-the-beaten-path (busiest Jun–Oct) |
| Circuit 2A Classic Route guide | 2 h 30 max stay | $62 | Easy | First-timers, the iconic photo |
| Circuit 2B Lower Terrace Route guide | 2 h 30 max stay | $62 | Easy | First-timers who want quieter slots |
| Circuit 3A Huayna Picchu Route guide | Up to 6 h | $78 | Challenging | The iconic peak — 400/day cap, books out |
| Circuit 3B Royalty Route guide | 2 h 30 max stay | $62 | Easy | Temples, all ages, wheelchair-friendlyish |
| Circuit 3B Premium | 2 h 30 guided | $245 | Easy | Sold-out dates, flexible entry, guide included |
| Circuit 3C Grand Cavern Route guide | Up to 7 h | $78 | Challenging | Temple of the Moon, mystical (18+, busiest Jun–Oct) |
| Circuit 3D Huchuy Picchu Route guide | Up to 3 h 30 | $62 | Moderate | Panoramic peak without the Huayna climb |
Circuit 1 — Panoramic loops (routes 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D)
Circuit 1 covers the upper terraces and viewpoints — the part of Machu Picchu you see in every postcard, plus the trails that branch off toward the surrounding peaks. If your priority is the classic photo and dramatic views, this is your circuit.
The four routes side by side, with seasons, prices and who should book which, are in the Circuit 1 guide.
Circuit 1A Mountain
Hike Machu Picchu Mountain — 3,082 meters of breathtaking views
Circuit 1B Upper Terraces
The classic postcard photo on the shortest official route
Circuit 1C Sun Gate
Hike to Intipunku — the original Inca entrance
Circuit 1D Inca Bridge
One of the best scenic photo spots in the sanctuary
Circuit 2 — The classic route (2A, 2B)
Circuit 2 is the most popular by a wide margin — it combines the classic viewpoint for the iconic photo with the Temple of the Sun viewpoint, the Main Temple, the Temple of the Three Windows and the Sacred Rock. If this is your first (and possibly only) visit to Machu Picchu, Circuit 2 is what most travelers pick.
Routes 2A and 2B compared, with the one difference between them and how far ahead each sells out, are in the Circuit 2 guide.
Circuit 2A Classic
The iconic postcard photo of Machu Picchu
Circuit 2B Lower Terrace
The famous panoramic photo, with full terrace access
Between 2A and 2B, the difference is subtle: both give you the classic panoramic photo. 2A follows the more traditional path through the upper temples; 2B gives you slightly more freedom on the lower terraces and is a bit quieter in afternoon slots.
Circuit 3 — The lower royal sector + adventure peaks (3A, 3B, 3B Premium, 3C, 3D)
Circuit 3 is the widest of the three — it covers the royal lower sector (temples, House of the Inca, Temple of the Condor) AND the trailheads for the sanctuary's two hikable peaks: Huayna Picchu and Huchuy Picchu. It also includes the exclusive Temple of the Moon route through the Grand Cavern.
All five Circuit 3 tickets, with age limits, seasons and the Premium option explained, are in the Circuit 3 guide.
Circuit 3A Huayna Picchu
Climb the iconic peak behind the citadel — strictly limited daily quota
Circuit 3B Royalty
The royal lower sector — temples and sacred sites
Circuit 3B Premium
Flexible entry 6 AM–3 PM with licensed guide included
Circuit 3C Grand Cavern
The Temple of the Moon, hidden inside Huayna Picchu
Circuit 3D Huchuy Picchu
The shorter climb to a panoramic peak beside Huayna Picchu
Circuit 3B Premium is the workaround for two situations: (1) all standard tickets for your date sold out, or (2) you need flexible entry between 6 AM and 3 PM instead of a fixed time window. It's the only ticket that includes a licensed bilingual guide.
Which circuit should you actually book?
For most first-time visitors, Circuit 2A (Classic) is the right ticket — it includes the postcard photo and the citadel's core. Choose Circuit 3A if hiking Huayna Picchu is your priority, Circuit 1A for the Machu Picchu Mountain hike, and 2B as the fallback when 2A sells out.
Here's how we'd match circuits to common traveler profiles — based on hundreds of conversations with people booking their first (or fifth) trip to Machu Picchu.
First time in Machu Picchu
It's the iconic path — the postcard photo from the Lower Platform, the Temple of the Sun viewpoint, the Sacred Rock. Two and a half hours at a comfortable pace. If you take one ticket, take this one.
Adventurer, wants the hardest hike
The iconic peak, the 750 original Inca steps, the 360° view of the citadel from above. Capped at 400/day — book 3–4 months ahead in high season. Adults only.
Family with kids or older parents
Short, mostly flat, and focused on the temples and ceremonial architecture. Accessible for all ages and fitness levels. Skip the mountain circuits — the altitude alone will exhaust anyone not acclimatized.
Tight schedule (in and out in a morning)
The shortest panoramic route — up to 2 h 30 inside. You still get the postcard photo from the upper terraces near the Guardian's House. Perfect if you're catching an afternoon train back to Cusco.
Serious photographer
Circuit 1A Machu Picchu Mountain
The only vantage that puts you above the citadel with room to compose — 3,082m up, with the ruins, Huayna Picchu, and the Urubamba valley all in frame. Sunrise slots are magic if you can time the weather.
Booking last-minute / everything else is sold out
The only ticket typically available when standard slots are gone. Includes a licensed bilingual guide and flexible entry between 6 AM and 3 PM. More expensive, but reliable.
Frequent questions about the circuits
Can I combine two circuits into one visit?
No. Each ticket admits you to one circuit on one specific date, in one specific entry-time window. You physically can't cross between circuits inside the sanctuary — the routes are one-way and separated. If you want to see both the classic view and a peak, buy two tickets on two different days.
How far in advance should I book?
For June–September (peak season), book at least 6–8 weeks ahead for Circuit 2 and 3–4 months ahead for Huayna Picchu (Circuit 3A). Off-season (Nov–March), you can often book 1–2 weeks out for most circuits — including 1C, 1D, 3C and 3D, which are sold year-round and only get busy from June to October.
Can I change my circuit after buying the ticket?
Once the ticket is issued by the Ministry of Culture, the circuit is locked. You can request a date change up to 24 hours before your entry (subject to availability), but not a circuit change. If you booked the wrong circuit, the practical fix is to buy a new ticket for the correct one — the old one is non-refundable.
Do I need a guide for every circuit?
No. Since the September 2026 update to the visitor rules (Ministerial Resolutions 333 and 334-2026-MC), a licensed guide is recommended, not mandatory, on every circuit. Circuit 3B Premium is the only ticket that bundles the guide. For all others, you can add a private guide in English at checkout for $40 per person.
Which circuits are open year-round vs seasonal?
All 11 circuits are sold year-round. 1C (Sun Gate), 1D (Inca Bridge), 3C (Grand Cavern / Temple of the Moon) and 3D (Huchuy Picchu) are busiest from June to October, so book those months earlier.
Are prices the same everywhere?
No. The Ministry sells in soles; we sell in US dollars, with a fixed price per route ($62 for the standard routes, $78 for the mountain climbs) plus a processing fee of 5% by card or 9.5% with PayPal, shown before you pay. The Ministry's face value in soles is lower; the difference covers the checkout in your language, the dollar payment and our support. There are no other charges. The bus from Aguas Calientes to the entrance gate is separate ($24 USD round-trip, paid on-site) and is the same for every circuit.
Ready to book your circuit?
All 11 circuits are on the tickets page with real-time availability. If you're still not sure which one to pick, message us on WhatsApp — a real person in Cusco will help you decide.