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.
Travelling in the next 30 days and your date is sold out? Last minute Machu Picchu tickets: the 2-Day Tour from Cusco →
What the travel advisories say
The U.S. State Department keeps Peru at Level 2, "exercise increased caution", for crime, unrest, kidnapping and terrorism; the current advisory was issued on 4 September 2026. It puts four areas at Level 4, do not travel: the Colombia–Peru border in Loreto, the VRAEM river valleys (which include Vilcabamba), and the cities of Abancay, Ayacucho, Huancavelica and Huancayo. It adds a note that the City of Cusco and the nearby tourist sites, naming the Sacred Valley, the Inca Trail and Machu Picchu, are not in the affected area.
The UK Foreign Office says the same in more detail for Cusco: street crime is a significant problem there, and it is the city where travelers should watch taxis, cash machines and drinks. Neither advisory warns against visiting Machu Picchu itself.
In Cusco: theft, taxis and nights
- Pickpockets and bag snatching: The most common crime, in daylight too, around the Plaza de Armas, the San Pedro market and the bus terminals. Carry a copy of your passport in town and the original on Machu Picchu day, when it is checked at the gate.
- Fake taxis: Both advisories warn about them, especially at the airport and bus stations. Use a taxi your hotel books, a ride-hailing app or a private transfer.
- Cash machines and money changers: Use ATMs inside banks or supermarkets during the day. The UK advisory reports street changers in Cusco handing out an old, worthless currency.
- At night: Both governments say the risk rises after dark. Avoid walking alone through empty streets, buy your own drinks and keep them in sight.
Strikes: what most often disrupts the trip
Demonstrations happen regularly in Peru, and the U.S. advisory warns that they can shut roads, trains and highways without warning. The UK advisory adds that the trains to Machu Picchu are occasionally suspended by protests in the Cusco region. On such a day the risk is less to your safety than to your plans: stay away from blockades, keep a buffer day before your flight out, and follow what the train operator announces.
Inside Machu Picchu: altitude, steps and rain
- Altitude: The citadel is at 2,430 m, lower than Cusco at about 3,400 m. Spend a day or two in Cusco or the Sacred Valley before the visit. Altitude sickness in Cusco and Machu Picchu.
- Stone steps: The routes are one-way and supervised by the sanctuary's staff, but they are stairs of uneven stone with few handrails, slippery when wet. Wear shoes with grip. Which routes are easiest.
- Huayna Picchu and the mountain routes: Steep Inca stairways with drop-offs and cables in places; the trails close on days of heavy rain. Skip them if you are uneasy with heights. Huayna Picchu, difficulty.
- Rainy season on the walking routes: From about November to April, landslides can cut the roads and walking routes around the valley, including the Hidroeléctrica road. Check the day's conditions before setting off.
Traveling alone
Machu Picchu itself is one of the most watched places in Peru, with staff along every route and thousands of visitors a day. The care is needed around it: the UK advisory warns that dishonest tour sellers in Cusco have targeted women traveling alone, and that the risk of express kidnapping, though rare, is higher for solo travelers at night. Book transport and tours before you arrive and from companies with a name and an address, and share your plans with someone at home.
The same applies to tickets: fake QR codes are sold every day by WhatsApp and Instagram, and the gate turns them away. How to recognize a real ticket.
Circuit 2A Classic
The iconic postcard photo of Machu Picchu
Is it safe to travel to Machu Picchu right now?
Yes for most travelers. The U.S. advisory for Peru is Level 2 (4 September 2026) and states that the City of Cusco, the Sacred Valley, the Inca Trail and Machu Picchu are outside its do-not-travel areas. Check both advisories again before you fly.
Is Cusco safe for tourists?
Yes, with city precautions: theft and fake taxis are the common problems, more at night. Use taxis your hotel books or an app, ATMs inside banks, and keep your drinks in sight.
Is Machu Picchu safe for a woman traveling alone?
The site itself is busy and supervised. The UK advisory's warnings are for Cusco: dishonest tour sellers who target women traveling alone, and drinks. Book tours and transport in advance with companies you can identify.
What happens if there is a strike on my Machu Picchu day?
Trains and roads can stop with little warning. If the Ministry or an operator cancels, section 9 of our terms explains what happens with your booking. Keep a spare day before your flight out.
Is Huayna Picchu dangerous?
It is steep and exposed, with drop-offs and cables in places, and it closes on days of heavy rain. It is done safely by hundreds of people a day at a slow pace; skip it if you are uneasy with heights.
Book the official ticket, not a screenshot
Live availability for all 11 circuits, the QR by email, and a person on WhatsApp in English and Spanish if something changes on the day.