What the rules say now
In September 2026 the Ministry of Culture updated the rules for visiting the Inca city (Ministerial Resolutions 333 and 334-2026-MC). To enter you need your ticket and the official ID document it was issued with. On the guide, the text reported by Peru's state news agency is a recommendation: visitors are advised to go in with a tour guide to help conserve the site and keep the visit orderly. It no longer says you must.
When a guide is worth it
- First visit: The site has almost no signs. Without someone explaining it, the Temple of the Sun, the Intihuatana and the terraces are beautiful stone walls with no story.
- Limited time inside: Standard routes allow a maximum stay of 2 h 30 and are walked one way, with no going back. A guide knows where to stop and where not to lose time.
- Families and groups: One guide for the whole group keeps everyone together and the children interested.
If you have been before, or you prefer to go at your own pace with a book or an app, you can go without one: it is your choice now.
How to add a guide to your ticket
- One box at checkout: Pick your circuit and time, and on the details page tick "Official guide at Machu Picchu". It is one box for the whole group.
- $40 per person, in the same payment: The guide costs $40 for each traveler who pays a ticket; babies (0–2) do not pay for it. It shows as its own line in the summary before you pay.
- Private and in English: The guide is only for your group and speaks English. We arrange it for your date and entry time once the payment is confirmed.
If you want the guide and a flexible entry time, Circuit 3B Premium includes a licensed bilingual guide and a 6 AM–3 PM entry window. If your date is flexible, a standard ticket plus the guide costs less.
Hiring a guide at the entrance
Guides also offer their services at the gate, and that is a legitimate option. Two things to check: ask to see their official credential before you agree, and agree on the price and the length of the visit before you go in.
Is a guide mandatory at Machu Picchu in 2026?
No. Since the September 2026 update to the visitor rules (Ministerial Resolutions 333 and 334-2026-MC), a guide is recommended, not mandatory. You need your ticket and the ID document it was issued with.
How much does a Machu Picchu guide cost?
With us, $40 per person who pays a ticket for a private guide in English, added at checkout in the same payment. Babies (0–2) do not pay for the guide. Circuit 3B Premium already includes one.
Can I hire a guide at the entrance?
Yes, guides offer their services at the gate. Ask to see their official credential and agree on the price and duration before you go in.
Can I explore Machu Picchu without a guide?
Yes. Each route is walked one way, so you cannot get lost, but there is almost no information on site. Many visitors without a guide bring a book or an app.
Do I need a guide for Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain?
No, the same rule applies: recommended, not mandatory. On the mountain trails most people walk at their own pace.
Your ticket, and the guide if you want it
Live availability for all 11 circuits. The private English guide is one box at checkout: $40 per person, in the same payment.