The three ages that matter
- Under 3 — free, but with a ticket: Babies and toddlers under 3 on the day of the visit enter free. They still go on the Ministry's visitor list, so add them at checkout with the infant fare ($0), with their name and passport or ID number. A baby without a ticket is a visitor the gate has no record of.
- 3 to 17 — the child fare: Children from their third birthday until the day before they turn 18 pay the child fare. The age that counts is the age on the day of the visit, not on the day you book.
- 18 and over — adult, or student until 24: From 18 a traveler pays the adult fare, unless they are a student aged 18 to 24 with a valid card, who pays the same as a child on most routes. See the student discount.
What the child fare costs on each route
On the standard routes — 2A, 2B, 1B, 1C, 1D, 3B Royalty and 3D — a child pays $39 against $62 for an adult. On Machu Picchu Mountain (1A) the child fare is $57 against $78. On 3B Premium, which includes a licensed guide and flexible entry, it is $182 against $245. Children who are Peruvian, residents of Peru or citizens of the Andean Community pay $25 on the standard routes. Prices are per person in US dollars; we add a 5% service fee at checkout, shown before you pay.
Which routes work best with children
- Circuit 2A or 2B — the whole city in 2 h 30: The classic choice for families: the full Inca city on a one-way path, with a fixed maximum stay of 2 h 30. 2A starts at the platform where the postcard photo is taken; 2B enters along the lower terrace and is often easier to book.
- Circuit 1B — the view without the stairs: The shortest official route, with almost no climbing: the upper terraces and the Guard's House viewpoint. Good with small children or a grandparent in the group. More in the Guardian's House guide.
- Circuit 1A — for teenagers who want a summit: Machu Picchu Mountain has a child fare and is the mountain a family can do together. It is a long stone stairway to 3,082 m and up to 7 hours inside, so it suits fit teenagers rather than young children.
Circuit 2B Lower Terrace
The famous panoramic photo, with full terrace access
Documents: one per child, the same as at checkout
Every ticket is issued in the visitor's name and checked against their document at the gate, children included. At checkout, enter each child's name and passport or ID number exactly as on the document they will carry, and bring that same document on the day. A photocopy, or a different document from the one on the ticket, does not match what the gate checks.
Do I need to book a ticket for my baby?
Yes. Babies under 3 enter free, but they must be on the visitor list. Add them at checkout with the infant fare ($0) and their passport or ID number.
My child turns 18 the month after our trip. Which fare do they pay?
The child fare. What counts is the age on the day of the visit.
Can a child go up Huayna Picchu?
We sell Huayna Picchu (3A) only at the adult fare. For a family with children, Machu Picchu Mountain (1A) is the summit with a child fare.
Do children need a guide?
No. A licensed guide is recommended, not mandatory, for every visitor since September 2026. If you add one at checkout, it is priced per person.
One booking for the whole family
Adults, students, children and babies go in the same booking and the same payment. Pick the route and date, then set how many travelers go on each fare.