The panoramic platforms and the summit climb — the highest view over the sanctuary, with up to 7 hours inside.
Circuit 1A is the Machupicchu Mountain route. On the official Ministry of Culture map it goes from the entrance up to the Lower and Upper panoramic platforms, then takes the trail to the summit of Machupicchu Mountain and returns to the exit — it does not tour the Inka city, which is what Circuits 2 and 3 are for. Its 7-hour maximum stay is the longest of any ticket, precisely because of the climb.
The facts you need before you book, from the Ministry of Culture's official route map and its 2026 rules.
| Official name | Circuit 1 (Panoramic) · Route 1A, Machupicchu Mountain |
|---|---|
| Maximum stay | Up to 7 hours, one-way, no re-entry |
| Entry times | 7:00 or 9:00 (Peru time); your ticket fixes one |
| What you see | Both panoramic platforms, then the summit of Machupicchu Mountain at 3,082 m (10,111 ft), the highest view over the sanctuary |
| What you don't see | The Inka city itself: the Temples Plaza, the Intiwatana and the Temple of the Sun are on Circuits 2 and 3 |
| Effort | Challenging: about 650 m of steady climbing above the citadel, typically 3–4 h round trip |
| Price | $81.90 adult · $59.85 child 3–17 · under 3 free (card fee included) |
| Daily limit | 4,500 visitors a day across all circuits, 5,600 on high-demand dates |
Sources: Ministry of Culture route map 1-A; R.M. 000285-2025-MC (daily capacity 2026).
Share of 1A entry slots already sold out, by month. We recount every official slot every hour.
All routes on the live availability board → · If your date is gone, Huayna Picchu (3A) is the other summit climb, for the same price.
Follow the trail — tips by travelers who were just there
Photo viewpointThe viewpoint above the agricultural terraces: the whole citadel opens below you with Huayna Picchu behind — the frame on every postcard of Machu Picchu.
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Photo viewpointA few terraces higher, the widest angle of the sanctuary: the citadel, the terraces and the Urubamba valley in a single frame. Only Circuit 1 routes come up here.
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Photo viewpointThe signposted trail west and up to the summit of Machupicchu Mountain, at 3,082 m — roughly three hours round trip of stone steps, with the sanctuary, the Urubamba river and the surrounding peaks below you.
Good to know: This trail is why the ticket allows up to 7 hours inside — the longest stay of any Machu Picchu ticket.
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Same price, two different climbs: a longer, steadier trail to the higher summit, or the famous steep stairway.
| 1A · Machupicchu Mountain | 3A · Huayna Picchu | |
|---|---|---|
| Summit | 3,082 m (10,111 ft) | 2,693 m (8,835 ft) |
| Climb · typical hike | ~650 m, steady · 3–4 h | ~260 m, very steep · 2–3 h |
| Exposure | Lower, wider trail | High, narrow steps, cables in places |
| Also includes | Both panoramic platforms | The lower Inka city |
| Under 18 · sells out | Child fare · later | Adults only · first |
About 25 minutes up the Hiram Bingham road; buses leave from the town from early morning. Your entry ticket does not include it.
Or have us book it with your ticket →A steep stone stairway from the Aguas Calientes bridge, about 1 h 30 up. Before a mountain climb, the bus saves your legs for the trail.
It is long rather than technical: about 650 m of steady climbing on stone steps and trail, typically 3–4 hours up and down. Take water, start at your entry time and turn back if the weather closes in.
No. It includes both panoramic platforms and the mountain, but not the temples and plazas of the city. For those you need a separate Circuit 2 or 3 ticket, ideally on another day.
The Mountain is higher, longer and less exposed, and it usually has entry times left when Huayna Picchu is gone. Huayna Picchu is shorter and steeper, with narrow steps, and we sell it to adults only.
Mountain vs Huayna Picchu →Yes, there is a child fare for ages 3 to 17. The climb is long, so it suits children who are used to hiking.
Check Huayna Picchu (3A), the other summit climb, and the live board for the first open date. If you mainly want to be at Machu Picchu on fixed dates and everything is gone, our 2-Day Tour takes you to the Ministry's in-person sale in Machupicchu Pueblo for a Circuit 2 entrance; the entry day is set by the Ministry.
See the 2-Day Tour →No. There is no re-entry once you pass the exit, and the restrooms are outside the gate.
Official Ministry ticket · real-time availability