The short panoramic route: both viewing platforms above the terraces, in 2 h 30.
Circuit 1B is the shortest panoramic route of Machu Picchu. On the official map it climbs from the entrance to the Lower and Upper platforms above the agricultural terraces and returns to the exit, with a maximum stay of 2 h 30. It is the classic postcard view without walking the Inka city — for that you need a Circuit 2 or 3 ticket.
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 1B, Upper Terrace |
|---|---|
| Maximum stay | 2 h 30, one-way, no re-entry |
| Entry times | Every hour from 6:00 to 15:00 (Peru time); your ticket fixes one |
| What you see | The Lower and Upper panoramic platforms above the terraces: the classic postcard view of the whole citadel |
| 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 | Easy: a short climb on stone steps to the platforms and back |
| Price | $65.10 adult · $40.95 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-B; R.M. 000285-2025-MC (daily capacity 2026).
Share of 1B 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, Circuit 2A also has the postcard view, from the Lower Platform.
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.
No tips here yet — be the first to leave one.
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.
No tips here yet — be the first to leave one.
Both give you the postcard view for the same price and the same 2 h 30. 2A then walks down through the whole city.
| 1B · Upper Terrace | 2A · Classic | |
|---|---|---|
| Postcard view | Yes, from both platforms | Yes, from the Lower Platform |
| Inside the Inka city | No | Yes, the full urban sector |
| Walking | Short | More, with steps down through the city |
| Sells out | Later | First of the city routes |
| Max stay · price | 2 h 30 · $65.10 | 2 h 30 · $65.10 |
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. Leave earlier than your entry time: you still have to queue at the gate.
Yes. 1B climbs to the Lower and Upper panoramic platforms above the terraces, which is where the postcard view of the whole citadel is taken.
No. It stays on the platforms above the city and returns to the exit. To walk among the temples and plazas you need a Circuit 2 or 3 ticket; Circuit 2A gives you both the postcard view and the city for the same price.
It is one of the gentlest routes: a short climb to the platforms and back. The sanctuary is built on stone steps, so expect stairs. Children under 3 enter free, and 3 to 17 pay the child fare.
Check Circuit 2A, which also has the postcard view, and the live board for the first open date. If everything is gone and your dates cannot move, our 2-Day Tour takes you to the Ministry's in-person sale in Machupicchu Pueblo; the entry day is set by the Ministry.
See the 2-Day Tour →Since the September 2026 rule update a licensed guide is recommended, not mandatory: the route is signposted and one-way. A guide explains what you are looking at from the platforms; you can add one when you book.
No. There is no re-entry once you pass the exit, and the restrooms are outside the gate.
Official Ministry ticket · real-time availability