Circuit 2: the whole Inka city
Both Circuit 2 routes cross the Dry Moat into the urban sector and walk its twelve numbered landmarks in one direction: the Temple of the Sun viewpoint, the Granitic Chaos quarry, the Temples Plaza with the Three Windows, the Intiwatana pyramid, the Sacred Rock at the north end, then back down the east side through the Twelve Niches, the Eastern Qolqas, the Water Mirrors and the Temple of the Condor, and out through Pisonay Square and the Archaeological Reserve. Route 2A adds the Lower Platform viewpoint at the start; Route 2B enters along the lower terrace instead. Maximum stay: 2 h 30 on both. Full detail in 2A vs 2B.
Circuit 3: the lower royal sector, plus the mountains
All four Circuit 3 routes share the same walk through the lower sector of the city: the Temple of the Sun viewpoint, Pisonay Square, the Temple of the Condor, the Water Mirrors, the Eastern Qolqas and the Twelve Niches — six landmarks. None of them climb to the panoramic platforms, and none of them visit the upper temples: no Temples Plaza, no Intiwatana, no Granitic Chaos, no Dry Moat crossing.
What Circuit 3 has that Circuit 2 does not is the Sacred Rock as a trailhead. From there, Route 3A climbs Huayna Picchu (6 h maximum stay), Route 3D climbs the smaller Huchuypicchu (3 h 30), and Route 3C takes the long trail to the Gran Caverna, marked on the official map as high season only (7 h). Route 3B is the lower city on its own, with no trail, in 2 h 30.
| Circuit 2 (2A / 2B) | Circuit 3 (3A / 3B / 3C / 3D) | |
|---|---|---|
| Landmarks inside the city | 12 — the full urban sector | 6 — the lower royal sector |
| Postcard platform | Yes on 2A; no on 2B | No on any route |
| Temples Plaza, Intiwatana, Granitic Chaos | Yes | No |
| Temple of the Condor, Water Mirrors, Qolqas | Yes | Yes |
| Mountain trails | None | Huayna Picchu (3A), Huchuypicchu (3D), Gran Caverna (3C) |
| Maximum stay | 2 h 30 | 2 h 30 (3B) · 3 h 30 (3D) · 6 h (3A) · 7 h (3C) |
| Adult price | $62 | $62 (3B, 3D) · $78 (3A, 3C) |
Who should book which
- First visit, no hike: Circuit 2A. You get the postcard platform and the complete city in one ticket. It is the route we recommend for a first visit.
- First visit, you want Huayna Picchu: Circuit 3A — there is no other way up. Accept that the city part is the lower sector only, and if the upper temples matter to you, add a Circuit 2A ticket on another day.
- Limited mobility or very little time: Circuit 3B. Six landmarks in the flattest part of the city, 2 h 30, no platform climb. Not the whole site, but the gentlest way to be inside the walls.
- A summit view without the Huayna Picchu quota: Circuit 3D, Huchuypicchu: a short, steep climb from the Sacred Rock with a top-down view of the citadel and far fewer people.
Walk each route before you choose
Every route has a stop-by-stop guide built from the official map: 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B, 3C and 3D. Each one links to live availability for its ticket.
サーキット2A クラシック
マチュピチュの象徴的な絵はがきの写真
サーキット3B ロイヤルティ
王族の下部区域 — 神殿と聖なる場所
サーキット3A ワイナピチュ
象徴的な山頂へ — 1日わずか400名限定
Is Circuit 3 better than Circuit 2?
Inside the city, no: Circuit 3 covers six landmarks and Circuit 2 covers twelve, including the postcard platform on 2A. Circuit 3 is the right choice only when you want one of its mountain trails or the gentlest possible walk.
Can I see the Temple of the Condor on Circuit 2?
Yes. The Temple of the Condor, the Water Mirrors and the Eastern Qolqas are on both circuits. What Circuit 3 lacks are the upper landmarks: the Temples Plaza, the Intiwatana and the Granitic Chaos.
Can I do Circuit 2 and Huayna Picchu on the same ticket?
No. Huayna Picchu is only reached from Circuit 3A. To see the full city and climb the peak you need two tickets on two different days.
Pick your circuit with the calendar open
All 11 routes show live availability by date and entry time. If your first choice is gone, the comparison above tells you what you would actually lose with the next one.