Introduction — Understanding Machu Picchu Entry Tickets

Machu Picchu uses a timed-entry ticket system. Visitors are divided across three circuits, each circuit branches into several routes (specific paths through the citadel), and each route is sold in one-hour time slots. Total daily capacity is capped at 1,000 visitors per day to protect the site — a number set by Peru’s Ministry of Culture.

The three circuits are not ranked — each shows you a different part of Machu Picchu, and the right one depends on what you want to see and how much hiking you want to do. Wonders of Peru Expeditions secures your tickets and matches you to the route that fits your itinerary — see the section below on how we handle it.

The Three Circuits

Circuit 1 — Panorámico (Panoramic)

Known for elevated viewpoints and the classic postcard shot of the citadel from above. Includes four route options:

Route	What you see	Time slots	Type
1-A Montaña Machupicchu	Panoramic route + Machu Picchu Mountain hike	07:00, 09:00	Citadel + add-on hike
1-B Terraza Superior	Upper Terrace — the classic postcard view	06:00–15:00, every hour	Citadel only
1-C Portada Intipunku	Panoramic route + Sun Gate walk	07:00–10:00	Citadel + add-on walk
1-D Puente Inka	Panoramic route + Inka Bridge walk	08:00–11:00	Citadel + add-on walk

Circuit 2 — Clásico (Classic)

The most flexible circuit — broadest range of starting times and best general availability. Two route options:

Route	What you see	Time slots
2-A Clásico Diseñada	Standard guided path through the citadel	06:00–15:00, every hour
2-B Terraza Inferior	Lower terraces and the water-mirror temples	06:00–15:00, every hour

Circuit 3 — Realeza (Royalty)

Focused on the lower / royal-quarters sectors of the citadel. Includes the routes where the iconic Huayna Picchu hike is attached. Four route options:

Route	What you see	Time slots	Type
3-A Montaña Waynapicchu	Royal sector + Huayna Picchu mountain climb	07:00, 10:00	Citadel + add-on hike
3-B Realeza Diseñada	Royal sector standard path	06:00–15:00, every hour	Citadel only
3-C Gran Caverna	Royal sector + Great Cavern (Temple of the Moon)	08:00, 09:00	Citadel + add-on hike
3-D Huchuypicchu	Royal sector + the shorter Huchuy Picchu hike	09:00, 11:00	Citadel + add-on hike

Add-On Hikes Explained

Several routes include an add-on hike attached to the citadel visit. These hikes have their own time windows on top of the citadel visit time, and many sell out faster than the citadel itself.

Hike	Difficulty	Round-trip	Tied to route
Huayna Picchu	Hard — steep, exposed, requires good fitness	~1–2 hours	3-A
Machu Picchu Mountain	Hard — longer than Huayna Picchu, steady switchbacks	~3 hours	1-A
Huchuy Picchu	Easy / Moderate — the gentle mountain option	~45–60 min	3-D
Gran Caverna (Temple of the Moon)	Moderate — descent into a cave/temple complex	~3–4 hours	3-C
Sun Gate (Intipunku)	Moderate — steady uphill walk from inside the citadel	~1.5 hours	1-C
Inka Bridge	Easy — short walk along an Inca trail ledge	~45 min–1 hour	1-D

Time Limits

• Inside the citadel itself: approximately 2.5 hours, enforced by site wardens.
• Add-on hikes (Huayna Picchu, MP Mountain, Huchuy, Gran Caverna, Sun Gate, Inka Bridge): each has its own time window on top of the 2.5-hour citadel visit. Your total time on-site is the citadel visit plus the hike window.
• All circuits are one-way — no backtracking, no re-entry once you exit.

How Wonders of Peru Gets Your Tickets

Booking with us is the easiest and safest way to secure a Machu Picchu entry ticket. Here’s how it works:

• With enough notice: We purchase your entry tickets in advance as soon as the Ministry releases the date you want. You don’t deal with the booking platform, the captchas, or the sold-out frustration — we do it on your behalf.
• Close to your travel date, or during high season: When the Ministry switches to in-person sales (currently 3 days in advance), our team meets you in Aguas Calientes with a sign, escorts you to the Ministry office, handles the payment, and processes the passport-based purchase. You don’t queue alone.

During High Season (April–August)

From April through August, Machu Picchu’s entry tickets routinely sell out weeks — sometimes months — in advance, and the Ministry of Culture can change its ticket-release policy with little notice.

If you’re traveling in this window, read our dedicated guide:

→ Machu Picchu High Season Guide

What You Need to Provide

• Valid passport — the passport number on your ticket must match exactly. Checked at the gate. If you renew your passport after booking, the ticket has to be updated.
• ISIC student card — only the ISIC (International Student Identity Card) qualifies for the student discount. University ID does not.

Rules Inside the Citadel

• Strict one-way circuit — no backtracking.
• No food inside (water in a reusable bottle is fine).
• Bags must be under 40 × 35 × 20 cm; lockers available at the entrance for larger bags.
• No drones, no tripods, no selfie sticks.
• No re-entry once you exit.
• Bathrooms are outside the entrance (small fee) — go before entering.
• Stay on designated paths; no touching or climbing on structures.

Discounts

• ISIC student card holders: ~50% off the standard ticket.
• Children under 3: free entry.
• Andean Community nationals (Peru, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador): reduced rate with valid national ID.