Machu Picchu. The latest addition to the new seven wonders of the world list and most famous of the Incan ruin sites.
Revered, renowned and…remote. Its isolated Andes Mountain range location makes it all the more awe-inspiring, but also trickier to get to.
Despite being one of the most popular tourist attractions in the world, I was surprised at how confusing guidance was online when looking to plan an itinerary to visit. I found trying to make sense of the various routes, time frames for travel and even how to purchase a ticket, draining.
The aim of this blog is to put all the key Machu Picchu information in one place, hopefully going some way in answering the questions you likely have on how to visit this amazing place.
And remember, with a maximum daily visitor capacity of 2500, it’s important you plan your trip well in advance and know exactly what it is you’re booking.
So… here we go…
Buying Entry Tickets To Machu Picchu
The official ticket purchasing website for Machu Picchu is linked here. If possible this is where you should buy your admission tickets. The problem, however, is that tickets on this site sell out months in advance. Unless you’re booking far in advance of your visit to Peru, it’s unlikely you’ll have success buying tickets last minute.
If you’re reading this post and suddenly freaking out about the fact that you haven’t bought your tickets yet and they are indeed sold out on this website – don’t worry. There are a few options open to you:
Third Party Ticket Websites
There are plenty of third party ticket sellers online, however I can only vouch for the one I have used and was successful with, which was GetYourGuide. They were very easy to book with and provided lots of support.
An Organised All-Inclusive Tour
There are many tour companies that offer entry tickets as part of a wider excursion, likely one of the Inca trails or via a private guide. You can head to popular sites such as Viator to book these, but they will likely be extraordinarily expensive.
The Ticket Sales Office in Cusco
In Cusco, the nearest city to Machu Picchu, there are a number of ticket offices that may have tickets available at short notice. However you will need to queue and it’s a game of luck as to whether they will have anything when you make it to the sales desk. There is also the reality of having limited choice in terms of which circuit your ticket will be (more on that coming up).
Queue at Aguas Calientes
Aguas Calientes is the launching pad for visiting Machu Picchu. There are VERY LIMITED tickets available each day in the town at the tourist information centre. However you will have to queue for a VERY long time (we are talking hours). And there isn’t a guarantee they will have anything left by the time you get to the desk.
Before you book your entrance tickets however, let’s talk about circuits and which one/s you’ll want to choose to maximise your Machu Picchu experience…
Making Sense Of Machu Picchu’s Circuit System
To help preserve the 15th century old site a ‘circuit’ system was introduced in 2021. These are essentially routes you can walk and dictate what areas you can explore within the ancient citadel.
However, not all routes are equal. Most importantly, some of them will NOT TAKE YOU to the classic Machu Picchu viewpoint (a warning to all Instagrammers!). It’s EXTREMELY important that you book the right circuit ticket if you want the famous shot to show off to family back home.
Do I think it’s an incredibly confusing system? Yes. Which is why I’ve broken it all down for you:
Machu Picchu Only Circuit 1
- Ensures you get the classic shot of Machu Picchu from above
- Allows you to explore the upper and lower parts of the citadel
- Covers- upper platform (classic viewpoint), guardian’s house, lower platform, sun temple, dry moat, quarry, Intiwatana pyramid, temple square, the oriental storehouses, water mirror, temple of the condor, Pisonay square and archaeological reserve
Machu Picchu Circuit 1 & Inca Bridge
- Ensures you get the classic shot of Machu Picchu from above
- The rest is the same of the above with the addition of being able to hike the Inca Bridge
Machu Picchu Only Circuit 2
- Ensures you get the classic shot of Machu Picchu from above
- Is considered to be the most favourable circuit due to amount of ground covered
- Allows you to explore the upper and lower parts of the citadel
- Covers- upper platform (classic viewpoint), guardian’s house, lower platform, sun temple, dry moat, quarry, Intiwatana pyramid, temple square, the oriental storehouses, water mirror, temple of the condor, Pisonay square and archaeological reserve
Machu Picchu Circuit 2 & Inca Bridge
- Ensures you get the classic shot of Machu Picchu from above
- The rest is the same of the above with the addition of being able to hike the Inca Bridge
Circuit 3 & Machu Picchu Mountain*
- Ensures you get the classic shot of Machu Picchu from above (but there’s a caveat*)
- Allows you to visit the lower parts of the citadel
- Covers- lower platform, sun temple, dry moat, quarry, Intiwatana pyramid, temple square, the oriental storehouses, water mirror, temple of the condor, Pisonay square and archaeological reserve.
- Allows you entry to hike up Machu Picchu Mountain
- The only ticket that allows you re-entry into the citadel (as the entrance to Machu Picchu Mountain is within the citadel)
*Note: This is the route we were able to secure, and while it’s not as popular as 1 or 2, it does enable you to access Machu Picchu Mountain (which is a pretty epic hike!). And importantly we found that YOU CAN still get access to the classic viewpoint area despite it being advertised as only showcasing the lower part of the citadel. Essentially, this ticket enables you into the citadel and you then leave and re-enter at a seperate point to begin your hike of Machu Picchu Mountain. Once you’ve done that/got as far as you can you can then loop round to the viewpoint to take your pictures. Our friendly guide pointed this out to us and we wouldn’t have known without his insight!
IMPORTANT: The following routes will not enable you to access the classic viewpoint. I would recommend you try to avoid these unless you’re not really that bothered about missing out on seeing the famous view of Machu Picchu from above.
Circuit 4 & Huchuy Picchu
- Does not enable you to visit the classic viewpoint of Machu Picchu from above
- Allows you to visit the lower parts of the citadel
- Allows you to hike up Huchuy Picchu Mountain. From here you will have amazing views of Machu Picchu from behind (just not the classic Instagram one).
- Covers- lower platform, agricultural area, sun temple, dry moat, water fountains, sacred rock, twelve openings, the oriental storehouses, water mirror, temple of the condor, Pisonay square and archaeological reserve
Circuit 5
- This circuit is for all Inca Trail hikers, who enter the citadel at the guard house, thus ensuring you get the classic shot of Machu Picchu from above
- The rest of the circuit allows you to visit the lower parts of the citadel only
- Covers: Inca house, the water fountain, agricultural terrace, the temple of the sun, temple of the condor, the sacred rock, the main square and the storehouses
Things To Note Once You’re Inside
When purchasing a ticket you will be able to choose an hour long window in which to visit. While it obviously varies day by day, most people agree that it’s around 10/11am when the clouds disappear (you are in the cloud forest after all!) and you get to witness Machu Picchu in all its glory. If you have a long circuit ticket or one that enables you to climb one of the mountains, get there as early as you can so that you can explore at your leisure before making your way to the classic viewpoint and see the magical sight of Machu Picchu appear…
The route of each circuit flows in one direction only and your guide will direct you according to the route you have a ticket for. While your ticket allocates you enough time to explore, just be aware that you won’t be able to go back at any point. There are minders located throughout the citadel to make sure of this.
Route 3 ended up being really great for us as we got to hike a pretty impressive mountain and see the classic viewpoint. We would also suggest routes 1 and 2. 4 is fantastic if you’re brave enough to climb Huchuy Picchu (watch some Youtube videos if you’re curious about what to expect!). However, remember you won’t get that classic shot. Try to avoid circuit 5 unless it’s all that is left.
Now we’ve got the ticket and circuit details out the way, let’s talk about how to actually get to the citadel, shall we?
Getting To Machu Picchu From Cusco (Train Tickets!)
If you are visiting Machu Picchu, you will more than likely be passing through Cusco. The city has a UNESCO World Heritage status bestowed upon it, and for good reason, as it was once the capital of the Incan empire. The capital of the Incan empire and the route to Machu Picchu!
I would recommend not bypassing Cusco and taking the time to explore the city before or after visiting Machu Picchu. It’s a beautiful, historic and fascinating place.
Now comes the important part…
It’s impossible to get to Machu Picchu by anything but rail travel. The furthest you can go by bus/car towards Aguas Calientes (the last stop before getting to Machu Picchu) is to Ollantaytambo. From there you can hike the Inca Trail or continue on by train.
Despite the lack of transport options, the train is all part of the ‘experience’ and it’s quite a fun and exciting journey to take.
Your only two options when it comes to train companies that operate on the route from Cusco to Machu Picchu are Peru Rail and Inca Rail. They have a monopoly on the market and for that reason tickets can be pretty pricey (something to account for when planning your trip).
You also NEED TO BOOK IN ADVANCE to make sure that train availability matches your chosen date to visit Machu Picchu. Can you imagine!?
Both Peru Rail and Inca Rail provide a good service and get you where you need to go. They offer a variety of carriage types but we personally ended up choosing Peru Rail’s Exhibition train journey. This essentially gave us a glass roof on the train and large windows so we could see the surrounding landscape. There was a small snack cart and no entertainment (which we personally appreciated).
Something else I would mention is that you should expect delays in your journey – stops are made along the way and we had to slow down or stop at certain times for various reasons. This is why I would say it’s a good idea to leave plenty of time before you are due to head up to Machu Picchu on your designated time slot. Try to not leave your train travel to the same day you have entry tickets for ideally.
The route is slow but wonderfully scenic. Enjoy it!
What Is Aguas Calientes & What Has It Got To Do With Machu Picchu?
Unless you’re stopping off early, the train will take you to its end-point of Aguas Calientes, a town situated in the Urubamba River Valley, at the foot of the mountains where Machu Picchu is located.
The town’s name reflects the thermal waters that rush through its centre – its namesake literally meaning ‘hot waters’ in Spanish! There are, as the name suggests, hot springs which some visitors like to visit after they’ve completed a trek to relax aching muscles.
There isn’t much to do here aside from a few overpriced restaurants and souvenir shopping, as it is a thoroughfare to your final destination – Machu Picchu! – but is equally a really unique and intriguing place to explore.
It’s often also referred to as Machu Picchu Town or Machu Picchu Pueblo. The town was essentially built for tourism and exists as a little microcosm made up of hotels, shops, restaurants and all things geared up to make visitors of Machu Picchu comfortable. You can’t get to Machu Picchu without visiting Aguas Calientes.
I personally really loved spending a day either side of our Machu Picchu exploration day to just wander around the town, buy some souvenirs at the market and watch the trains come through from Cusco.
Top Tip – Pack strong mosquito repellent! Because of the rainforest-like conditions here, mosquitos are everywhere, so be sure to protect yourself.
Bus Tickets In Aguas Calientes
A final piece of the puzzle when it comes to visiting Machu Picchu is getting bus tickets from the centre of Aguas Calientes up into the mountains and to the entrance of the citadel.
Do yourself a favour and purchase your bus tickets the day before you need them. They will cost $24 for a round trip and will save you so much hassle, particularly if you have a very early morning entry ticket.
I would also advise you to scout out where you will be queuing for your bus in the day(s) leading up to your Machu Picchu visit as it will just make the whole process super streamlined. Just look for all the hundreds of people queuing up in a line down the main street all day for guidance!
The first buses leave Aguas Calientes at 5:30 am so if you have a 6am entrance time on your ticket like we did, you will want to start queuing at about 5:00/5:15 am and get on the first fleet of buses. It gets busy and runs on a first come, first serve basis.
Address for ticket booth/bus stop: Avenida Hermanos Ayar.
The bus ride takes approximately 30 minutes and the route drives along a cool (and slightly terrifying looking!) zig-zag formation cut into the mountain covering a distance of about 8 km.
I already know some people will wonder if you absolutely need bus tickets or if you can walk up to the entrance. The answer to this is no, you don’t require them and you can indeed hike up the entrance of Machu Picchu. However, it’s really not advisable or sensible. The route is steep, takes between 1-2 hours and would require you to battle against the elements (the heat, rain etc.). It doesn’t make much sense to hike as you will be doing A LOT of hiking and walking once you’re inside Machu Picchu anyway, so I would highly recommend you conserve your energy.
And Finally… Should You Get A Guide For Machu Picchu?
There is so much misinformation out there about guides for Machu Picchu so let me set the record straight.
Yes, you can book a tour guide before getting to the entry gates at Machu Picchu. You will probably be approached by people offering their guide services when in Aguas Calientes, especially when you’re in the queue for the bus ride up the mountain.
My advice? Don’t bother pre-booking. There are dozens of official and regulated guides on standby when you get to the entrance gates of Machu Picchu and are easily recognisable by their blue vests.
But I hear you ask: do we even need a guide?
The answer is… YES.
We were wondering this too, until we actually took the chance to book a guide and understand that while you may save a few pennies walking around the citadel on your own, you really don’t get the full experience and understanding of what this sacred and magnificent place is all about. Having a guide brings the whole place to life. They know all the important sites and secrets that you wouldn’t ever learn about when wandering around on your own.
If you are travelling solo or are on a tighter budget you can always do what we did and share a guide with some other travellers. We found a couple while queuing and negotiated a shared guide, which meant each of us ended up paying less per person by spreading out costs. From memory alone, I believe a guide works out at about $60 (or thereabouts) and it should be a flat rate that you can share with your party. Bring cash.
Top Tip – Each of the guides are skilled at speaking different languages, so rest assured there will never be any language barrier issues.
Our guide was fantastic. And if it wasn’t for him we wouldn’t have known about how to access the famous viewpoint when holding a ticket for circuit 3. We owed him big time, so found him later in the day and gave him a tip. Always tip your guides! Especially the really good ones!
Without that man we would have had a completely different experience of Machu Picchu.
The Inca Trail/s and Trekking To Machu Picchu – Important!
I want to be fully transparent that we did not trek to Machu Picchu, so I can’t tell you what trekking to the citadel was like. There are plenty of other bloggers who will be helpful on that front.
What I can say on this matter is that we met lots of people who told us that treks such as the Inca Trail or Salkantay Trek sell out much quicker than simply purchasing entry tickets into Machu Picchu. Get your trek booked as early as possible to avoid being disappointed.
And my other VERY important piece of advice when booking a trek is to CHECK WHAT ROUTE YOUR ENTRY TICKET GETS YOU.
When you book onto a trek, as part of your complete booking price, tickets for entry into the citadel will be allocated to you for the day you finally make it to Machu Picchu. I’ve heard several stories from people who were given an entry ticket by their guide on the big day but were not aware of what kind of route/circuit (I told you the routes are important!) that entry ticket allocated them once they were at the entrance to the citadel.
As I’ve already mentioned, some routes DO NOT enable you to visit that iconic view of Machu Picchu (pictured below). You can pretend that it’s not important, but trust me, it is. If you’ve just spent 5 days in the jungle hiking your way up there, you best believe you deserve a sick photo to go home with.
Alongside all the bug bites.
Good Luck!
Booking the trip to Machu Picchu was probably the most expensive and frustrating element of our entire backpacking experience in South America. However, I have to say that once we got there every second of it was worth it. While many ‘touristy’ places are often disappointing, this one definitely lived up to its hype and reputation. Hopefully my guide will go some way in ensuring you have an equally amazing trip.
Machu Picchu is just the most incredible place and every step of the journey – from being in Cusco to getting the train to Aguas Calientes – was so fun and interesting. There is truly magic in the air at Machu Picchu. It’s an unforgettable place that I hope to one day revisit!
If you have any other questions please feel free to message me in the comments section or via my social media. I will be happy to help in whatever way possible.
Until next time,
Lica xoxo
