Buying a ticket to Machu Picchu has always been an overwhelming endeavour for the first time visitor since the circuit system was introduced and in 2024 the Ministerio de Cultura announced big changes to the circuits making it even more confusing.
Instead of the previous 4 circuits, there are now 3. That might sound like they have made it more straightforward until you realise there are now 10 (!) different ticket types you can buy.
We walked each of the four previous circuits, so using our first hand knowledge and the new maps, we are going to simplify the new ticket options for you.
As well as walking every circuit, we climbed two mountains and watched two sunrises, so we’ve got a good understanding of not only the best circuits and tickets, but also the best times to visit!
Here’s exactly which Machu Picchu circuit you should pick based on our first hand experience.
A brief overview of the circuits
Machu Picchu has a one-way system and you must stick to the specific circuit you booked before visiting. This was introduced as a way to disperse the crowds and protect the site.
The security guards are pretty easy going on most things, but the one-way system is something they strictly enforce - you can’t retrace your steps or go in the wrong direction.
As of 2024, there are three circuits at Machu Picchu:
Circuito 1: Panorámico - which is the upper terrace only.
Circuito 2: Circuito Clásico - a reworked version of the old circuit 2, this takes in a part of the upper terrace before going round the entirety of the lower terrace.
Circuito 3: Machupicchu Realeza - a circuit that focuses on the royal buildings (the Temple of the Sun, the Royal Palace and the Temple of the Condor), which sticks solely to the lower terraces.
How to pick your circuit
We’re going to go into more detail at the end of the article about the different tickets you can buy for each circuit and the nuances involved, but we're going to start by explaining what to expect from each circuit. Unlike the previous system, the new circuits have a clear purpose.
For now, we’re going to focus on people booking a circuit without an additional mountain hike or historical site - those who want what you would call a "general entry” ticket.
After explaining each circuit, we’ll also outline a few things to know about the circuit system before giving you our recommendations.
Circuito 1 (Panoramico): for those who want the iconic photo
Circuit 1 is a short loop that goes up to the upper part of Machu Picchu and then circles back to the entrance.
It has clearly been designed for those who want the iconic photo of Machu Picchu and the overall best views. The circuit simply heads to the upper terraces where you can see the iconic view of Huayna Picchu looming over the lower part of the citadel.
The view of the ruins and the surrounding mountains is breathtaking and ideally everyone would visit this part of Machu Picchu. If you want to explore a large portion of the site you will need to buy more than one entry ticket, however, if you plan on simply getting ‘the picture’ and really aren’t fussed about exploring the entire site, then this circuit alone will work for you.
This is also the circuit that is added on to the tickets for Machu Picchu Mountain, Inca Bridge (Puente Inka) and the Sun Gate (Intipunku).
Circuito 2 (Circuito Clásico): for those who want to see a large part of the site
Circuit 2 is the most comprehensive of all the circuits at Machu Picchu, covering the largest part of the site. The circuit heads up to the inferior platform in the upper part of the citadel before taking you through the majority of the buildings and sites in the lower part of Machu Picchu.
This circuit takes you to most of the temples and the sacred rock (however, you can’t go inside the Temple of the Sun and Royal Palace - you walk underneath them) and explores the lower terraces extensively.
However, those looking for the traditional postcard view will be disappointed, as it only briefly visits the upper terraces and doesn’t go to the spot where that iconic view is (you will be beneath that view as you can see in the photo below). You’ll still get a great view, but not THAT view.
There are two types of general entry ticket for circuit 2 with the only difference being whether you briefly head up the “Terraza Inferior” in the upper city (which is included in Ruta 2-B Ruta Terraza Inferior) or you skip it with the Ruta 2-A Ruta Diseñada ticket.
For history buffs and people really wanting to take their time and see the whole site, then circuit 2 is the one to book.
At the current time, circuit 2 goes via both the Pyramid del Intiwatana (7am - 10am) and the Temple of the Condor (1pm - 4pm).
As you are technically only allowed to be on the site for 4 hours, there is no time slot that means you can visit both temples. However, we didn’t see anyone enforce the 4 hour rule, so it’s likely you could pick a 9am slot and still be allowed to get into the Temple of the Condor.
Circuito 3 (Machupicchu Realeza): for the Temple of the Sun & avoiding stairs
Circuit 3 is our least favourite of all the circuits because the majority of it is covered by circuit 2, so you simply see less. However, if you don’t want, or are unable to tackle many stairs, this is the circuit for you.
The lack of stairs makes it the easiest of the three circuits. It’s also the only circuit that takes you into the Royal Palace and the Temple of the Sun.
For anyone who is very keen to see these two sites, then you may want to book a ticket for circuit 3. However, for everyone else, we’d recommend circuit 1 or 2.
Circuit 3 is added onto tickets for Wayna Picchu (Huayna Picchu), the Gran Caverna and Huchuy Picchu.
5 Things to know about the Machu Picchu Circuits
Book well ahead for the postcard sunrise view
The new system has meant getting to see sunrise from the upper citadel is now a lot harder. The best sunrise views are on circuit 1 and there are only 30 tickets available for the 6am - 7am slot (you’d need to book the “circuito 1 - ruta terraza superior” ticket).
There are no other circuit 1 tickets available from 6am and you are no longer allowed to enter Machu Picchu in the hour preceding the entry time (you can only enter during the slot you’ve booked).
Circuit 1 view
Circuit 1 view
Whilst you can still enter the site at 6am on the “circuito 2 - ruta terraza inferior” - which has over 100 tickets available and goes to the inferior platform in the upper city - it isn’t quite the same as getting that view from circuit 1.
If you are unable to get that “circuito 1 - ruta terraza superior” for sunrise, then the next best option is “circuito 2 - ruta terraza inferior” at sunrise. The view here is still good (it sits directly below the Guardian House), just not as good as the circuit 1 views.
Circuit 2 view
It’s worth spending 2 days at Machu Picchu
Whilst we had glorious conditions when we visited, Machu Picchu is known for it’s changeable and sometimes very cloudy weather. For this reason, it’s worth visiting on at least two different days if you possibly can.
We’ve heard about people arriving at Machu Picchu and not being able to see it because of the thick cloud cover! If you can’t go for more than one day, allow one full day so that if you arrive in the morning and the Machu Picchu is under cloud, then you can wait it out as it’s usually not bad for an entire day.
The other benefit of spending 2 days at Machu Picchu is that you can hike up the mountains and see the gems which are away from the main site. These require additional tickets.
They also require additional entries, which will also mean more time (unless you plan on spending a very long day stacking them back to back), so you’ll appreciate a second day. A night in the nearby town of Aguas Calientes is a fun experience and has plenty of good hotels and food options.
There’s a one-way system
One important thing to be aware of is the one-way system, as this is strictly enforced around the upper part of the site. It is pretty problematic as the signage at Machu Picchu is poor and so a wrong turn can mean your day comes to a very abrupt end.
We saw several people take a wrong turn and be told to leave before they had the chance to explore a lot of the site!
The Guardian House postcard view is restricted
The updated system means that only people on a multi day hike (Inca Trail etc) are allowed into the small area directly by the famous Guardian House on the upper part of Machu Picchu - the place that is known specifically as the “postcard view of Machu Picchu”.
Circuit 1 and the “Terraza Inferior” ticket on circuit 2 will allow you to go on the terraces and lawns directly next to the Guardian House, which will often have llamas wandering around in the early morning.
We’d argue the “Terraza Superior” (circuit 1) - the area to the left of the Guardian House and the terraces - is just as good, but it’s technically not the most famous spot. The Guardian House is the most quiet of all the classic viewpoints.
The temples aren’t open all day
At the time of writing, the three main temples at Machu Picchu aren’t open all day. As they are under restoration, there are specific opening times, so if you are keen to see them, you will want to ensure you’ve booked a ticket with the right time slot.
Here’s the current opening times for each temple and which circuit they are on:
Temple of the Sun: Circuit 3 (only a view from 2), open between 1pm & 4pm
Temple of the Condor: Circuit 2 & 3, open between 10am & 1pm
Pyramid del Intiwatana: Circuit 2, open between 7am to 10am
Which circuit should you choose?
The best circuit truly depends on why you want to visit Machu Picchu. If you’re there as part of a very quick trip, and simply want to get that incredible view, then circuit 1 is for you. If you’re wanting a more rounded trip - exploring the entire site and taking in the history - then circuit 2 is a must.
The tickets for circuit 2 are general entry (i.e you can’t do circuit 2 with a side trail/mountain), so if you want to visit the entire site you will have to buy a ticket which includes circuit 2. You can still cover a lot of the site with circuit 1 and 3, but sites such as the Intiwitana or Sacred Rock are only on circuit 2.
Circuit 1 and circuit 3 can be done in addition to the mountain hikes and historical sites, so if you plan on doing any of these trails then you won’t need to buy a separate general entry ticket.
What we recommend
Snag a circuit 1 sunrise ticket
Sunrise at Machu Picchu is magical and taking in the site from the upper city is a truly memorable experience.
Seeing the sun rise above the mountains and bathe the citadel in golden light is an unforgettable experience, and the best views are on circuit 1. The only tickets that allow entry at sunrise on circuit 1 are the ‘Ruta Terraza Superior’ tickets.
However, there are only 30 of these sold each day, so if you’re unable to get the “Circuito 1 - Ruta Terraza Superior” ticket for 6am, get a “Circuito 2 - Ruta Terraza Inferior” as you can get still get an upper city view for sunrise.
Buy multiple tickets
Unless you plan on having a really quick visit, we recommend buying multiple tickets. That way you can really see the best of Machu Picchu which is just not possible with one ticket alone. If you just want to see the main site, then we’d recommend booking a circuit 2 ticket with your circuit 1 sunrise ticket.
If you love hiking, we’d highly recommend booking one of the mountain climbs, the most iconic being Huayna Picchu.
One benefit to visiting now these new tickets have come into effect is that you can also visit a couple of historical sites that were previously closed - the Intipunku Sun Gate (previously only able to be visited by those hiking the Inca Trail) and the Gran Caverna.
A brief explanation of the ticket types
General Entry
For foreign visitors, there are ten ticket types, spread across the three circuits. Four of these are what we’d call “general entry” which is essentially visiting the main site around one of the circuits. These are:
Circuito 1 - Ruta Terraza Superior
Circuito 2 - Ruta Clàsico Diseñada
Circuito 2 - Ruta Terraza Inferior
Circuito 3 - Ruta Realeza Diseñada
All of these ticket types have 10 time slots, starting at 6am with the final entry being at 3pm.
They all cost the same at 152 soles ($40 USD), but the big difference is how many are available. The much coveted Circuito 1 - Ruta Terraza Superior only sells 30 tickets per hour, whereas Circuito 2 - Ruta Clàsico Diseñada and Circuito 2 - Ruta Terraza Inferior have over 100 tickets per hour.
Circuito 3 - Ruta Realeza Diseñada has 50 tickets per hour.
The mountains and historical sites
The remaining 6 tickets will not only grant access to either circuit 1 or 3, but also to additional parts of the site. Three are for the mountains (Machu Picchu Mountain, Wayna Picchu Mountain and Huchuy Picchu Mountain) and the other 3 are for historic sites (Inca Bridge, the Gran Caverna and the Sun Gate/Intipinku).
If you have the time (and feel fit enough), we highly recommend adding at least one of the mountain hikes and we also loved the short, but beautiful trail to Inca Bridge.
Inca Bridge
Views from Inca Bridge
These trails are in addition to either circuit 1 or 3 (depending on which side trail you chose). If you aren’t bothered about visiting at sunrise, then it makes a lot of sense to combine circuit 1 with Machu Picchu Mountain (Montaña Machupichu), Inca Bridge (Punte Inka) or the Sun Gate (Portada Intipunku).
Some of the side trails cost more than the general entry, with Machu Picchu Mountain, Wayna Picchu Mountain and the Gran Caverna all costing 200 soles ($52 USD). The other tickets are all the same price as the general entry.
Machu Picchu Mountain Views
Machu Picchu from Machu Picchu Mountain
We won’t go into too much detail, but we have written separate articles to help you decide which mountain hike is best for you - you can read it here - and we have an article dedicated to Inca Bridge.
How to book your tickets
The best way to buy your tickets for Machu Picchu is from the official government website. There are other websites, but they are resellers.
Unfortunately, the official website is temperamental, so you will need to be patient. The homepage is defaulted to be in Spanish and it can become unstable when you try to use Google Translate or any other way to translate to English, so we recommend keeping it in Spanish.
Similarly, if you wait a few seconds, sometimes dates which are greyed out can suddenly become available.
Firstly you have to pick a rate - which to 99% of people reading this will be “Tarifa General” (General Rate). The other rates are a Promotional Rate or for residents of Cusco.
Once you have picked this, you choose the specific version of the circuit you want to choose.
From here you will then need to create an account, fill in your details and then proceed to payment. There are 4 options here, of which only 2 are usable to foreign tourists. If you choose to pay via IZIPAY, then we’d recommend using a credit card for security and protection.
After this you should soon be emailed a ticket in a pdf format. This may take a little time, but if it takes more than a day contact the Ministerio de Cultura. When we visited, we paid (the money left our account) and thought we had booked, but never received the tickets. When we checked with the government, they said we hadn’t booked and would be refunded within the next 2 months….
Once you have your tickets, remember to bring your passport with you to Machu Picchu. Whilst they didn’t check ours, the standard procedure is that the staff at the entry gate will check that your ticket matches your passport details.
Essential info for visiting Machu Picchu
Food and facilities
There are no toilets or places selling food within Machu Picchu, once you go through the entrance gate there are only ruins. You can’t access anything until you leave the site again (and virtually all tickets won’t allow you back in once you’ve left - Machu Picchu Mountain + Circuit 3 is the only ticket allowing re-entry.
There are toilets at the entry gate (2 soles / 50c), so we’d recommend going before you enter the site! The entry gate also has a place to store luggage (5 soles / $1.40 USD) and sells raincoats for 6 soles.
You are not allowed to bring any food into Machu Picchu, but you are allowed to bring water in a reusable bottle. We didn’t see these rules strictly enforced when we visited, but the ticket attendants at the entrance may check your bag and dispose/confiscate anything that doesn’t comply with the rules.
We feared that no food and little water for 4-7 hours would be a real struggle, but luckily there are a couple of food options outside of the main site. The cafe serves a small selection of hot food, sandwiches, coffee and soft drinks. There’s also a stall selling ice creams by the hotel at the entrance, as well as a more expensive buffet restaurant.
You can also buy drinks from a vending machine, or some entrepreneurial locals who will undercut the vending machine prices.
Altitude sickness
Machu Picchu is one of the lower elevation sites in the Sacred Valley (2400m), and most people start their trips from Cusco, a city that sits at 3,500m above sea level. Therefore most people have already acclimatised in Cusco before arriving in Machu Picchu so altitude sickness is unlikely (but not impossible)
You might still be out of breath more quickly, especially if you try to push yourself too hard before your body adjusts.
Be sure to take plenty of rests, don’t push yourself and stay well hydrated. Many hotels offer free coca tea or coca sweets which can help alleviate symptoms.
Bus times & tickets for your slots
Unless you’re doing the Inca Trail, walking in from Hidroeléctrica, or walking up the huge hill from Aguas Calientes, all trips to Machu Picchu start with a bus ride from Aguas Calientes (the nearby town). The earliest bus you can get is the 5.30am with the final one departing Machu Picchu at 5.30pm (at time of writing). They depart every 5-10 minutes throughout the day, queues tend to be at their longest before midday when leaving Aguas Calientes.
The journey from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu takes between 20-25 minutes. You’ll need to buy a ticket before you get on the bus and there’s a ticket office in Aguas Calientes and Machu Picchu. Bus tickets are surprisingly expensive at around USD $12 one way, and there’s no discount for a return ticket, so you don’t have to decide whether you want to take the bus until you’ve finished the site.
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