Keys to get low prices in Machu Picchu
Visiting Machu Picchu is a wonderful experience that every traveler dreams of experiencing at least once in their life. Any trip can be expensive, but there are certain ways to experience the Inca citadel without paying too much. Below, discover recommendations and tips for a budget-friendly trip to Machu Picchu.
- Entrance tickets to Machu Picchu
- Ticket prices to Machu Picchu
- How to get low prices on tickets to Machu Picchu?
- The cheapest train tickets to Machu Picchu
- Walk or bus to Machu Picchu?
- The tour guide service in Machu Picchu
- The best option to spend the night in Machu Picchu
- Other tours in Cusco
- Frequently Asked Questions
Tourists visiting the Wonder of the World – Classic Photo
Travel seasons to Machu Picchu
- High season in Machu Picchu: During high season (June to August), which coincides with the dry season in Cusco, you’ll find greater availability of routes and more favorable weather, although prices for trains, hotels, and tours also tend to rise due to high demand.
- Low season in Machu Picchu: During the low or regular season, which coincides with the rainy season in Cusco, you’ll find less demand for tickets, a much quieter atmosphere, and cheaper prices, although there will be a greater chance of rain during your trip.
Entrance tickets to Machu Picchu
When purchasing your ticket to the Inca citadel, you’ll notice there are 10 types of tickets, although their availability depends on the season in which you visit Machu Picchu. During peak season (June 19 to November 2), all tickets are available, while during regular season (November 3 to June 18), you’ll find only six tickets, although they are the most popular:
- Ticket Machu Picchu + Mountain – Route 1A
- Ticket Machu Picchu Classic Photo or Upper Terrace – Route 1B
- Ticket Machu Picchu + Inti Punku – Route 1C (high season)
- Ticket Machu Picchu + Inca Bridge – Route 1D (high season)
- Classic Designed Machu Picchu Ticket – Route 2A
- Machu Picchu Classic Ticket Lower Terrace – Route 2B
- Ticket Machu Picchu + Huayna Picchu Mountain – Route 3A
- Ticket Machu Picchu Temples Lower Part or Designed Royalty – Route 3B
- Ticket Machu Picchu + Temple of the Moon or Great Cavern – Route 3C (high season)
- Ticket Machu Picchu + Huchuy Picchu – 3D Route (high season)
Ticket prices to Machu Picchu
All Machu Picchu tickets have fixed prices, regardless of the season of your visit (Find out the best time to visit Machu Picchu). There are two types of fares, although whether you want a discount depends on whether you are a student, a minor, have a disability, or belong to the Andean Community of Nations (CAN).
| Machu Picchu Prices and Tickets | Machu Picchu + Mountain – 1A | Machu Picchu Classic Photo or Upper Terrace – 1B | Machu Picchu + Inti Punku – 1C | Machu Picchu + Inca Bridge – 1D | Machu Picchu Classic Designed – 2A | Machu Picchu Classic Lower Terrace – 2B | Machu Picchu + Huayna Picchu – 3A | Machu Picchu Temple of the Lower Part or Route of Royalty – 3B | Machu Picchu + Great Cavern or Temple of the Moon – 3C | Machu Picchu + Huchuy Picchu – 3D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General (Foreign) | 200 soles | 152 soles | 152 soles | 152 soles | 152 soles | 152 soles | 200 soles | 152 soles | 200 soles | 200 soles |
| Undergraduate student (Foreign) | 125 soles | 77 soles | 77 soles | 77 soles | 77 soles | 77 soles | 125 soles | 77 soles | 125 soles | 125 soles |
| Minor (Foreigner) | 118 soles | 70 soles | 70 soles | 70 soles | 70 soles | 70 soles | 118 soles | 70 soles | 118 soles | 118 soles |
| General (CAN) | 112 soles | 64 soles | 64 soles | 64 soles | 64 soles | 64 soles | 112 soles | 64 soles | 112 soles | 112 soles |
| Undergraduate student (CAN) | 80 soles | 32 soles | 32 soles | 32 soles | 32 soles | 32 soles | 80 soles | 32 soles | 80 soles | 80 soles |
| Minor (CAN) | 80 soles | 32 soles | 32 soles | 32 soles | 32 soles | 32 soles | 80 soles | 32 soles | 80 soles | 80 soles |
| People with disabilities (Peruvians) | 100 soles | 76 soles | 76 soles | 76 soles | 76 soles | 76 soles | 100 soles | 76 soles | 100 soles | 100 soles |
| War Veterans (Peruvians) | Gratuitous | Gratuitous | Gratuitous | Gratuitous | Gratuitous | Gratuitous | Gratuitous | Gratuitous | Gratuitous | Gratuitous |
How to get low prices on tickets to Machu Picchu?
- If you are an undergraduate student visiting the Inca citadel and are under 25 years old, you will receive a discount on tickets to Machu Picchu.
- People under 18 also receive a discount on tickets to Machu Picchu.
- Members of the Andean Community of Nations (CAN), such as Peru, Bolivia, Colombia, and Ecuador, will also receive a discount on the Machu Picchu Ticket.
- If you’re a foreigner and reside in Peru, you’ll also receive a discount on your ticket to Machu Picchu.
- If you are a Peruvian war veteran, you can enter Machu Picchu for free.
- If you’re a member of the CAN (National Association of Confederations of Peruvians) or a foreigner residing in Peru, you can access a 50% discount on tickets between 6:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.
- If you have a disability, you can receive a discount on your Machu Picchu adventure tickets.
- Remember that children under 3 years old enter Machu Picchu for free.
When to book tickets to Machu Picchu?
- During peak season: During peak tourist months in Machu Picchu, you should reserve your ticket at least one or two months in advance. Additionally, if you want one of the most popular tickets, such as Huayna Picchu or the classic circuits, you should do so at least three months in advance.
- During the regular season: During the peak tourist season, you can reserve your ticket to Machu Picchu up to a month in advance; sometimes, just a few weeks will suffice. However, if you want one of the most popular tickets, you should always book well in advance, at least two months in advance.
The cheapest train tickets to Machu Picchu
- Train tickets are distributed by PeruRail and IncaRail.
- There are different types of services on each of them. For example, PeruRail offers the Expedition, Vistadome, Vistadome Observatory, and luxury Hiram Bingham trains.
- Inca Rail, on the other hand, offers The Voyager, The 360, The First Class, and The Private train services.
- For a cheap train ride to Machu Picchu, we recommend choosing the Expedition train or The Voyager train, the two most affordable services offered by both companies.
- Only Peruvian tourists have access to the local train, which is not a tourist service (some people travel standing). However, the cost is much cheaper than the aforementioned tourist trains.
- The best option is to take the train from the town of Ollantaytambo, it will be cheaper and the trip will be much shorter (2 hours).
- We recommend booking your train tickets immediately after knowing your arrival date to Machu Picchu. This way, you can choose the company, time, and type of service you prefer to reach the Inca city of Machu Picchu.
- Remember that the earlier you buy train tickets, the cheaper the prices will be.
- The cheapest option to travel to Machu Picchu is to take the Hidroeléctrica hike. This route begins in Cusco with a 5-hour drive to the Hidroeléctrica station. Then, there’s an easy 2-hour hike to Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu town). This way, you can visit Machu Picchu without having to buy a train ticket.
Tourists waiting for a train – Cusco Train Station
Walk or bus to Machu Picchu?
- Upon arriving at Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu town), you will have to take a short walk to the Inca citadel, since it is located in the mountains.
- The free option to reach Machu Picchu from Aguas Calientes is to ascend a path that steadily climbs along steps. The journey can take approximately two hours to ascend and one hour to descend.
- The most common option to get to (and from) Machu Picchu is to take an eco-friendly bus. Its stop is very close to the central plaza and departs every 15 minutes.
| Cost of the Consettur bus to Machu Picchu | ||
|---|---|---|
| Rates | National | Foreign |
| Adults | $8 (one way) $15 (round trip) | $12 (one way) $24 (round trip) |
| Students | $6 (one way) $10 (round trip) | $12 (one way) $24 (round trip) |
| Children | $5 (one way) $8 (round trip) | $7 (one way) $12 (round trip) |
- The Consettur bus schedules are as follows:
- Ascent: 5:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
- Descent: 6:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
The tour guide service in Machu Picchu
- Tour guide service in Machu Picchu is not mandatory, although the best option is to hire one, as it will add much greater value to your experience.
- With a guide, you’ll be able to make the most of your Machu Picchu itinerary, as well as provide you with information and historical context about what you see.
- Guides can be arranged in several ways: through our website (an authorized travel agency), in the town of Aguas Calientes, or at the entrance to Machu Picchu.
- The best way to save money on a guide is to choose the group service (shared with other tourists) by booking with us or by purchasing their services at the Machu Picchu entrance gate.
- The guided tour of Machu Picchu lasts approximately two hours. The guide is responsible for accompanying tourists on each tour and ensuring the safety and security of both the visitor and the archaeological site.
Tour guide service in Machu Picchu
The best option to spend the night in Machu Picchu
- Cusco has a significant hotel offering, whether in the city of Cusco, the town of Urubamba, Ollantaytambo, Pisac, or in the town of Aguas Calientes (also known as Machu Picchu).
- If you’re planning to stay in the town of Aguas Calientes before your visit to Machu Picchu, you can find accommodations of all prices and amenities, from camping areas and backpacker hostels for 45 soles a night (US$15) to luxury hotels for US$850 a night.
- One of the recommendations we give you to get the best prices on hotels, whether you decide to stay in Cusco or in the town of Aguas Calientes, is that if you are coming during the high season (from May to August) reserve your room months in advance,
- If you book accommodations on the same day, you’ll likely find it more expensive, especially during peak tourist season. That’s why planning your trip in advance is the best option for a budget-friendly experience in Machu Picchu.
Other tours in Cusco
- In addition to visiting Machu Picchu, we recommend taking advantage of your stay in Cusco to explore other tourist attractions such as Pisac, Ollantaytambo, Chinchero, Moray, Maras, Sacsayhuamán, Humantay Lagoon, and Rainbow Mountain.
- All of these tourist destinations can be visited with an all-inclusive tour, although the most affordable option to visit Pisac, Ollantaytambo, Chinchero, Moray, Maras, and Sacsayhuamán is to purchase the Cusco Tourist Ticket. This ticket costs 130 soles for foreign tourists and 70 soles for Peruvian tourists. Along with the Cusco Tourist Ticket, you can visit all of these destinations, as well as other archaeological sites and museums in Cusco.
- Only the Humantay Lagoon and Rainbow Mountain are not included in this ticket. These two destinations, because there is no affordable public transportation available, can be visited on an all-inclusive tour. These are both economical tours compared to the tour to Machu Picchu or other destinations in Cusco.
Maras Salt Mines
Frequently Asked Questions
1) How many types of entrance tickets are there for Machu Picchu?
There are currently 10 types of Machu Picchu admission tickets, each with different routes and specific experiences. These include options such as Machu Picchu + Mountain (Route 1A), Machu Picchu Classic Photo (Route 1B), Machu Picchu + Huayna Picchu (Route 3A), and others.
2) What is the price of tickets to Machu Picchu?
Ticket prices vary: some cost 152 soles for foreign adults (such as Route 1B or 2A) and others, such as those that include Montaña or Huayna Picchu, cost 200 soles. There are also discounts for university students under 25, under 18, and citizens of the Andean Community of Nations.
3) What documents do I need to access ticket discounts?
To qualify for a discount, you must present a valid passport, ID card, or university ID that proves your age, nationality, or student status.
4) Do children pay admission to Machu Picchu?
No, children under 3 years old enter Machu Picchu free of charge. It is recommended to bring proof of age.
5) When should I book train tickets?
It’s recommended to book train tickets immediately after securing your arrival date to Machu Picchu. This will allow you to choose the most convenient service, schedule, and price.
6) Is tour guide service mandatory in Machu Picchu?
Although regulations establish that guide service is mandatory, in practice it is not strictly required. However, having a professional guide enriches the experience of the visit.
7) When should I book accommodation if I am traveling during peak season?
If you plan to travel between May and August, it’s essential to book accommodations several months in advance, as prices increase by up to 30% and availability is significantly reduced.
8) What other tourist places can I visit in Cusco?
In addition to Machu Picchu, Cusco offers attractions such as Pisac, Ollantaytambo, Chinchero, Moray, Maras, Sacsayhuamán, Humantay Lagoon, and Rainbow Mountain.
9) What is the Cusco Tourist Ticket?
The Cusco Tourist Ticket allows entry to several archaeological sites and museums. It does not include Humantay Lagoon or Rainbow Mountain.
10) How to visit the Humantay Lagoon or the Rainbow Mountain?
For these destinations, it’s necessary to book an all-inclusive tour, as there’s no affordable public transportation that goes directly there.
Advice from people who have been there
By: Oxana G.“Spectacular“
“Yes, it is wonderful, due to circumstances of unemployment, we were able to arrive and meet with few people as we had been told, we were exploring with a guide, and then alone enjoying it, my 11-year-old daughter loved it and I especially enjoyed it.“
By Ticket Machu Picchu – Last updated, August 9, 2025