Machu Picchu is a wonderful destination that the whole family can visit. In the case of young people and teenagers, they benefit from discounted admission for university students and children under 18 years old. In addition, in the Inca citadel, there are different types of adventures to spend a different and memorable moment: the hike to Huayna Picchu, Machupicchu or Huchuy Picchu mountains, and the adventurous route through Hydroelectric. Learn more!

• The adventure of knowing Machu Picchu
• Machu Picchu for teenagers and young adults
• Ticket prices to Machu Picchu for teenagers and young adults
• Discounts for teenagers and young adults
• Tips for a good time in Machu Picchu
• Questions and answers

Young students from abroad visiting Machu Picchu

The route to Machu Picchu by Hydroelectric, a good option for young adventurers
The most economical route to Machu Picchu is the 5-hour bus ride to the hydroelectric station in the jungle of Cusco. Then it continues with an incredible hike preferred by young adventurers. This route is 10 kilometers long and can be covered in two hours on flat roads surrounded by beautiful landscapes. The goal is the town of Aguas Calientes where the visitor must spend the night to visit Machu Picchu the next day. This route avoids the train ride from Ollantaytambo. The bus ticket to Hydroelectric costs only 15 dollars approximately (30 dollars one way and return). This route should be avoided during heavy rains (January, February, and March) due to mud and rock fall.

The adventure of knowing Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu is an adventure suitable for people of all ages, especially for young people and teenagers. Every year, statistics indicate that people between 21 and 30 years old are the ones who arrive at the Inca citadel.

Inside the Inca citadel, you can do different adventures, such as climbing Huayna Picchu mountain, Machupicchu mountain, Huchuy Picchu mountain, or the route to the Inca Bridge. In addition, there are long trekking routes to reach the Inca llaqta, such as the Inca Trail 4 days, the Salkantay Trek 5 days, the Inca Jungle 4 days, the Lares Trek 4 days, and more.

The landscapes surrounding Machu Picchu are simply spectacular. The Inca city is located in the Amazonian jungle, an area of beautiful vegetation and wildlife where the following stand out: the spectacled bear, llamas, the Andean deer, the Andean wolf, the torrent duck, the cock of the rock, and more.

In addition, the city of Cusco (capital of the Inca empire), the base point from where most tours to Machu Picchu depart, is a cosmopolitan point with many tourist services of good quality and lots of fun, such as bars, discos, cafes, restaurants, and hostels. Young people find Cusco as a special place where they can make the best memories.

For all this, year after year, Machu Picchu occupies the first place among the best tourist destinations in the world. Not only for its history, and the quality of its tourist services but also for the adventure and great experience that one can take away from the trip. Young people and teenagers are the most nostalgic for Cusco and Machu Picchu. Many of them even return years later.

Friends enjoying the amazing view of the Inca Citadel

Machu Picchu for teenagers and young adults

Machu Picchu offers discounts for young people and teenagers in the purchase of their entrance ticket, as well as in the purchase of different tours and tourist packages to the Inca citadel.

The entrance fee to Machu Picchu has discounts for university students under 25 years old, as well as for young people and teenagers under 18 years old. In addition, the discount is much better if the visitor comes from a country of the Andean Community of Nations: Peru, Colombia, Ecuador, or Bolivia.

These discounts can also be applied to the purchase of tours and tour packages such as the Machu Picchu 1-day tour, the Inca Trail 4-day tour, the Salkantay trek 5-day tour, the Inca Jungle 4-day tour, etc.

In addition, university students can purchase the Cusco Tourist Ticket with a special discount. This ticket allows the visit to the main tourist attractions of Cusco, such as Pisac, Ollantaytambo, Chinchero, Moray, Sacsayhuaman, Qenqo, Pucapucara, Tambomachay, Tipon, Piquillacta and most of the museums of the city.

In Machu Picchu the best adventurous option is to choose one of the four available trekking routes: a) the hike to the top of Huayna Picchu (1-hour 40-minute route), b) the hike to the top of Machu Picchu mountain (2-hour route), c) the hike to the top of Huchuy Picchu mountain (30-minute route) or d) the hike to the Inca Bridge of Machu Picchu (30-minute route).

Tourists can also save a little money and gain a lot of adventure by arriving at Machu Picchu through the alternative route by Hydroelectric. This way of going to the Inca city includes a first stretch by tourist bus (5 hours) and a second stretch on foot from Hydroelectric to Aguas Calientes (almost 2 hours). This hike is an excellent option for young people who like hiking, beautiful landscapes and, incidentally, saving a little money.

Group of young tourists exploring Machu Picchu

Ticket prices to Machu Picchu for teenagers and young adults

These are the prices of the entrance tickets to Machu Picchu, especially for young people and teenagers:

Which of the Machu Picchu schedules should I choose?
Each of the entrances to Machu Picchu offers different entrance hours, ranging from 6 in the morning to 5 in the afternoon. To choose, the visitor must plan his trip, whether it is for one, two days, or more. In the case of one day, the starting point will be the city of Cusco. Then, it is recommended to choose a schedule at noon. Thus, after the visit, the tourist can return to Cusco on a train in the afternoon or almost at night. In the case of a visit of two or more days, with an overnight stay in Machupicchu village (called Aguas Calientes village), it is best to choose a schedule in the morning, from 6 am or 7 am). This way, the tourist can enjoy the Inca citadel with total tranquility, without haste, since he/she will have enough time to return to Aguas Calientes and board one of the trains that return to Cusco in the afternoons. The schedules are chosen together with the type of ticket at the time of purchase, either online or in person.

Discounts for teenagers and young adults

During your visit to Machu Picchu, you can take advantage of discounts for university students and children under 18 years of age:

• Discount for university students: University students must be under 25 years old and undergraduate at the time of their visit to Machu Picchu. The university card must be made of PVC material, which clearly shows the student’s photo, personal information, and the current expiration date. ISIC university cards, library cards, certificates of enrollment, or any other type of document are not allowed.
• Discount for children under 18 years old: Visitors must be under 18 years old (seventeen years old) at the time of the visit to Machu Picchu. That day they must show at the entrance door the document with which they purchased their ticket, either a passport or identity card, in both cases must be valid. Minors under 18 years of age must be accompanied by their father, mother, or guardians. The entrance to the Huayna Picchu mountain is only allowed to those over 12 years old. The other trekking routes in Machu Picchu are allowed for visitors of all ages.

Father and sons appreciating the Inca Citadel of Machu Picchu

Tips for a good time in Machu Picchu

Are you young and planning to visit Machu Picchu? Follow these tips to have a great time:

• The best way to get to know Machu Picchu for young people is to take a trekking route of several days to get there. The most recommended options are three: the Inca Trail 4 days, the Salkantay trek 5 days, or the Inca Jungle 4 days.
• The Inca Trail 4 days is considered the best trekking route in the world, according to visitors from all over the world. The Salkantay trek for 5 days is considered a route full of beautiful landscapes and incredible tourist attractions (such as the Humantay or the thermal baths of Cocalmayo). Finally, the Inca Jungle 4 days is an excellent option for young adventurers because it includes the practice of adventure sports such as cycling, canoeing, zipline, or trekking.
• For the visit to Machu Picchu, it is highly recommended to take a short hike to one of its mountains. The most popular is the route to the top of Huayna Picchu. For this, you must buy the entrance ticket ‘Machupicchu with Huayna Picchu’. This route is allowed for people over 12 years old.
• During your stay in Cusco do not miss the opportunity to make new friends, whether they are foreigners or locals. The hostels are an excellent option to start a conversation with new people. In addition, they are the most economical hotel services in the trip to Cusco.

Questions and answers

• Is Machu Picchu recommended for young people?

  Yes, most people who visit Machu Picchu every year are young people between 21 and 30 years old. The Inca citadel offers not only history and culture but also a lot of adventure and beautiful landscapes. It is a highly recommended route for young people.

• Can I visit Huayna Picchu if I am a teenager?

  Yes, the trekking route to the top of Huayna Picchu mountain is suitable for visitors over 12 years old. For visitors who are under 18 years old, the entrance is always accompanied by a parent or guardian.

• What discounts are there in Machu Picchu for young people?

  Yes, the entrance to Machu Picchu offers discounts for university students under 25 years old and tourists under 18 years old. Children under 3 years old do not pay entrance fees.

• How to access the discount for university students in Machu Picchu?

  The tourist must be a university student under 25 years old and studying undergraduate studies. The valid document is a valid university card (not an ISIC card).

• How to access the discount for minors in Machu Picchu?

  Tourists must be under 18 years old at the time of their visit to Machu Picchu. The valid document is a valid passport or identity card.

• What is the best hike for young people inside Machu Picchu?

  The hike to the top of Huayna Picchu is considered the best for its beautiful scenery and the adventure of getting to the top.

• What trekking routes can I take to get to Machu Picchu?

  There are several routes of several days such as the Inca Trail 4 days, the Salkantay Trek 5 days, the Lares Trek 4 days, the Huchuy Qosqo Trek 3 days, the Inca Jungle 5 days or the Short Inca Trail 2 days.

• Can I visit Machu Picchu Mountain if I am a teenager?

  Yes, the entrance to this mountain, the highest in Machu Picchu, is suitable for visitors of all ages. Adolescents must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

• Can I visit the Inca Bridge of Machu Picchu if I am a minor?

  Yes, the entrance to this construction and short route in Machu Picchu is suitable for visitors of all ages. Adolescents must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

• Can minors enter Machu Picchu alone?

  No, all visitors under 18 years of age must enter Machu Picchu accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Advice from people who have been there

Machu Picchu

By: Joana

“Family trip“

“I traveled to Cusco in June and enjoyed incredible days, taking advantage of the Inti Raymi and Machu Picchu. I also visited the Sacred Valley and the Rainbow Mountain, everything was a highly recommended experience and I would come back again.“

By Ticket Machu Picchu – Last updated, April 29, 2024