Machu Picchu Entry Ticket Rules: Capacity, Circuits, Time Limits
A Machu Picchu entry ticket is sold only on the Ministry of Culture's official platform, tuboleto.cultura.pe, for one date, one entry time, one circuit and one route, in the visitor's name, and it is issued only once payment is confirmed. The citadel admits up to 5,600 visitors a day in high season and 4,500 in low season, and a standard visit lasts at most 2 hours 30 minutes from entry.
Each rule below names the official text it comes from, linked, with the date we last read it.
Rule by rule
| Rule | What it says | Official source | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|
| How many people can enter each day | The citadel admits up to 5,600 visitors a day in high season and 4,500 in low season. | Ministry of Culture notice, Sep 22, 2026, Ministerio de Cultura del Peru | |
| Where and how tickets are sold | Entry tickets are sold on the official platform, tuboleto.cultura.pe, by direct sale: a ticket is issued in the visitor's name only once payment is confirmed, within a 15-minute purchase window, and an unpaid place goes back on sale. The Ministry of Culture began a 30-day trial of this system on September 22, 2026. | Ministry of Culture notice, Sep 22, 2026, Ministerio de Cultura del Peru | |
| What a ticket covers | The citadel is visited on 3 circuits holding 10 routes, and every ticket is sold for one circuit, one route, one date and one entry time. | RM 528-2023-MC, Ministerio de Cultura del Peru RM 284-2025-MC, Ministerio de Cultura del Peru (El Peruano) | |
| Entry times and how long you can stay | A citadel visit lasts at most 2 hours 30 minutes from entry, with entries between 6:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. | RM 528-2023-MC, Ministerio de Cultura del Peru | |
| The mountain climbs | The two mountain routes allow longer: Huayna Picchu (route 3-A) up to 5 hours 30 minutes in total and Machu Picchu Mountain (route 1-A) up to 6 hours 30 minutes, each with the citadel included, on two morning entry windows. | RM 528-2023-MC, Ministerio de Cultura del Peru | |
| Routes that run only in high season | Four of the 10 routes run in high season only: the Sun Gate (1-C), the Inca Bridge (1-D), the Great Cavern (3-C) and Huchuy Picchu (3-D). High season in 2026 runs January 1, April 2 to 5, June 19 to November 2, and December 30 to 31. | RM 284-2025-MC, Ministerio de Cultura del Peru (El Peruano) RM 285-2025-MC, Ministerio de Cultura del Peru | |
| Fares | Ministerial Resolution 284-2025-MC sets the 2026 promotional entry fares, by circuit and route, for Peruvians, foreign residents of Peru and citizens of the Andean Community (CAN), with the mountain routes in a higher fare band than the standard circuit routes. It does not set the fare for other foreign visitors. | RM 284-2025-MC, Ministerio de Cultura del Peru (El Peruano) | |
| Arriving on the Inca Trail | Hikers arriving on the Inca Trail enter the citadel on route 3-B, under a daily allocation of their own reserved through the licensed operator; a visit on Circuit 2 is a separate ticket. | RM 306-2025-MC, Ministerio de Cultura del Peru |
In brief
Machu Picchu entry is rationed by a daily visitor cap: up to 5,600 visitors a day in high season and 4,500 in low season (Ministry of Culture, September 2026). Every ticket is sold for one circuit, one route, one date and one entry time (Ministerial Resolution 528-2023-MC), and a standard visit lasts at most 2 hours 30 minutes from entry.
Tickets are sold on the official platform, tuboleto.cultura.pe, by direct sale: a ticket is issued in the visitor's name only once payment is confirmed, within a 15-minute purchase window, and an unpaid place goes back on sale. The Ministry of Culture began a 30-day trial of this system on September 22, 2026.
Change history
Material changes to this rule, newest first, each with its official source.
Sep 22, 2026
Direct sale with confirmed payment begins, as a 30-day trial
The Ministry of Culture replaces the three-hour reservation hold with direct sale: a 15-minute purchase window, the ticket issued in the visitor's name once payment is confirmed, unpaid places released back to sale.
Oct 30, 2025
2026 promotional fares by circuit and route
Ministerial Resolution 284-2025-MC sets the 2026 promotional fare for each circuit and route, for Peruvians, foreign residents of Peru and Andean Community (CAN) citizens.
Oct 30, 2025
2026 high season and daily capacity
Ministerial Resolution 285-2025-MC sets the 2026 high-season dates and the daily capacity.
Source: Resolucion Ministerial 285-2025-MC, 2026 daily capacity and high-season dates
Dec 30, 2023
Visits move to 3 circuits and 10 routes
Ministerial Resolution 528-2023-MC rewrites the visitor regulation: every ticket is for one circuit and one route, with the standard stay capped at 2 hours 30 minutes. The new scheme applied from June 2024.
We design your whole Peru trip and arrange every part of it around the right Machu Picchu access, with every entry confirmed as part of it.