Machu Picchu Ticket Prices 2027: Nationals vs. Foreigners

Before checking availability in the Ministry of Culture’s reservation system, it is helpful to know how much you will pay based on your nationality and which circuit you want to visit. Ticket prices vary significantly depending on whether you are a foreign tourist, a Peruvian citizen, or a citizen of a country in the Andean Community. Knowing those differences in advance helps you plan your budget accurately.

Why do different rates exist

The system of differentiated pricing follows a policy established by Peru’s Ministry of Culture that has been in place for several years at the country’s main archaeological sites. The goal is to make access easier for Peruvian citizens and citizens of member countries of the Andean Community to their own cultural heritage, while foreign tourists contribute through a higher fee that helps fund the conservation and maintenance of the site. This is not a system exclusive to Machu Picchu, but a common practice in museums and archaeological sites throughout the region.

Rates for foreign tourists in 2027

Tickets for foreign adults on standard circuits cost 152 Peruvian soles, equivalent to approximately 40 dollars. The circuits that include access to Huayna Picchu Mountain or Machu Picchu Mountain cost 200 soles, around 53 dollars.

For minors between 3 and 17 years old, the rate is reduced and lower than the adult fare. Children under 3 do not pay an entrance fee, but they must present a document proving their age at the time of entry.

The new conservation fee starting in 2027

Starting on 2027, an additional conservation fee approved through an official resolution will apply. For foreign adult tourists, the increase is 11 additional soles, bringing the total price to 163 soles, equivalent to approximately 48 dollars. For foreign minors, the increase is 5 soles, bringing the total to 157 soles. This fee does not change the circuits, entry times, or purchase process. It is an additional charge intended entirely for the maintenance of the natural sanctuary surrounding the citadel.

Rates for Peruvian citizens in 2027

Peruvian adult citizens currently pay 64 soles, with an increase of 5 soles starting in 2027 that brings the rate to 69 soles, equivalent to approximately 20 dollars. For Peruvian minors between 3 and 17 years old, the price rises from 64 to 67 soles with the same conservation fee.

The valid document to access the national rate is a current Peruvian DNI. Without it, the discount cannot be applied even if you reside in the country.

Rates for the Andean Community and associated countries

Citizens of Bolivia, Colombia, and Ecuador have access to an intermediate rate between the national and foreign rates, known as the promotional fare. To qualify for it, citizens of those countries, as well as Chile, Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, Paraguay, and Venezuela, may present their national identity document instead of a passport. It is important to bring the physical document because it will be checked at the entrance along with the ticket.

Rates for students

Higher education students have access to a reduced rate on both standard circuits and mountain routes. To apply this discount, it is mandatory to present a current higher education student ID issued by the corresponding educational authority, including personal information, a photograph, and a visible expiration date. Without that physical document at the time of entry, the discount cannot be applied even if the ticket was purchased under the student category.

Price difference depending on the circuit

Not all circuits have the same price. Standard circuits have a base fare. Those that include access to one of the mountains within the site cost more because availability is more limited and the route is longer and more demanding. The routes that include a mountain, such as Machu Picchu Mountain, Huayna Picchu Mountain, and the Great Cavern, have a fare of 112 soles under the general category of the promotional rate. For foreign tourists, those same routes cost 200 soles before the 2027 adjustment.

What the ticket price does not include

The ticket to enter the archaeological site does not cover any other travel-related service. The bus ride up from Aguas Calientes to the entrance of the citadel is paid separately and costs 35 dollars round trip. The train from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes is also not included and varies depending on the category selected. Official guides inside the site are also a separate service hired independently.

What document to bring depending on your nationality

For Peruvian citizens, the only valid document is the DNI. For foreign residents in the country, only the foreign resident ID card is valid. For foreign tourists, the required document is a passport. The name and document number shown on the ticket must match exactly with the physical document you present at the entrance. Once the ticket has been issued, personal information and the selected circuit cannot be changed.

Manage your ticket with Peru Sites

At Peru Sites, we guide you on the right circuit based on your nationality, age, and type of visit, and we handle the ticket purchase with the advance planning needed to secure availability on the date you need. We also coordinate the train, the bus, and your transfer from Cusco so you arrive at Machu Picchu with everything confirmed.