Can travelers buy their own tickets to Machu Picchu? Should they? What are the risks for making a mistake? Do people actually go to Machu Picchu and get turned away if there's an issue with their ticket or document? This year in 2024, there are some changes you need to be aware of. 

The short quick answer is "Yes," anyone can access the official Machu Picchu website and buy entry tickets.  If you're one of those people who is comfortable navigating new websites and have the skills to analyze the layout and the info to determine what you want, then there's no reason why you can't and shouldn't buy your own Machu Picchu entry tickets online.  

NOTE: Effective June 1, 2024, Machu Picchu National Park is changing the circuits. This is expected to affect all visitors who bought tickets online in advance. For the latest info about NEW circuits at Machu Picchu. CLICK HERE

Here's a new post we made that includes the English translation for 13 pages of Machu Picchu "Terms and Conditions." CLICK HERE.

How do you decide which tickets to buy for your trip to Machu Picchu?

Not fully understanding your ticketing options is one of the first steps in making mistakes. This is where it can get complicated because there are now 10 routes and 6 hikes inside the park. Each of the 6 hikes is paired with one entry ticket to a circuit that may or may not include access to explore inside the city. In the year 2023, there was an unexpected shakeup in visitor preference for tickets that included access to the upper terrace. And why? Because that is the only location for the Classic View of Machu Picchu. Let's say access to the Classic View of Machu Picchu was all the rage in 2023. What's so special about the upper terrace? CLICK HERE to read more. 

Mistake #1. You think you're buying Machu Picchu tickets from the official NEW government website. But you're not.

Here's the update. The official Peru government website that sells Machu Picchu tickets is shifting ticket sales to a new private platform. I posted all the details on the post linked above in the first paragraph. After January 20, 2024, tickets will be sold by a private company online, called Joinnus, the website is called Tu Boleto.. If you go to the old Machu Picchu government website and click "BUY TICKETS" it will automatically redirect you to the new site (see the link I included above to go to the post with all the links. There's a scam site with same name. Make sure you get the correct URL)

Mistake #2: Payment for Machu Picchu tickets did not go through

• Credit cards / debit cards are the only way to pay for Machu Picchu tickets online. People in Cusco have the option to pay in person at Banco de la Nacion, or the ticket office on Garcilasa street. (with 5 hour window in 2024 to complete payment. More TickTock!)
• Machu Picchu website offers two options for processing credit cards. When we buy tickets we use VISA which we have noticed doesn't always work after hours. For some reason it only works during Peru business hours. We think it might be the merchant service provider NIUBIZ. We also have Mastercard and we have found the 2nd processor (which is IZIPAY) works round the clock with MC. (see the image at the top of this post. The payment options are displayed in the lower left corner)
• After completing your payment, go to your credit card or bank statement and look for the transaction. It may be pending, in which case you need to check back just to confirm that the payment was successful. Payments can be rejected. If that happens your reservation code has a window to complete the payment. (I believe in 2024 that window is now 5 hours) If you don't want that reservation for some reason, just let it time out and start again. There's no way to double check by pasting your reservation code on the official government website. The old website had a search bar where you could paste the code and if it was valid, your actual tickets would pop up. But that has been eliminated. So. Make sure you confirm that the payment definitely didn't go through before you start over. 
• If your payment is successful you will get an immediate download to view your tickets in your account on Joinnus website. Then you can print and review. NOTE: in 2024 we have found that some of our tickets that include hikes are printed with a different entry time to the Machu Picchu main gate. This is an anomaly which has no explanation other than a computer glitch.. in 2023 It happened that people showed up at the main gate without the actual entry ticket to Machu Picchu because the payment got screwed up and it wasn't discovered until right before departure and there were no more tickets available. Vidal said that it happens often enough that the gate agents often let people in if they have some kind of evidence that they got a reservation code and attempted to pay, but for some reason it didn't work. However, do not call me and say "Jacquie they wouldn't let me in!" I'm just sharing here. No one can guarantee that on the day you show up with a messy ticketing situation, that the ticket agents will all be in a good mood, waving you in as they wipe the tears in their eyes after hearing your sad story. With the new Tu Boleto platform, I don't know how this will play out in 2024. One thing is that because of the number of tickets available, you may be able to buy tickets more easily than last year. How many tickets are available? CHECK THIS OUT

Mistake #3: You bought tickets but you printed the wrong page. 

If you're buying tickets from the new TU BOLETO platform in 2024, after your payment on the website you get a download to print the actual ticket which has your name, passport info and scanable code. If you're buying tickets from a 3rd party, make sure they provide a scannable ticket for each person on the reservation. Printing the email you got from them doesn't count. If you're buying a package tour with tickets and tour guide in advance, it's possible the tour guide will have your entry tickets. That's how we do it at Adios. If you're not sure, Ask! You need to have a "ticket," not an email confirming that you paid for your tickets. (effective in 2024, it's no longer possible to use the reservation code in the official government website to access and print your actual tickets!) 

Mistake #4: You bought the wrong ticket to Machu Picchu

Here's the thing. No matter what ticket you get, you're still going to see Machu Picchu, which is amazing!  As long as the entry time of the ticket you buy is compatible with your trains and other logistics, just go and enjoy. Have fun! Neener, neener, neener. You're still in Machu Picchu! I'm jelly! Although confirmed tickets cannot be changed, we have confirmed in 2024 that you can buy more than 1 entry ticket per person on the same date as long as it's a different category of ticket. No matter what tickets you get, they must be purchased in advance online or in person in the city of Cusco. You cannot buy tickets on site. CLICK HERE to read more. If you make an irrevocable mistake buying tickets, they're not so expensive that you can't just buy another one. I know. Ouch. Keep in mind you cannot buy more than one of the same kind of ticket on the same date. 

Note: there is a way to buy Machu Picchu entry tickets in person in the village of Aguas Calientes. These tickets are sold directly to the visitor who shows up in person. No one can pre-buy tickets for you through this method. You show up early and get in line. Then you get an appointment to return later in the day to pick up your tickets. The tickets are usually for entry on the next day. There's up to 1000 of these tickets per day. That's all we know. 

Mistake #5: You showed up at Machu Picchu main gate with the wrong passport

Passports expire, get lost, dogs eat them etc. But here's what you need to know. The one and only passport you used to buy your Machu Picchu entry ticket (also Inca Trail permit) is the exact same one and only passport you need to show when you enter the joint. "But Jacquie!. I need to buy my ticket now and then renew my passport!" Don't worry. There is a solution. You have to travel with both your old passport and your new passport. That's simple to do. Just don't forget!

Mistake #6. You entered the wrong personal info when you generated your reservation for Machu Picchu tickets

People make typing errors from time to time, if not daily. When you book airline tickets you know to double check the information you provided before you click the magic button that locks down that reservation. The same attention to detail should apply to your Machu Picchu entry tickets, your train tickets and any other tickets that asks for personal information. Recently we had a young man mistakenly enter the wrong year for his birth when he bought his own Machu Picchu tickets. Vidal thought it was worth asking about and went to the office in Cusco to talk to an agent. They said as long as he didn't pay a lower student rate trying to pass himself off as younger than he is, it would be fine. I'm not telling you that you can disregard typos or errors that could potentially make your tickets invalid. It depends on the severity of the error. If you make a mistake just send an email to the office and ask them how they would like you to handle it. Here's the email address from, you guessed it, the official Machu Picchu government website: [email protected]

Mistake #7. You bought a non-refundable flight to Peru before you confirmed that tickets to Machu Picchu are available

Here's the first thing you should ask yourself if you see really cheap last-minute international flights to Peru. "Why are they so cheap? Could it be that all Machu Picchu entry tickets are sold out?" With all the increased availability for tickets in 2024, I can't imagine this would happen. But as we have seen in Inca Land, anything is possible. You only need to check the one and only official Machu Picchu government website to get the answer to that question. I showed you how to do that in in the list of TIPS above. In case they are sold out you need to read my post about what to do when Machu Picchu entry tickets are sold out. 

Mistake #8. You bought train tickets that include Machu Picchu entry tickets right?

Yes and no. Be very careful. If you're not seeing tickets available for your dates on the official Machu Picchu government website, that means tour operators, hotels, tour guides and train companies can't buy tickets either. In order to buy a ticket, everyone must make full payment and present a valid passport for the Machu Picchu visitor..In other words, no one can store blank tickets for later use. Perurail has Hiram Bingham luxury trains that include entry tickets but they must be purchased at least 30 days in advance. Given the nature of the fluctuating availability for Machu Picchu tickets in 2023, I would double check that entry tickets are guaranteed for any dates regardless of how early you are organizing your trip. IncaRail offers upgraded service that includes private tour guides and bus tickets but they will use YOUR entry tickets. Once you are less than 30 days from your proposed visit to Machu Picchu, all bets are off. Here's a link to our blog about "When Machu Picchu Tickets are Sold Out."

Mistake #9. You bought a ticket based on the entry time for the hike you wanted, but found out there's a mistake on your entry time to the Machu Picchu main gate.

What happened a lot in 2023 was that people selected an entry time for their hike in Machu Picchu not realizing that they were expected to enter th Machu Picchu main gate 1 hour earlier. They would print their tickets and see 2 different entry times. However, what is happening in 2024 is something weird. After buying our tickets, we're finding the entry time to Machu Picchu main gate is the same as the entry time to the hike when we print the final tickets. When you select your ticket for Machu Picchu hikes on Joinnus website, the time you see in the calendar is usually the time you start the hike. You're expected to enter Machu Picchu one hour earlier at the main gate. This gives you time to get from Machu Picchu main gate to the checkin kiosk for the hike. But what we're seeing on the final printed ticket is that the time we selected for a hike is the same time of entry to the Machu Picchu main gate. Yikes! So. This gives you one hour to get in the main gate, tour the lower circuit if you're hiking Wayna Picchu and check in for the hike all in one hour. If you're planning a 1-day trip to Machu Picchu this could be an issue with coordinating your trains and buses so you're on time. And you may end up with an extra hour which is better than being late an hour! But still. Come on guys! We don't know if this is intentional or if it's simply a computer glitch. But it's complete radio silence from the park authorities. We've been told that your official entry time is found on the upper left side of your ticket above the QR code. Entry tickets can't be changed. The new TU BOLETO website has an "important message" on the landing page reminding people to confirm their transportation and make sure it's synchronized with the entry time at the MAIN GATE..This was such a problem in 2023 that there is a new regulation in 2024 stating that there is a 30 minute tolerance for entering the main gate late. What if your train arrival time doesn't give you any buffer for getting up to the main entrance on time? There is a one hour window for starting the hike and they are strict about you showing up on time. What can you do? I suggest you buy your Machu Picchu tickets first, then review the entry time displayed on your tiicket before you book your trains. This is not usually a big deal for people doing a 2-day trip to Machu Picchu. But for people on 1-day trips, it could be a heachache to try to coordinate all the transportation with the entry time you got, not the entry time you selected. For hikes that begin from the upper terrace, usually you can do the hike before the tour of the circuit. Keep in mind that the Montana Machu Picchu hike is roughly 3 hours roundtrip. I recommend using trekking poles for the descent just because the cobblestone sections are rough. 

Mistake #10.  You are late for your entry to Machu Picchu ruins.

Starting in 2024, new regulations state that there will be no more than a "30 minute tolerance" for entering Machu Picchu after the time printed on your official entry ticket. This applies to the main gate known as Machu Picchu Llaqta. Planning and coordinating the logistics for arriving on time is more important now than ever before. We recommend that you allow extra time in the village of Aguas Calientes in case your train is late or if there is a long line waiting for buses. (in case of a long line at the bus stop, there's nothing wrong with asking the bus agent standing at the head of the line if there is allowance for you to skip the line and board in front of others.)

How hard is it to buy Machu Picchu entry tickets online? 

To buy your own tickets online at the official Machu Picchu government website, you basically need two things:

• Passports - must be valid for at least 6 months after your travel dates. Can you use an expiring passport? Yes but you need to travel with both your new passport to enter the country, and your old passport if that's what you used to buy your tickets. You will show the exact same passport upon entry to Machu Picchu. You need the passport for each person you're buying a ticket for. 
• Payment - the new TU BOLETO website will generate a reservation code immediately followed by the request to complete the payment. If the payment is successful then you will see an instant download for your tickets.  In 2024, there is a 5 hour window to complete the transaction or your reservation will be cancelled. 

What should you do after you pay for your Machu Picchu tickets online?

• The new Tu Boleto website will show a download link immedately after a successful payment. The only email you will get is the receipt of your payment online. Print hard copies of those tickets and remember to bring them with you. 
• Double check the official entry time printed above the QR code. then book your trains.
• Check your bank account or credit card statement ASAP to confirm the transaction was completed. (some cc accounts may show recent purchases pending. I would go back and confirm a day later to make sure nothing was rejected.)

Is it OK to buy Machu Picchu entry tickets from a private party reselling?

No. No..Never. Tickets cannot be resold. People trying to resell their personal Machu Picchu tickets have no idea what they're doing. Or they're swindlers. CLICK HERE to read more. (just to be clear, if you are in Cusco and working with a trained tour operator, there is a method to transfer a ticket. The process is complex and above my pay grade)

Every once in a while we get a panic phone call late at night or on the weekend from a person preparing to leave for their trip to Peru, who just found out that the Machu Picchu entry tickets they thought they bought and paid for at some point in the past, are not there. Nada. It's got to be the worst feeling ever. 

It was approaching late July and my phone rang at 3AM on a Saturday night. Someone left a message. I knew it had to be bad. It was. I'm sharing this story because it's a classic mistake we've heard before. And it gets worse during the July and August busy season. 

Lori in Texas bought 2 sets of entry tickets online and had trouble paying with her credit card. She noticed that one of the payment options was to pay at the office in Cusco. So she decided to pay in person in the office in Cusco when she arrived. a couple months later. Meanwhile, she got the email confirming RESERVA DE BOLETO ELECTRONICO which included 12 instructions. She didn't notice that #3 clearly stated: "Make the payment for this reservation within a maximum period of 3 hours, otherwise, the reservation will be automatically cancelled."
So. A few days before departing for her trip she went to print her documents and you know how the rest goes. At this point, all tickets were already sold out for all the dates she was traveling. And even the permits for the Inca Trail hike were sold out. (that's our last-ditch "Hail Mary" get-you-in-any-way-we-can entry strategy)

Eighty year old Fran and her teenage granddaughter bought their Machu Picchu tickets from a 3rd party and dutifully printed the letter they emailed showing she had paid for the tickets. However, no one explained that another email with a link to the actual tickets was forthcoming, and Fran showed up in Aguas Calientes with a piece of paper that was worthless. Vidal checked in with her before the trip to Machu Picchu and Fran triple assured him that she had her passport and the tickets in her bag. He asked to see her tickets while waiting in line for the bus to Machu Picchu and just to prove to him that she had everything, she whipped out the useless piece of paper. He knew right away they were not the tickets. The only things that saved their hineys was that Fran had arranged for full phone service and could access her email account from her phone. (otherwise Vidal was ready to set up a hot spot with his phone.) Granddaughter searched emails and found a tiny email with a little link to the sacred and holy tickets. Fran thought she bought her tickets from the official Machu Picchu government website. (I rest my case.)

From time to time, there can be a problem with limited ticket availability, most likely to arise in July and August when tickets typically sell out due to North Americans traveling for summer vacations, which collides with annual Peruvian Independence Day Festivities and school closures. Everyone wants to visit Machu Picchu in August. But in 2023 the sell out continued right in to Septermber and October. We have our theories about why this happened which I won't go into here. Don't buy your flights until you know for sure that entry tickets are available for your dates.

If Machu Picchu Tickets are sold out on the official government website, can we purchase from tour operators or hotels?

No. No. And No. I've mentioned this before. Every Machu Picchu entry ticket is connected to a unique passport number. No one can hold or reserve "blank" entry tickets to sell later. This is why I warn people that you cannot buy a Machu Picchu ticket from a private party. The private party used their passport to get the ticket. What are you going to do with a ticket with someone else's passport and name on it? It's like trying to sell your own personal driver's license. Tour operators cannot hold or reserve Machu Picchu tickets. If you go to the offical Machu Picchu government website and the tickets you want are sold out, that's it. They're gone for all of us.

Is it possible to buy Machu Picchu tickets in person in Aguas Calientes?

Starting in September 2022, the residents of the village of Aguas Calientes insisted that they be allowed to sell tickets in the village. Surprising just about everyone, the government granted 1000 tickets per day to be sold in the village of Aguas Calientes directly to any visitor willing to jump through the hoops of fire to get one. When all Machu Picchu tickets were sold out in August through November 2023, Vidal reported that when the first train arriveed each morning in Aguas Calientes, he saw people running from the train to get in line for those tickets. So. If you have a flex schedule and are desperate, it's worth a shot right? We have heard of companies who will meet you at the train station in Aguas Calientes and walk you to the place where you stand in line and coach you through the steps to get one of the those revered tickets. They will charge you a fee of course. I have no idea how much. If tickets sell out, it's my understanding you can try again the next day. Ask your hotel for more details. 

Due to the abundant increases in Machu Picchu entry tickets in 2024, we are hopeful that we won't see entry tickets completely sold out like we did in the previous 3 years. It's interesting that in 2024 the first tickets to sell out are between 9AM-12N, while tickets are plentiful at 6-7am and 7-8am. We believe this is due to the prevalance for visitors to set up 1 day trips from Cusco to Machu Picchu. Most trains start arriving after 8AM. That's why we recommend setting up a 2-day trip to Machu Picchu. Here's a link to read more about that. 

Is there anyone who can help us if we make a mistake or need assistance? 

For ticket problems. it's best to at least try to resolve them yourself by contacting the official Machu Picchu office as shown. But if your final ticket displays an entry time that is off by an hour or so from the Machu Picchu entry time you selected, you're out of luck. The word we got is to "suck it up buttercup!" .Prevention is the key here, but no one can predict when computer glitches will affect your final tickets. If you already done fell into the dark hole, there's only so much that can be done. However. Sometimes we can make suggestions or throw a life preserver ring at you and pull you back from the black drain hole you're about to fall in. But the only way to fix tickets with computer glitches is to contact the officials.

Disclaimer: I'm sharing details to help you prepare for your trip to Machu Picchu and to inform travelers of the potential pitfalls in the booking process. This information is subject to change. I am not responsible for procedures or changes to procedures.