Starting June 1, 2024, the authorities of Machu Picchu and the Ministry of Culture of Peru have established new circuits for visiting the Inca Citadel. The purpose of these new circuits is to safeguard and preserve the Inca citadel for the future. Each visitor must follow a circuit according to the ticket purchased. Here at Machu Picchu MP, we will explain step-by-step the new Machu Picchu circuits:
We now have 3 established circuits, and within each circuit, there are routes that we can purchase through the website tuboleto.cultura.pe. In total, there are 10 routes. Below, we explain them in detail.
CIRCUIT 1 – Machu Picchu Ticket
- Circuit 1 – Machu Picchu Mountain Route
- Circuit 1 – Upper Terrace Route
- Circuit 1 – Sun Gate Route – Intipunku (High season only)
- Circuit 1 – Inca Bridge Route (High season only)
CIRCUIT 2 – Machu Picchu Ticket
- Circuit 2 – Classic Designed Route
- Circuit 2 – Lower Terrace Route
CIRCUIT 3 – Machu Picchu Ticket
- Circuit 3 – Huayna Picchu Mountain Route
- Circuit 3 – Royalty Designed Route
- Circuit 3 – Great Caves Route (High season only)
- Circuit 3 – Huchuy Picchu Route (High season only)
High season only: June, July, August and September.
CIRCUIT 1 – Machu Picchu Ticket
Circuit 1 will take you through the upper part of Machu Picchu, offering beautiful panoramic views of the citadel. This circuit does not allow you to visit the urban area of the citadel. Within Circuit 1, there are 4 routes; 2 are available year-round, and the other 2 only during high season, which is June, July, and August.
Circuit 1 – Machu Picchu Mountain Route
After entering the Checkpoint, you will walk to the upper sector above the guardhouse where you will take the iconic postcard photo of Machu Picchu, then proceed to Machu Picchu Mountain, which takes 3 hours round trip. This ticket does not allow access to the urban area of Machu Picchu.
Circuit 1 – Upper Terrace Route
After entering the Checkpoint, you will walk to the upper sector above the guardhouse where you will take the iconic postcard photo of Machu Picchu. Basically, this circuit is just for your classic photo. This circuit does not allow access to the urban area.
Circuit 1 – Sun Gate Route
After entering the Checkpoint, you will walk to the upper sector above the guardhouse where you will take the iconic postcard photo of Machu Picchu, then proceed to the Sun Gate, which takes 2 hours round trip. This route is new, as the Sun Gate was only accessible to those who did the Inca Trail.
Circuit 1 – Inca Bridge Route
After entering the Checkpoint, you will walk to the upper sector above the guardhouse where you will take the iconic postcard photo of Machu Picchu, then proceed to the Inca Trail Bridge, which takes 1 hour and 30 minutes round trip. This ticket does not allow access to the urban sector.
CIRCUIT 2 – Machu Picchu Ticket
This circuit is the closest to the classic circuit, giving you the option to take the classic photo and tour the urban sector of the citadel. This circuit is divided into 2 and is available year-round.
Circuit 2 – Classic Designed Route
After passing the Checkpoint, you will go to the upper sector above the guardhouse where you will take a postcard photo of Machu Picchu, then walk to the main gate, explore Intiwatana, the Temple of the Sun, and then go to the Sacred Rock where the walk to Huayna Picchu begins. Then visit the Temple of the Condor and exit through the terrace in the lower sector.
Things to Know
- Circuit 2 – Classic Route is long and comprehensive, so we recommend buying this if you want to explore the entire Citadel of Machu Picchu.
- Circuit 2 – Classic Route includes access to the upper terraces from where you will observe Machu Picchu in all its splendor.
- Circuit 2 – Classic Route is the most popular, so we recommend purchasing well in advance.
Places to Visit
- Guardhouse
- Main Gate
- Quarry
- Urban Sector
- Botanical Garden
- Temple of the Sun
- Sacred Rock
- Sacred Plaza
- Temple of the Condor
- Water Mirror
- Intiwatana Pyramid (sundial)
Places Not Visited
- Inca House
- Three Gates
Circuit 2 – Lower Terrace Route
After passing the Checkpoint, you will access the lower part through the Qolqas (storerooms) and terraces, then walk to the Inca House, the Water Fountains, and the Water Mirrors, then exit through Pisonae Plaza (Main plaza). With this route, you can take some photos similar to the classic photo.
CIRCUIT 3 – Machu Picchu Ticket
This route is the opposite of Circuit 1, taking you through the lower – urban part of Machu Picchu, this route is to explore Huayna Picchu Mountain, Huchuy Picchu, Great Caves in Huayna Picchu, and an exclusive part of the urban area of Machu Picchu like the Inca House.
Circuit 3 – Huayna Picchu Mountain Route
You will access the lower part and will not have the opportunity to take postcard photos of Machu Picchu. First, visit the Inca House, then go to the main plaza and continue to the Sacred Rock where the hike to Huayna Picchu begins. This circuit ends by exiting through the terrace in the lower sector.
Circuit 3 – Royalty Designed Route
You will access Machu Picchu through the lower part and find the Water Fountain, the Inca House, the Temple of the Condor, and the Water Mirror. Then exit. With this circuit, you do not have extra hikes in Machu Picchu.
Circuit 3 – Great Caves Route
You will access the lower part and will not have the opportunity to take postcard photos of Machu Picchu. First, visit the Inca House, then go to the main plaza and continue to the Sacred Rock where the hike to the Great Cave begins. This circuit is very new and takes 3 hours to walk there. It is only available during high season.
Circuit 3 – Huchuy Picchu Route
You will access the lower part and will not have the opportunity to take postcard photos of Machu Picchu. First, visit the Inca House, then go to the main plaza and continue to the Sacred Rock where the hike to Huchuy Picchu begins, then exit through the terrace in the lower sector. It is only available during high season.
CIRCUIT 5
This circuit was recently implemented for people who explore all the options of the Inca Trail. First, visit the agricultural terrace, then go to the Water Fountain and Temple of the Sun, continue to the Inca House, then take a look at Pisonae Plaza.
Then walk to the set of 3 gates and exit through the terrace in the lower sector, and on the way back visit the storeroom. This circuit does not include access to the upper part. However, all Inca Trail walkers arrive directly at the guardhouse where they take the classic postcard photo and then exit to use the restroom and visit Machu Picchu following Circuit 5. People who do the 4-day Inca Trail and the 2-day Inca Trail follow Circuit 5 to visit Machu Picchu.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Machu Picchu Circuits
In our opinion, Circuit 2 is the best for taking the classic photo of Machu Picchu with Huayna Picchu in the background. It offers the most beautiful views. You will also visit most sites (except the Temple of the Sun). It takes 2 hours and 30 minutes to complete the circuit.
The price for this ticket is 152.00 Peruvian soles (equivalent to US $45.00) for adults. Students can get a discounted rate by showing their student ID, then it is 77.00 Peruvian soles (around US $23.00).
Circuit 2 is the best for visiting Machu Picchu with children because you can take the classic Machu Picchu photo with your kids. If your children are tired, it is not necessary to complete the entire circuit; you can take a shortcut and quickly finish visiting Machu Picchu. Each circuit has stairs, so there is no specific circuit we can recommend for your children.
Circuit 2 will require between 2 and 3 hours to complete, covering both the upper and lower sections of the route. This is the circuit purchased by Expeditions for their clients.
Circuit 1 will require more than 3 hours to complete, depending on the route chosen it may take more time.
Yes, but you will need 2 tickets for this, first you must buy Circuit 2 and then wait 2 hours for Huayna Picchu.
Currently, Huayna Picchu Mountain is part of Circuit 3 of Machu Picchu.
Conclusion
The new Machu Picchu circuits, starting June 1, 2024, offer a structured and regulated way to explore the Inca citadel, ensuring its preservation for future generations. With three main circuits and ten routes, visitors can choose an experience that best suits their interests, whether it’s panoramic views, in-depth exploration of the urban sector, or hiking the famous Huayna Picchu and Huchuy Picchu mountains.
Each circuit provides unique perspectives and opportunities to discover the beauty and history of Machu Picchu. For the classic Machu Picchu experience, Circuit 2 is highly recommended, especially for families with children. Make sure to plan and purchase tickets in advance to fully enjoy your visit to this iconic destination. At Machu Picchu MP, we are here to guide you through these new circuits and help you make the most of your visit.
