Machu Picchu Tickets Sold Out? Here Are Your Options
Visiting Machu Picchu is extremely popular, while the number of daily visitors is strictly regulated. As a result, official tickets are often sold out weeks or even months in advance.
However, even if you can no longer find tickets online, there are still ways to make your trip happen.
Inca Trail: Your Ticket Is Already Included
If you are hiking the 2-day or 4-day Inca Trail, your entry to Machu Picchu is already included in your permit. You will automatically receive an entrance ticket with Circuit 3B.
This means you do not need to purchase a separate Machu Picchu entrance ticket.
Alternative Treks: We Arrange Your Machu Picchu Ticket
If you choose an alternative trek, we will arrange a separate Machu Picchu entrance ticket for you (subject to availability).
Our first priority is always to book one of the more extended circuits, such as:
- Circuit 2A
- Circuit 2B
- Circuit 3B
If these circuits are sold out, we will switch to alternative options such as Circuit 1B. This route is shorter, but it still offers spectacular views of Machu Picchu.
Important: Regardless of the circuit assigned, you will always have a guided tour of approximately 2 hours, ensuring that you fully experience the history and significance of the ancient Inca citadel.
Tickets Sold Out? Your options…
1. We Offer Trails with Assistance in Obtaining Machu Picchu Tickets
If Machu Picchu tickets are sold out online, we generally no longer offer Trails—except for the Inca Jungle Trail en the Salkantay Trail. When you book one of these Trails with us, you receive a special discounted rate:
€370,- per person instead of €509,- per person
What’s Included?
- Complete Inca Jungle Trail or Salkantay Trail experience.
- 1 night in Aguas Calientes
- Assistance with purchasing a last-minute Machu Picchu ticket on-site. Upon arrival in Aguas Calientes, your guide will accompany you to the official ticket office, where you can try to secure one of the available tickets for the following day or the day after.
You will need to arrange and pay for the following yourself:
- Any additional nights in Aguas Calientes (if you cannot visit Machu Picchu the next day)
- Train ticket from Aguas Calientes back to Cusco
- Machu Picchu entrance ticket
- Optional guided tour of Machu Picchu with an English-speaking guide
2. Visit Machu Picchu Without Having a Ticket in Advance
With our assistance, you can travel to Aguas Calientes and then try to purchase a Machu Picchu entrance ticket locally. This option is a 2-day trip, where you travel to Aguas Calientes on the afternoon of Day 1. You will spend the night there, allowing you to queue early the following morning for a Machu Picchu entrance ticket.
If you are unable to secure a ticket for the same day, you can arrange and pay for an additional night in Aguas Calientes and stay one extra day before visiting Machu Picchu. We offer all this for a special discounted price:
€319,- per person instead of €450,-
What is included in this price?
- Transportation from Cusco to Aguas Calientes
- 1 night accommodation in Aguas Calientes (Day 1 to Day 2)
- Assistance with purchasing a last-minute Machu Picchu ticket on-site. A guide will accompany you to the official ticket office, where you can try to obtain one of the available tickets for Day 2 or Day 3.
What do you need to arrange and pay for yourself?
- Any additional night(s) in Aguas Calientes (if you are unable to visit Machu Picchu the following day)
- Train ticket from Aguas Calientes back to Cusco
- Machu Picchu entrance fee
- Optional guided tour of Machu Picchu with an English-speaking guide
Last-Minute Tickets in Aguas Calientes
The official Peruvian government ticket office in Aguas Calientes sells approximately 2000 tickets every day for visits on the following day.
Location
📍Av. Pachacútec S/N, Centro Cultural (Ministry of Culture), Aguas Calientes
Important Information
- This is the only official point of sale for last-minute Machu Picchu tickets.
- Opening hours are approximately 5:00 AM to 10:00 PM (subject to change).
- A valid passport is required to purchase the tickets, and you must be present in person.
- The number of tickets available each day is limited, usually around 1000 tickets. (2000 since june 2026)
- Tickets are available across different circuits. With a bit of luck, you may even secure access to one of the more extended circuits that have been sold out online for months.
Good News
Almost everyone eventually manages to obtain a ticket for Machu Picchu, either for the next day or within two days of purchase. Flexibility in your travel schedule is important, but your chances of visiting Machu Picchu are generally very good.
If you would also like a guided tour of Machu Picchu, you can easily arrange an English-speaking guide at the entrance.
Train Back to Cusco
Train tickets back to Cusco can usually be purchased on the same day directly in Aguas Calientes.
Both Inca Rail and PeruRail have ticket offices near the train station in town. One-way tickets typically cost between US$80 and US$100 per person, depending on the departure time and service class.
Tip: We recommend purchasing a direct train ticket back to Cusco whenever possible. This way, you can avoid transferring to a bus or taxi in Ollantaytambo, making your journey back much more comfortable and convenient.
