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 comprehensive 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? We Offer the Inca Jungle Trail with Assistance in Obtaining Machu Picchu Tickets
If Machu Picchu tickets are sold out online, we generally no longer offer trekking tours—except for the Inca Jungle Trail. When you book the Inca Jungle Trail with us, you receive a special discounted rate:
€370,- per person instead of €509,- per person
What’s Included?
- Complete 3-day Inca Jungle Trail experience
-
- Mountain biking
- White-water rafting
- Ziplining
- 1 night in Aguas Calientes (between Day 3 and Day 4)
- Assistance with purchasing a last-minute Machu Picchu ticket on-site. Upon arrival in Aguas Calientes on Day 3, your guide will accompany you to the official ticket office, where you can try to secure one of the available tickets for Day 4.
What’s Not Included?
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
Last-Minute Tickets in Aguas Calientes
The official Peruvian government ticket office in Aguas Calientes sells approximately 1,000 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 tickets.
- The number of tickets available each day is limited, usually around 1,000 tickets.
- Tickets are available across different circuits. With a bit of luck, you may even secure access to one of the more comprehensive 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.
