Machu Picchu is truly one of the most amazing, awe-inspiring things I’ve ever seen. Even if you can only get Circuit 1, or if you can only go in bad weather, it’s 100% worth it. If you appreciate history, architecture, and ancient feats of construction, this is going to blow your mind. I now put it right up there with seeing the Great Pyramids and the Sphinx in Egypt.
Keep in mind, though, that a lot of people call Machu Picchu the hardest Wonder of the World to visit, and I definitely agree. It’s an adventure, so mentally prepare and make sure you’re up for it.
Machu Picchu runs on a circuit system now. If you visited before 2019, it was much more open to enter and explore, but due to rising tourism, they enacted a circuit system to control traffic. Now, each ticket is tied to a route, an entry time, and a one-way path, so the ticket you pick decides what you get to see.
My husband and I just went to Brazil and Peru for our honeymoon (more guides to come!), and we did Circuit 1 and Circuit 3. We booked Circuit 1 online, as it was the only thing left online, and bought Circuit 3 in person in Aguas Calientes. Here’s everything I’d tell a friend before they book.
Know Before You Go
The Circuits – A Breakdown
Circuit 1
This is the panoramic view you’ve seen a thousand times (photographed above), and it’s even better in person. This is the only circuit that doesn’t go into the ruins, though. You look down over Machu Picchu, and then you exit.
Circuit 2
This circuit is by far the most popular because it’s the closest thing to seeing everything on one ticket. The panoramic view isn’t as high as Circuit 1, it’s a bit lower and closer to the city, but you get both the view and the ability to walk through the ruins. That’s also why it sells out first.
Circuit 3
The third circuit skips the high viewpoints and takes you straight into the ruins. Circuit 3 takes you through a different section of the ruins than Circuit 2. On its own, you’d miss the view, which is exactly why it’s perfect with Circuit 1.
All photos above are from Circuit 3
Huayna Picchu is the steep peak behind Machu Picchu in every photo. It’s booked as route 3-A under Circuit 3. It’s a narrow, stair-heavy climb and spots are really limited, so if you want it, book months out.
Why We Did Circuit 1 and 3
If you can do two tickets, I recommend doing this combo instead of Circuit 2. You get the full panoramic view without rushing, then you walk through a large section of what you were just looking down at. Book Circuit 1 for the earlier slot and leave yourself a gap before Circuit 3, since you have to exit and re-enter for each one. We gave ourselves about a 3-hour gap between our two entry times (Circuit 1 at 7:00 and Circuit 3 at 10:00), and we did this on purpose to allow for the clouds and weather to move through. We visited at the start of the rainy season in Late October, so we made sure to leave room for the weather. We honestly timed it perfectly!
We didn’t get the weather we hoped for, and we ended up having a super cloudy and rainy day. But looking back at it, it made the experience so magical. The clouds kept rolling through and pulling back over the ruins, and the visibility in person was way better than it looks in our photos. Don’t cancel over a cloudy forecast.
The more I travel, the more I realize that it’s the hiccups, like bad weather, that make something so much more rewarding and memorable.
When Tickets Sell Out
Machu Picchu caps visitors at 4,500 a day for most of the year and 5,600 in high season, which runs from mid-June to early November. Circuit 2, the Circuit 1 terraces, and Huayna Picchu can sell out weeks or months ahead, so book on the official tuboleto.cultura.pe as soon as your dates are set.
I would book your Machu Picchu date before you book anything else! Once you have that date locked down, you can plan your Cusco and Sacred Valley time around that.
If the tickets are sold out, there’s a backup. Peru sells 1,000 tickets a day in person at the cultural center in Aguas Calientes, and you can now buy up to three days ahead. That’s how we got our Circuit 3 tickets. Go the day you arrive, bring your passport, and have a second and third choice ready, because the popular circuits go first.
My advice: book what you want most online, and use the in-person tickets to add a second circuit.
Machu Picchu is now one of my top travel experiences. I hope you love it as much as I did!
