How Much Does Machu Picchu Cost in 2026? Tickets, Transport, Lodging and Budgets

How much money do you need to visit Machu Picchu? It depends mostly on how you get there and where you sleep, because the entry ticket has a fixed price. In this guide we bring together every cost of a visit from Cusco: the ticket, transport, the bus up, lodging, a guide, food and optional extras. At the end we give you 3 sample budgets and tips for paying in soles or dollars.

We use the same sources as in the rest of our guides: official ones first (Ministry of Culture, PeruRail, Inca Rail, Belmond and Tren Local), and when a price comes from an agency, a travel guide or a blog, or we could not verify it, we say so.

Cost summary

Prices per person for a foreign adult:

The Machu Picchu ticket

The Ministry of Culture sets ticket prices in soles. Since 1 May 2026, the SERNANP fee has been added, which is S/11 for foreign visitors: that is why a foreign adult pays S/163 (S/152 + S/11) for a standard route and S/211 (S/200 + S/11) for a route with a mountain.

• Children under 3: enter free, with a ticket and ID.
• Peruvians, residents and the Andean Community: citizens of Bolivia, Colombia and Ecuador pay the same as Peruvians: S/64 for a standard route and S/112 for a route with a mountain, plus S/5 SERNANP for national adults.
• SERNANP fee for foreign minors: we could not confirm the amount in an official source, so check the total before paying.

In dollars, S/163 is roughly USD 45–50, and S/211 about USD 58–63, depending on the exchange rate and your card's fees.

Transport from Cusco

This is the cost that changes most depending on how you travel.

Train

Neither tourist train company publishes a fixed fare on its information pages: the price depends on the date, the time and demand. On PeruRail, children aged 3 to 11 pay 75% of the fare, and infants aged 0 to 2 travel free on a parent's lap.

Colectivo or taxi to Ollantaytambo

Most trains leave from Ollantaytambo. Travel guides put the colectivo from Cusco at S/10 to S/20 per leg, a price we could not verify with official sources. By taxi, PeruRail estimates S/70 to S/85 from central Cusco, and S/25 to S/30 to Poroy station.

The Hidroeléctrica route

This is the cheapest option. According to PeruRail, the bus and colectivos from Cusco to Hidroeléctrica cost about USD 33 per leg (USD 20 + USD 8 + USD 5), and the 2 h 30 min walk to Machu Picchu Pueblo is free. In exchange, it takes about 6 h by road plus the walk, and PeruRail recommends doing it in the dry season, from May to October.

Bus from Machu Picchu Pueblo to the citadel

The Consettur bus costs USD 12 one way or USD 24 round trip for foreign adults, and USD 7 or USD 12 for foreign children, according to the information published by PeruRail. Confirm it when you arrive, because the route is awaiting a new tender. The free alternative is to walk: about 2 h up and 1 h 30 min down, according to PeruRail.

Lodging in Machu Picchu Pueblo

If you make the trip in 2 days, you will spend one night in town. According to a travel guide, a bed in a shared dorm costs between S/30 and S/60 per night, and a basic private room between S/80 and S/150 for two people. These are not official prices, and we have not found verified prices for mid-range or upscale hotels: compare them when booking and check whether breakfast is included.

The guide

A guide is not mandatory. The current regulation, as amended by RM 000334-2026-MC, says that a ticket and ID document are enough to enter, and that going with a tour guide "is recommended". According to PeruRail, a shared guide, in groups of 10 to 15 people, costs USD 15 to USD 20 per person, and a private one USD 55 to USD 65 per group of up to 8 people.

Food

We have not found official food prices in Machu Picchu Pueblo, where almost everything arrives by train. Some travel blogs recommend the stalls on the upper floor of the local market as the cheapest option. You cannot enter the citadel with food, so eat before or after your visit.

Optional extras

• Climbing a mountain: routes with a mountain, such as Huayna Picchu, cost S/48 more than a standard route (S/211 instead of S/163).
• Inca Trail: it is done with an authorized agency, and PeruRail quotes prices from USD 500.
• Tours from Cusco: many agencies sell the whole trip, but we have not found official prices, so we do not give an amount. Compare what each package includes: train, ticket, bus, guide and meals.
• Excess luggage on PeruRail: on the Machu Picchu–Cusco route, USD 15 per extra backpack or hand luggage, or you can leave it free of charge in its storage room.

Three sample budgets

Per person, for a foreign adult leaving from Cusco:

Train prices change with the date and time, and we could not verify the Hiram Bingham price: another agency mentions about USD 570 per leg. Belmond also warns that the train ticket does not guarantee entry, so confirm it when booking. If you are a student with a valid card, subtract S/75 from the ticket.

Soles, dollars and card payments

• The ticket is paid in soles. On tuboleto.cultura.pe you pay with a Visa or Mastercard card. At the ticket office in Machu Picchu Pueblo, the official protocol accepts POS card payment and cash.
• The Consettur bus is paid in dollars or soles. On comprar.consettur.com, by credit or debit card; at the ticket office in Machu Picchu Pueblo, in cash, in soles or dollars.
• The train prices we quote are in dollars. Buy on the official websites or at the ticket offices of PeruRail and Inca Rail.
• Tren Local is paid in soles and in cash.
• Carry cash in soles for colectivos, taxis and small expenses in town.
• Check your card's fees: the final price in your currency depends on the exchange rate and your bank's charges.

How to spend less

• Choose a standard route: you save S/48 compared with a route with a mountain.
• Walk up: you save up to USD 24 on the bus.
• Travel via Hidroeléctrica or on a budget train, and book early.
• Use your discounts: students, minors and Andean Community citizens pay less.
• Buy only through official channels: the ticket on tuboleto.cultura.pe and trains on the PeruRail and Inca Rail websites.

Related guides

To save as much as possible, read how to get to Machu Picchu on a budget and without the train. To compare train prices, see our guides to trains to Machu Picchu, the Vistadome train and luxury trains, and if you are Peruvian, the difference between the local train and the tourist train. The distance of each leg is in our guide to the distance from Cusco to Machu Picchu, and every way to get there is in our guides to getting there from Cusco and from Lima. When you arrive, follow our guide from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu.

First of all, get your Machu Picchu ticket and check the entry requirements. If you want to climb a mountain, read our guide to Huayna Picchu tickets; if you arrive without a ticket, read how to buy tickets in Machu Picchu Pueblo. To choose your route, see our guides to Machu Picchu circuits, circuit 2A vs 2B and circuit 3 (Machu Picchu Realeza).

Frequently asked questions

How much is the Machu Picchu ticket in 2026?

For a foreign adult, S/163 for a standard route and S/211 for a route with a mountain, SERNANP fee included. Students pay S/88.

How much money do I need for Machu Picchu?

Over 2 days via Hidroeléctrica, about USD 66 plus S/193–223 per person, without meals. By Vistadome, with bus and guide, about USD 195–290 plus S/223–278.

What is the cheapest way to get there?

The Hidroeléctrica route: about USD 33 per leg by bus and colectivos, according to PeruRail, and the walk to town is free.

How much is the bus to the citadel?

USD 12 one way or USD 24 round trip for foreign adults. You can also walk up in about 2 h.

Do I have to pay for a guide?

No. The regulation only recommends it. A shared guide costs USD 15 to USD 20 per person, according to PeruRail.

Can I pay by card?

Yes, on Tu Boleto with Visa or Mastercard and on the Consettur website. Also carry cash in soles for colectivos, taxis and small expenses.

Summary

The Machu Picchu ticket costs S/163 for a foreign adult, and the rest is up to you: via Hidroeléctrica and sleeping in a hostel, the trip comes to about USD 66 plus S/193–223; with a panoramic train, bus and guide, it rises to about USD 195–290 plus S/223–278, and on the Hiram Bingham to about USD 600, an unverified price. Buy the ticket first, book transport early and carry cash in soles.

Sources

1. Ministry of Culture, buying tickets on Tu Boleto: https://www.gob.pe/70649
2. SERNANP fee from 1 May 2026, according to Infobae: https://www.infobae.com/peru/2026/02/09/suben-tarifas-de-ingreso-a-machu-picchu-desde-cuando-rige-y-cuanto-costara-entrar-en-2026/
3. Ministerial Resolution 000317-2025-MC (fares for routes with a mountain): https://transparencia.cultura.gob.pe/sites/default/files/transparencia/2025/11/resoluciones-ministeriales/rm000317-2025-mc.pdf
4. Ministerial Resolution 000334-2026-MC (documents and guide): https://transparencia.cultura.gob.pe/sites/default/files/transparencia/2026/09/resoluciones-ministeriales/rm-334-2026-mc.pdf
5. Ministry of Culture, purchase protocol at the Machupicchu Pueblo Cultural Center (July 2025): https://www.gob.pe/institucion/cultura/campa%C3%B1as/115193-nuevo-protocolo-para-compra-de-boletos-en-centro-cultural-machupicchu-pueblo
6. PeruRail, the Hidroeléctrica route: https://www.perurail.com/es/destinos/hidroelectrica/
7. PeruRail, how to plan your trip to Machu Picchu on your own (taxis, Consettur bus and guides): https://www.perurail.com/es/como-armar-tu-viaje-a-machu-picchu-por-tu-cuenta/
8. PeruRail, frequently asked questions (walk and children's fares): https://www.perurail.com/es/preguntas-frecuentes/
9. PeruRail, luggage: https://www.perurail.com/es/equipaje/
10. PeruRail, Inca Trail: https://www.perurail.com/es/destinos/camino-inca/
11. Inca Rail, train comparison: https://incarail.com/es/trenes/compare-servicios-de-trenes
12. Belmond, Hiram Bingham train: https://www.belmond.com/trains/south-america/peru/belmond-hiram-bingham/
13. Belmond, Hiram Bingham FAQs: https://www.belmond.com/trains/south-america/peru/belmond-hiram-bingham/faqs
14. Tren Local, fares by type of trip: https://www.trenlocal.pe/tarifas-por-tipo-de-viaje/
15. Tren Local, frequently asked questions (purchase and payment): https://www.trenlocal.pe/preguntas-frecuentes/
16. Infobae, relaunch of the bus tender on the Hiram Bingham road (23 September 2026): https://www.infobae.com/peru/2026/09/23/machu-picchu-relanzan-licitacion-de-buses-en-ruta-hiram-bingham-tras-quejas-de-mas-de-40-empresas-de-transporte/
17. Train prices published by agencies (unofficial reference): machupicchuagency.com and railmachupicchu.com
18. Cusco–Ollantaytambo colectivo prices (unofficial reference): https://www.guiaturista.com.pe/valle-sagrado-incas/ollantaytambo-como-llegar-cuanto-cuesta-cada-opcion-n5352
19. Lodging prices in Machu Picchu Pueblo published by a travel guide (unofficial reference): https://perusites.com/es/machu-picchu/hospedarse-aguas-calientes/
20. Market food recommendation published by a travel blog (unofficial reference): https://bananomeridiano.com/alojamiento-salkantay-trek/