Since the Peru government has tightened the rules for wandering willy-nilly around the Machu Picchu citadel, it's quite common for travelers who are interested in maximizing the enjoyment of their once-in-a-lifetime visit to Machu Picchu, to consider buying more than one entry ticket. What do people need to know about buying more than one ticket for entry to Machu Picchu on the same day? What is the best way to do it? When should you not worry about it? Keep reading while I break down the ins and outs of what you need to know. This post will address the question of buying more than one ticket for entry to Machu Picchu on the same day. If people have time, I think it's much better to do a 2-day trip to Machu Picchu, which I discussed in another post. 

Can anyone buy more than one ticket for entry to Machu Picchu on the same day?

The quick answer is yes. But, under what circumstances would a visitor need to buy more tickets? Is it essential to buy more than one entry ticket? What are you missing? If you're an educator, photographer, or history nerd, and you only have 1 day to visit Machu Picchu, then multiple entries may be desireable for you. There are 4 one-way circuits and there's no mixing and matching sections of one circuit with another. If there are historic structures that you must see, it might be necessary to buy more than one ticket if you're only going to Machu Picchu for a 1 day trip. If you have a group of people of different ages and abilities, it might be necessary to split up into more than one group and buy different kinds of tickets based on the needs of each group.

Why would a visitor need more than one entry ticket to Machu Picchu for the same day?

The truth is that most people don't need more than one entry ticket per day. But there are situations where some people want to explore the upper terraces and they want to do one of the hikes inside the park. (this does not include Inca Trail)  There are 3 notable hikes (plus one new "easy" hike) inside the park. You can read more about those hikes here. two hikes come with 1 entry ticket to tour one of the lower circuits in the Machu Picchu citadel. But the Inca Bridge hike comes with a ticket to enter one of the 2 coveted upper circuits. However, visitors cannot buy more than one of the same kind of entry ticket on the same day for the same person.

Do visitors need two entry tickets if they are planning to do one of the hikes inside Machu Picchu National Park?

If you don't care which circuit you tour, then one entry ticket to Machu Picchu is fine. However, the view of Machu Picchu from the lower circuts and from Huayna Picchu is different than the "classic" view from the upper terrace. The view of Machu Picchu has now become a "thing." CLICK HERE to read more about the Classic view of Machu Picchu. For visitors who have only 1 day available for their trip to Machu Picchu and they want to do the long circuit #2 and one of the hikes, they may need 2 separate entry tickets on the same date. each hike has a window of one hour to begin the hike. And as a bonus you can enter the Machu Picchu main gate presumably to allow you enough time to get to the checkin kiosk for that hike. Having a second entry ticket gives you a chance to exit the park to take a short break (remember, the only restrooms are located at the Machu Picchu main entry gate) Keep in mind that you need to allow extra time to wait for the shuttle bus to return to the village if you plan to take a train later the same day. Plan your entry times accordingly. On average it takes about 2-3 hours for a guided tour of circuit #2. If you're self guiding or using a "pickup tour guide," it may be quicker. 

Can visitors buy all their Machu Picchu tickets in one transaction?

Yes and no. Yes you can buy up to 5 tickets for 5 different people in one transaction on the official Machu Picchu website, as long as the tickets are all the same. No, you cannot buy different kinds of tickets in the same transaction on the official Machu Picchu website. And as I mentioned above, a visitor cannot buy more than one ticket of the same kind on the same day for the same person. However if you're buying tickets from a tour operator or ticket aggregator, you may be able to order and pay for all your tickets at once. It just depends on if the website is set up to accept variables. For instance, Adios Adventure Travel organizes treks and trips that include all the various Machu Picchu tickets requested for each group. We communicate directly with each group to confirm their preferences and payments cover everything. 

In order to buy different kinds of tickets on the official Machu Picchu website you need to buy them separately. You can buy matching tickets for up to 5 people at a time. Each kind of ticket is sold separately. There are 4 kinds of tickets to choose from:

  • Llaqta de Machu Picchu (choose one of 4 available circuits 1, 2, 3 or 4.)
  • Circuit 4 + Montana Waynapicchu (you can tour lower circuit 4 before you checkin for the hike, which is about 2 hours roundtrip. Then you exit the park)
  • Montana Machu Picchu + Circuit 3 (this is the hike to Machu Picchu Mountain which is accessed from the upper terrace combined with tour of lower circuit #4)
  • Circuit 4 + Montana Huchuypicchu (you can tour lower circuit 4 before you checkin for the hiike which about is 45 minutes roundtrip. It's right in front of Wayna Picchu. Then you exit the park)
  • Inca Bridge + your choice of upper circuit 1 or 2 (IMO. this is the most value for people who know they want a tour of the upper circuit because the cost is the same as Machu Picchu Llaqta tickets, but you get the bonus of taking a little hike to see the Inca Bridge)
  • Here's a link to view the maps of all the circuits on the official Machu Picchu website. There is circuit 5 which is only for Inca Trail hikers. 

What you need to know about entering Machu Picchu main gate if you have more than 1 ticket for the same day.

It's not intuitive. Here are the rules regarding how to enter Machu Picchu if you have more than 1 entry ticket for the same day.. If you plan to use one entry ticket at a time then exit Machu Picchu for a bathroom break or to rest at the entrance gate, then you would only show one ticket when you enter Machu Picchu for that circuit or hike. Let's say you have a bladder made of steel and you intend to stay in the park and use both your entry tickets back to back, then you would present both tickets for scanning at the time you enter the main gate. For instance if you show up at the Huayna Picchu checkpoint and you forgot to have them scan your ticket when you entered for a tour using another ticket, they will make you go all the way back to the main gate and re-enter by scanning the ticket for the Huayna Picchu hike. Which brings up a really good question. How long can you stay in the park? This really depends on how frequently you need to powder your nose. I'm not kidding. We've never heard of anyone being asked to leave because they overstayed. Most people exit willingly after 2-3 hours inside the park, just because they need a bathroom break. Visitors cannot exit to use the restroom and re-enter Machu Picchu with the same ticket. Here's a link to read more about going to the toilet at Machu Picchu.

Can you buy more entry tickets to Machu Picchu after you get there?

Sadly and amazingly, the answer is no, with one exception which I will explain. I call this leaving money on the table and it mystifies me. But I'm not in charge. So there's that. Here's what happened in August 2022. Machu Picchu tickets sold out. Again. And continued to not be available, which was a big probelm for native Peruvians who like to just show up and explore destinations in their magnificent country. The citizens of the village of Aguas Calientes (the closest settlement near Machu Picchu) raised a fuss and asked, actually demanded, that the Peru government allow them to sell tickets in person in the village. So. The government agreed to offer up to 1000 tickets per day ONLY for sale in person in the village. And that's a separate story.

Disclaimer: our intention is to keep people informed and updated about the processes and rules for traveling to Machu Picchu. No matter what we report, it's always subject to change. Adios Adventure Travel is not responsible for this information in any way. Please reconfirm with your service providers before you book your trip.