Cusco Tourist Ticket (Boleto Turístico): What It Covers and What It Doesn’t

The Cusco Tourist Ticket (Boleto Turístico, or BTC) is a combined entrance pass for 16 archaeological sites and museums in and around Cusco. The full ticket costs S/130 for foreign adults and is valid for 10 days. It does not cover Machu Picchu, Rainbow Mountain, the Cusco Cathedral or the Maras salt mines.

What Is the Boleto Turístico?

The Boleto Turístico is an official multi-site ticket administered by COSITUC, the organization that manages tourist ticketing for Cusco’s heritage sites. It comes in two forms:

• Full ticket (integral): all 16 sites, valid for 10 days.
• Partial tickets: one of three circuits (I, II or III), each priced separately and valid for a shorter period.

The ticket is personal and non-transferable, and it allows one entry per site. You will usually be asked for your passport at the gate, so carry it.

Prices and Validity (2026)

Prices below are in Peruvian soles (S/) and come from third-party guides that cite COSITUC. We could not confirm them on an official COSITUC page, so verify the current rates at the sales office before you budget.

Ticket	Foreign adult	Foreign student	Validity
Full ticket (16 sites)	S/130	S/70	10 days
Circuit I	S/70	S/70	1 day
Circuit II	S/70	S/70	2 days
Circuit III	S/70	S/70	2 days

A few details on discounts:

• Children up to age 9 enter free.
• Ages 10–17 pay the student rate with an ID.
• Ages 18–25 pay the student rate with a valid student card.
• Peruvian nationals pay S/70 for the full ticket.

At recent exchange rates, S/130 works out to roughly US$35–40. The validity period starts on the purchase date, not on your first site visit, so avoid buying it days before you plan to use it.

What the Full Ticket Covers

The 16 sites fall into three groups.

Circuit I: Cusco’s hilltop ruins (4 sites) Sacsayhuamán, Qenqo, Puka Pukara and Tambomachay. They sit on the hills just above the city, at roughly 3,700 meters (12,100 feet). For background on one of them, see our guide to Tambomachay.

Circuit II: Museums and the southern valley (8 sites) The Qorikancha site museum, the Regional History Museum, the Popular Art Museum, the Contemporary Art Museum, the Qosqo Native Art Center, the Pachacútec Monument, Tipón and Piquillacta.

Circuit III: The Sacred Valley (4 sites) Pisac, Ollantaytambo, Chinchero and Moray.

If you plan to see the Sacred Valley’s ruins on a guided day trip, our overview of the best Sacred Valley tours from Cusco explains how those routes are usually structured.

What the Boleto Turístico Does Not Cover

This is where most travelers get caught out. The ticket does not include:

• Machu Picchu. It needs its own timed-entry ticket, bought separately through the Peruvian Ministry of Culture system. See our guide to Machu Picchu tickets.
• Rainbow Mountain (Vinicunca) and Humantay Lake. Both charge their own local entrance fees, which most tours collect or include.
• The Maras salt mines. They are separate from the ticket, even though they sit next to Moray.
• Cusco Cathedral. It has its own entrance fee and belongs to a separate religious-art circuit. We cover it in our Cusco Cathedral guide.
• The main Qorikancha temple. The BTC includes only the site museum. The temple and convent charge a separate fee, which we have seen listed at roughly S/15–20. Our Qorikancha article gives more detail.
• Other churches and sites. Andahuaylillas, Raqchi and private museums in the historic center charge their own fees.
• Guides and transportation. The ticket is admission only.

Full Ticket vs. Partial Circuits: Which One Fits?

The math is simple. Two partial circuits cost S/140, which is already more than the S/130 full ticket. If you plan to visit two or more circuits, the full ticket is cheaper.

Your plan	Better choice
Sacsayhuamán half day only	Circuit I
Sacred Valley day trip only	Circuit III
Sacsayhuamán plus Sacred Valley	Full ticket
Museums, Tipón and Piquillacta	Circuit II
Several days in the Cusco area	Full ticket

Pros of the full ticket

• One purchase covers 16 sites.
• Ten days gives you room to spread visits out and rest.
• It is cheaper than any two partial circuits.

Cons of the full ticket

• The 10-day clock starts on purchase, so unused days are wasted.
• Many travelers do not reach all 16 sites. Several museums are modest, and the Qosqo Native Art Center is an evening show rather than an archaeological site.
• It gives no discount at the sites it excludes, such as Machu Picchu or the Cathedral.

Not everyone needs the ticket. If your whole trip is Machu Picchu plus a single Sacred Valley day, a Circuit III partial may be all you need. If your tour operator’s price already includes entrances, check what is covered before buying your own.

Where to Buy the Boleto Turístico

• COSITUC main office: Galerías Turísticas, Av. El Sol 103, Cusco. This is the most reliable place to buy.
• Selected sites: Some sites sell tickets at the entrance, including Sacsayhuamán, Pisac, Ollantaytambo and Chinchero. Some museums and the Pachacútec Monument do not sell them.
• Payment: Carry cash in soles. Cards are accepted in some places but can carry a surcharge of about 3% and may not work at remote entrances.

The ticket cannot be bought online. Be cautious of agents or websites that charge a markup, and confirm the price before you pay.

Office hours vary between sources, so check them before you go. Individual site hours also differ. Most ruins open early in the morning and close in the late afternoon, and a few museums are closed on Sundays.

Tips to Get the Most From Your Ticket

1. Buy it after you arrive. Do not purchase it until you know your itinerary.
2. Plan around altitude. Cusco sits at 3,399 meters (11,152 feet), and Sacsayhuamán is higher. Give yourself a couple of easy days first. Our guides to altitude sickness in Cusco and how to acclimatize in Cusco explain how.
3. Group by location. Visit Circuit I on one half day and the Sacred Valley on another, rather than crisscrossing.
4. Guided tours. Our half-day Cusco city tour visits Qorikancha and the four ruins in Circuit I, but entrances are not included, so budget for the ticket and the Qorikancha fee separately. Our Sacred Valley tour lists entrance tickets as included, so confirm this when you book.
5. Check Rainbow Mountain separately. The Rainbow Mountain and Red Valley tour includes its own admissions, and the Boleto Turístico does not apply there.

Frequently Asked Questions