Top Attraction Tickets in Peru: Machu Picchu, Huacachina & More

Peru is one of South America’s most spectacular destinations - and most of its headline attractions require advance tickets. Daily visitor limits, timed entry slots, and surge pricing during peak season mean that travellers who don’t book ahead often miss out on the places they came to see. This guide covers the top ticketed attractions across Peru, with prices in local currency, opening hours, and booking tips so you know exactly what to expect.

Machu Picchu

The undisputed centrepiece of any Peru trip, Machu Picchu sits at around 2,430 metres above sea level in the Andean cloud forest. Daily visitor numbers are capped and entry is managed through a circuit system - you choose your entry time slot (6 am, 7 am, 8 am, 9 am, 10 am or 12 pm) and which of four circuits to walk.

• Entrance fee (as of 2026): approximately PEN 152 (adults), PEN 77 (students with valid ISIC card)
• Circuit 1 or 2 with Huayna Picchu add-on: approximately PEN 200 - limited to 400 people per day, books out weeks to months ahead during June–August
• Opening hours: 6 am – 5:30 pm daily
• Getting there: Train from Cusco or Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes, then a 20-minute bus ride up to the citadel. Buses from Aguas Calientes cost approximately PEN 24 each way. The walk up on foot takes 60–90 minutes.
• Booking tip: Buy through machupicchu.gob.pe at least 4–6 weeks ahead (3+ months for June–August). Foreign debit cards are accepted. Tiqets also offers Machu Picchu packages with train and bus included.

Sacsayhuamán and the Cusco Archaeological Park

Cusco’s UNESCO-protected archaeological complex includes Sacsayhuamán (the massive Inca fortress above the city), Qenqo, Puca Pucara, Tambomachay, and Pikillacta. A single boleto turístico covers entry to all of them.

• Boleto Turístico General (BTC as of 2026): approximately PEN 130 for a 10-day pass covering 16 sites
• Boleto Turístico Parcial: approximately PEN 70 for a partial circuit (your choice of sites)
• Sacsayhuamán only: approximately PEN 70 (partial ticket)
• Opening hours: most sites 7 am – 6 pm daily; some close Monday
• Where to buy: at Cusco’s official boleto turístico offices on Avenida El Sol, or at the sites themselves. Allow 2–3 hours for Sacsayhuamán.

Ollantaytambo

The best-preserved Inca town in Peru, Ollantaytambo serves as both a living Inca settlement and the gateway to the Inca Trail. The site’s terraced temples and water channels give a sense of imperial Inca engineering that Machu Picchu can’t quite match in the same way.

• Entrance fee (as of 2026): covered by the Boleto Turístico Parcial or General (see above), approximately PEN 70 on the partial circuit
• Opening hours: 7 am – 6 pm daily
• Getting there: approximately 1.5 hours by bus or taxi from Cusco (around PEN 25–35 by shared bus from the terminal on Calle Pavitos). Most Machu Picchu train journeys depart from Ollantaytambo - it’s a sensible overnight stop the night before Machu Picchu.
• Booking tip: You don’t need a timed slot here - just rock up during opening hours. Early morning (before 9 am) is quieter before day-trippers arrive.

Huacachina Oasis and Sand Dune Buggy

Huacachina is a natural oasis wedged between towering sand dunes near the city of Ica, roughly 4 hours south of Lima. The dunes themselves are free to walk, but the signature experience - dune buggy rides followed by sandboarding - requires booking through a local operator.

• Dune buggy + sandboarding (as of 2026): approximately PEN 50–70 per person for a 2-hour session
• Best time: late afternoon for golden-hour dune light; sunrise sessions are quieter
• Opening hours: tours run from roughly 9 am onwards, with the most popular sessions at 4 pm and 6 am
• Getting there: approximately 5 minutes by taxi or tuk-tuk from Ica city centre (PEN 5–8). Long-distance buses from Lima (Cruz del Sur, Oltursa) stop at Ica; journey approximately 4 hours, from PEN 45.
• Booking tip: Book directly at the lagoon-side agencies or through Tiqets for guaranteed slots during peak summer weekends (January–March).

Colca Canyon

One of the world’s deepest canyons, Colca is 160 km from Arequipa and home to Andean condors that soar on thermal currents above the Cruz del Condor viewpoint most mornings between 8 am and 10 am.

• Canyon entrance fee (as of 2026): approximately PEN 40 (ticket valid 2 days)
• Cruz del Condor viewpoint: included in the canyon ticket; no additional charge
• Opening hours: Cruz del Condor is best visited between 8 am and 10 am for condor sightings
• Getting there: approximately 3.5–4 hours by organised tour bus from Arequipa (from approximately PEN 35–50 including transport) or by public bus from the Terminal Terrestre (around PEN 10, journey 5 hours)
• Booking tip: Most visitors take a 2-day tour from Arequipa that includes accommodation in Chivay. Tiqets and local operators offer full-day and 2-day packages from around PEN 150 per person.

Huascarán National Park (Huaraz)

The crown of the Cordillera Blanca, Huascarán National Park protects Peru’s highest peaks (including Huascarán at 6,768 m) and is the base for multi-day treks like the Santa Cruz and Alpamayo circuits.

• Entrance fee (as of 2026): approximately PEN 30 per person (day visit), PEN 65 for a 21-day multi-entry permit (needed for trekkers)
• Opening hours: Park access is year-round; the dry trekking season runs May–September
• Getting there: Huaraz is 8 hours by overnight bus from Lima (Cruz del Sur, Movil Tours - from approximately PEN 60). From Huaraz, a taxi to the Llanganuco Lakes costs approximately PEN 80–100 return.
• Booking tip: The multi-day permit is purchased at the park office in Huaraz (Avenida Fitzcarrald). No online booking - buy in person on arrival.

Paracas National Reserve and Ballestas Islands

The Ballestas Islands off the Paracas coast are sometimes called the “Poor Man’s Galápagos” - home to Humboldt penguins, sea lions, Peruvian boobies, and red-footed cormorants. Boat tours depart from the port of El Chaco in Paracas.

• Paracas National Reserve entrance (as of 2026): approximately PEN 11
• Ballestas Islands boat tour (as of 2026): approximately PEN 55–70 per person (2-hour tour)
• Opening hours: tours typically depart 8 am and 10 am; the reserve is open 6 am – 6 pm
• Getting there: approximately 4 hours by bus from Lima to Paracas (Cruz del Sur, Soyuz - from approximately PEN 40). Paracas is also a common stop on a Lima–Ica–Cusco overland route.
• Booking tip: Book the boat tour at least a day ahead during Peruvian school holidays (July, January). Morning tours get calmer seas.

Chan Chan Archaeological Zone (Trujillo)

The largest pre-Columbian city in South America, Chan Chan was the capital of the Chimú Empire and covers 20 square kilometres of adobe ruins near Trujillo on Peru’s north coast.

• Entrance fee (as of 2026): approximately PEN 16 (includes entry to the Huaca Arco Iris and Huaca Esmeralda complexes within the ticket)
• Opening hours: 9 am – 4 pm daily (ticket office closes at 3 pm)
• Getting there: approximately 5 km from central Trujillo; a shared taxi or combi costs approximately PEN 2–3. From Lima, buses take around 8–9 hours (Cruz del Sur, Línea - from PEN 60).
• Booking tip: The site is large and the sun can be fierce - bring a hat and water. A guide hired at the entrance costs approximately PEN 60–80 and is worth it for context.

Booking Tips for Peru’s Ticketed Attractions

Buy Machu Picchu tickets as early as possible. The government portal (machupicchu.gob.pe) goes live at midnight Peru time (UTC-5). Slots for June–August peak season routinely sell out 3–4 months in advance.

Bring a printed or digital copy of your ticket. Many Peru sites don’t have reliable wifi at the entrance. Download your ticket as a PDF before you travel.

Check opening days before you go. Several Cusco archaeological sites close on Mondays. The Larco Museum in Lima closes for maintenance on Tuesdays.

Altitude is a factor at most highland sites. Cusco sits at 3,400 m; Machu Picchu at 2,430 m. Give yourself at least one rest day to acclimatise before trekking. Altitude medication (acetazolamide) is widely available from pharmacies in Cusco.

Book combo tickets where possible. The Cusco Boleto Turístico is significantly cheaper than buying each site individually. For the Colca Canyon and Ballestas Islands, operator-packaged tours including transport and entrance fees often work out better value than buying piecemeal.