Machu Picchu Circuits: All 10 Routes Explained

Since June 1, 2024, visits to Machu Picchu have been organized into 3 circuits and 10 one-way routes. Each ticket is tied to a specific route: you can’t switch routes inside the sanctuary, so it pays to choose carefully before you buy.

The 10 routes at a glance

Route	Circuit	What it covers	Distance (round trip)	Effort	Max. time	Season
1-A Machu Picchu Mountain	1 Panoramic	Summit of Machu Picchu Mountain and upper terraces	3.8 km	High	7 h	Year-round
1-B Upper Terrace	1 Panoramic	High viewpoint and the classic photo	1.6 km	Moderate	—	Year-round
1-C Intipunku Gate	1 Panoramic	The Inca Trail’s Sun Gate	3.4 km	Moderate	—	Peak season
1-D Inca Bridge	1 Panoramic	Inca bridge of stone and wood	2.6 km	Moderate	3 h	Peak season
2-A Designed Classic	2 Classic	Agricultural sector, main plaza, Sacred Rock, water mirrors	2.5 km	Moderate to high	—	Year-round
2-B Lower Terrace	2 Classic	Lower terrace, quarries, main plaza	2.7 km	Moderate to high	—	Year-round
3-A Waynapicchu Mountain	3 Royalty	Temple of the Sun, House of the Inca and Huayna Picchu	2.4 km	High	6 h	Year-round
3-B Designed Royalty	3 Royalty	Temple of the Sun, House of the Inca, Temple of the Condor	1.3 km	Moderate	2 h 30 min	Year-round
3-C Great Cavern	3 Royalty	Royal sector and Great Cavern	3 km	High	—	Peak season
3-D Huchuypicchu	3 Royalty	Royal sector and Huchuy Picchu mountain	1.7 km	Moderate	3 h 30 min	Peak season

Distances and effort levels come from the official Tu Boleto portal; maximum times come from the official map of each route. A “—” means we couldn’t verify it with an official source.

Circuit 1: Panoramic

This circuit takes you to the upper part of the sanctuary, with the widest views of the Inca city and the mountains around it. It’s the one for panoramic photos: Route 1-B passes the viewpoint for the classic shot, and Route 1-A climbs Machu Picchu Mountain, where you can see the snowcapped peaks of Salkantay and Pumasillo.

Routes 1-C Intipunku and 1-D Inca Bridge are sold only in peak season. None of the Circuit 1 routes explore the urban sector in depth.

Circuit 2: Classic Machu Picchu

This circuit combines the terraces of the middle section with the entire urban sector: the main entrance (Llaqta Punku), the Temple of the Sun viewpoint, the main plaza, the Sacred Rock and the water mirrors. It’s the best choice for a first visit with a guide, since it covers most of the buildings.

Route 2-A is designed around the classic Machu Picchu photo. Route 2-B adds the climb to the lower terrace and the quarry sector.

Circuit 3: Machu Picchu Royalty

This circuit focuses on the spaces of the Inca elite: the Temple of the Sun, the House of the Inca, the ceremonial fountains, the Three Doorways sector and the Temple of the Condor. Without a mountain it takes little effort, and part of Route 3-B is wheelchair accessible.

It’s also the starting point for Huayna Picchu (3-A) and Huchuy Picchu (3-D), as well as the route to the Great Cavern (3-C).

Which route should you choose?

• A first visit without a tough hike: Circuit 2 (Routes 2-A or 2-B).
• The classic photo from above: Route 1-B.
• A mountain with views of the valley and snowcapped peaks: Route 1-A, Machu Picchu Mountain.
• The mountain in the classic photo: Route 3-A, Huayna Picchu, with few spots per day.
• Limited mobility: Route 3-B.
• Two visits on the same trip: do Circuit 2 one day and a mountain route the next; they’re two separate tickets.

Torn between the two mountains? Read Huayna Picchu vs. Machu Picchu Mountain: which to choose.

Rules that apply to every route

• Routes are one-way, and you can’t turn back.
• Tickets are issued in your name and checked against the passport or ID you registered when you bought them.
• Each ticket has a date, a route and an entry time.
• Peak-season routes (1-C, 1-D, 3-C and 3-D) aren’t sold the rest of the year.

See also ticket types by visitor profile and what you’re not allowed to bring.