The Cusco Tourist Ticket (BTC) in 2026: A Complete Guide to Prices, Circuits, and Tips
Master the entry system of the imperial region. Discover which attractions are included in each circuit, where to buy your ticket, and how to plan your visits without overspending.
What is the Cusco Tourist Ticket?
The Cusco Tourist Ticket (locally known by its acronym BTC) is an official and indispensable document managed by the Committee of Integrated Tourist-Cultural Services of Cusco (COSITUC). This ticket unifies the admission to 16 of the most important tourist attractions, museums, and archaeological parks in the city of Cusco and its surrounding valleys.
It is fundamental to understand that individual entry tickets are not sold at the gates of these sites. If you wish to visit Sacsayhuamán, Pisac, or Ollantaytambo independently, you are required to purchase this ticket. The BTC is divided into an integral pass (which covers everything) and three partial passes (designed for specific routes), allowing you to tailor your purchase to the exact duration of your itinerary.
The Integral Ticket (BTCI): The Best Choice for Long Trips
If you plan to stay in the Cusco region for four days or more and want to thoroughly explore both the city and the nearby provinces, the Integral Tourist Ticket is your best budget-friendly alternative.
This pass unifies all 16 attractions from the three partial circuits into a single physical ticket. It has a strict validity of 10 calendar days starting from the moment of purchase. This gives you enormous flexibility to arrange your excursions at your own pace, visit the museums in the historic center in the afternoons, and dedicate entire days to touring the valleys without worrying about immediate expiration dates.
Circuit 1: Archaeological Sites Around Cusco
This partial ticket is specifically designed for the traditional "Archaeological City Tour" on the immediate outskirts of the imperial city. It is the ideal circuit to complete during your first 48 hours of acclimatization in Cusco.
- Validity: It is valid for only 1 calendar day.
- Included Attractions: It includes the four megalithic complexes guarding the city from the highlands: the colossal fortress of Sacsayhuamán, the ceremonial labyrinth of Qenqo, the military control post of Puca Pucara, and the sacred water fountains at Tambomachay.
Circuit 2: Museums, Monuments, and the South Valley
This is the most varied cultural and historical circuit. It brings together downtown museums located just a few blocks from the Plaza de Armas, art galleries, and the impressive archaeological remains located along the route to the southeast of the city (the South Valley circuit).
- Validity: It is valid for 2 calendar days.
- Included Attractions: It grants access to the Qorikancha Site Museum, the Regional Historical Museum, the Museum of Contemporary Art, the Monument to the Inca Pachacútec, the Qosqo Center for Native Art (nightly folkloric dance shows), and the pre-Inca and Inca archaeological sites of Tipón (famous for its hydraulic channels) and Piquillacta (the only major pre-Inca Wari culture citadel in Cusco).
Circuit 3: Archaeological Treasures of the Sacred Valley
This is the most popular and highly demanded partial ticket for independent travelers wanting to connect the city of Cusco with their train journey to Machu Picchu, as it covers the northern agricultural zone of the empire.
- Validity: It is valid for 2 calendar days.
- Included Attractions: It allows you to enter the imposing terraces and cemetery of Pisac, the majestic walls and streets of Ollantaytambo, the textile center and Inca palace of Chinchero, and the stunning concentric agricultural experimentation terraces of Moray.
Official Prices and Student Discounts in 2026
The costs of the Tourist Ticket are divided according to the traveler's nationality and age group. It is important to bring cash to purchase them.
Rates for Foreign Tourists
- Integral Ticket: 130 Peruvian Soles (approximately $35 USD).
- Any Partial Ticket (Circuits 1, 2, or 3): 70 Peruvian Soles (approximately $19 USD).
- Foreign Students (Under 25 years old): They pay a reduced rate of 70 Soles for the Integral Ticket by presenting their original physical university ID card (with a visible validity date in 2026) or the international ISIC card.
Rates for National Tourists (Peruvians)
- National Integral Ticket: 70 Peruvian Soles.
- Any National Partial Ticket: 40 Peruvian Soles.
- National Students: They pay a reduced rate of 40 Soles for the Integral Ticket by presenting their valid university ID issued by SUNEDU.
Key Sites That Are NOT Included in the Ticket
A frequent mistake among tourists is assuming that the Tourist Ticket grants access to absolutely everything in Cusco. You must be very clear that the following iconic destinations have independent entry fees paid separately:
- Machu Picchu: The historic sanctuary must be booked exclusively through the official web platform of the Ministry of Culture.
- The Cusco Cathedral and San Blas Church: Paid directly at the door or via the Archbishop's Religious Circuit Ticket.
- Qorikancha (Temple of the Sun / Convent of Santo Domingo): Admission to the stone Inca temple is paid directly at its downtown entrance checkpoint.
- The Maras Salt Mines: They are managed by a local community cooperative, and entry costs 20 Soles at their own access booth.
Official Points of Sale: Where and How to Buy It
Unlike Machu Picchu tickets, the Cusco Tourist Ticket is not sold online. Do not trust websites that promise to reserve it for you by charging extra commissions. You must purchase it in person once you set foot on Cusco soil.
The primary and most recommended point of sale is the COSITUC central office, located at Avenida El Sol N° 103, just one block from the Plaza de Armas. They are open Monday through Sunday from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
💡 Alternative: If you do not have time to visit the downtown office, you can buy any version of the ticket directly at the entrance gate of any of the included archaeological sites (such as Sacsayhuamán or Pisac) on the very day of your excursion.
Strict Rules of Use You Must Know
- It is individual and non-transferable: Each ticket has your full name, passport or ID number, and nationality printed on it. Gate inspectors will verify this data against your original physical document.
- Single entry per site: The ticket has printed checkboxes for each attraction. Upon entering, the park ranger will punch or scan the corresponding box. You cannot re-enter the same archaeological site the next day, even if your ticket is still valid.
- No refunds: If you purchased the integral ticket but fall ill with altitude sickness (soroche) and cannot complete your excursions, the money will not be refunded, nor can the printed validity dates be changed or extended.
Tips to Maximize the Value of Your Ticket
- Do the travel math: If you are only interested in the Sacred Valley ruins (Circuit 3) and will not visit anything else, buy the 70 Soles partial ticket. However, if you plan to visit both the Sacred Valley and do the City Tour (Circuit 1), purchasing them separately would cost 140 Soles. In that case, it is much better to buy the Integral Ticket for 130 Soles, saving you money and giving you access to the museums and the South Valley for 10 full days.
- Take care of the physical ticket: The BTC is a thick cardboard ticket. Do not bend it roughly, do not get the barcodes wet, and do not lose the control stubs. If the code is damaged or the ticket tears, you will lose your right of admission and will have to buy a new one.
- Carry cash in Soles: Ticket booths at remote archaeological sites like Moray or Puca Pucara generally do not accept credit or debit cards due to unstable satellite internet signals in the mountains. Always carry the exact amount in Peruvian Soles.
