Cusco Tourist Ticket: Everything You Need to Know (2027 Guide)

If you are planning a trip to Cusco and the Sacred Valley of the Incas, purchasing the Cusco Tourist Ticket (Boleto Turístico del Cusco, BTC) is arguably your most important logistical step after booking your flights. Managed by the Committee of Integrated Tourism Cultural Services of Cusco (COSITUC), this single official pass unlocks access to 16 of the region's most iconic Inca fortresses, agricultural terraces, and historical museums.

1. What is the Cusco Tourist Ticket (BTC)?

The Boleto Turístico del Cusco (BTC) is a government-regulated pass created to streamline tourism and fund the ongoing archaeological conservation of Inca heritage sites across Cusco, the Sacred Valley, and the South Valley. Instead of paying individual admission fees at every stop (which would be substantially more expensive and time-consuming), visitors purchase a single ticket covering multiple cultural attractions.

2. How Does the Tourist Ticket Work?

When you purchase the BTC, you receive a numbered card stamped with your full name, nationality, and purchase date. Each attraction printed on the ticket corresponds to a numbered circle.

• At the entrance gate of each site, an attendant inspects your ticket alongside your original passport/ID and hole-punches that site's circle.
• One-time entry only: You can only enter each included site once during the ticket's validity period. Re-entry on subsequent days is not permitted.
• Non-transferable: The pass is strictly tied to the individual holder and cannot be shared or resold.

3. Ticket Types: Comprehensive vs. Partial Circuits

COSITUC offers four distinct ticket varieties depending on the duration of your stay and your travel interests:

A. Comprehensive Ticket (Boleto General / Integral — BTCG)

Valid for 10 consecutive days. This is by far the most popular and cost-effective pass for travelers spending more than 3 days in Cusco. It grants access to all 16 attractions across Circuits 1, 2, and 3.

B. Circuit 1: Saqsayhuamán Archaeological Circuit (BTCP I)

Valid for 1 day only. Perfect for visitors doing a half-day tour of the monumental Inca ruins perched directly above Cusco city:

• Saqsayhuamán: Massive megalithic fortress with stones weighing over 120 metric tons.
• Q’enqo: Sacred underground ceremonial labyrinth and carved sacrificial altar.
• Puka Pukara: "The Red Fortress"—an Inca military outpost and checkpoint.
• Tambomachay: Royal water temple featuring continuous flowing fountains and ceremonial baths.

C. Circuit 2: Cusco City & South Valley Circuit (BTCP II)

Valid for 2 consecutive days. Focused on cultural museums in downtown Cusco and archaeological marvels in the South Valley:

• Museums: Regional Historical Museum (Casa Garcilaso), Museum of Contemporary Art, Folk Art Museum, and the Qoricancha Site Museum (underground galleries).
• Monument to Inca Pachacútec: Panoramic observation tower in Cusco.
• Centro Qosqo de Arte Nativo: Nightly live Andean music and folk dance performances (starts 7:00 PM; seating is first-come, first-served).
• Tipón: Masterpiece of Inca hydraulic engineering with multi-tiered water channels.
• Pikillacta: Extensive pre-Inca administrative city built by the Wari culture.

D. Circuit 3: Sacred Valley of the Incas Circuit (BTCP III)

Valid for 2 consecutive days. Covers the essential highlights of the Sacred Valley:

• Pisaq: Vast mountain-ridge citadel, military barracks, and sweeping agricultural terraces.
• Ollantaytambo: The living Inca town and colossal Sun Temple fortress.
• Chinchero: Ancient royal estate of Tupac Inca Yupanqui, Inca terraces, and colonial church.
• Moray: Concentric circular agricultural amphitheaters used as micro-climate laboratories.

4. Official 2027 Prices & Student Discounts

Student & Child Discount Requirements:

• University Students: Must be 25 years old or younger at the time of purchase, and present an original valid university physical card (ISIC or official university student ID with visible photo, name, and expiration date) alongside their passport.
• Minors (10 to 17 years old): Pay the student rate (S/. 70 for Comprehensive) by presenting their passport or national identity document.
• Children (9 years and under): Enter 100% FREE at all sites when accompanied by an adult with passport verification.

5. Where and How to Buy the Ticket

You have two reliable options to purchase your physical BTC ticket in Cusco:

1. COSITUC Main Office: Located inside the Galerías Turísticas on Av. El Sol 103 (just 1.5 blocks from Cusco’s Plaza de Armas). Open Monday to Saturday from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM.
2. At the Gate of Any Included Site: You can purchase the ticket right at the checkpoint of your first attraction (such as Saqsayhuamán, Pisaq, or Ollantaytambo) directly from the official COSITUC cashier booth.

Pro-Tip: Always bring clean, crisp Peruvian Soles banknotes (S/. 20, S/. 50, S/. 100). Credit and debit card machines at mountain checkpoints are notoriously unreliable due to spotty cellular connections.

6. Must-Visit Sites Included in the BTC

• Saqsayhuamán: Just 15 minutes by foot or taxi from central Cusco, this fortress represents the pinnacle of Inca stone-fitting mastery. Combine it with our Cusco City Tour for expert historical context.
• Pisaq & Ollantaytambo: The twin jewels of the Sacred Valley. Pisaq perches high above terraced cliffs, while Ollantaytambo guards the northern gateway to Machu Picchu. Discover them on our Classic Sacred Valley Tour.
• Moray: Colossal sunken circular terraces where the Incas engineered micro-climates differing by up to 15°C from top to bottom. Visited on our Sacred Valley VIP Tour.
• Tipón: The crown jewel of Inca irrigation, where spring water still cascades through perfectly carved stone channels.

7. Major Attractions NOT Included (Important!)

A very common misconception among first-time visitors is expecting the BTC to cover every attraction in Cusco. The following major destinations require separate entrance tickets:

• Machu Picchu: Requires an official Ministry of Culture entrance ticket booked months in advance.
• Maras Salt Mines (Salineras): Administered by the local community of Maras (Entrance: S/. 20 per person).
• Qoricancha Temple of the Sun (Santo Domingo Convent): S/. 15 entrance fee at the door. (Note: Only the underground municipal museum is on the BTC, not the main temple).
• Cusco Cathedral: Requires the Religious Circuit Ticket or individual entrance (S/. 40).
• Rainbow Mountain (Vinicunca): Administered by indigenous communities (S/. 25 entrance).
• Humantay Lake: Administered by Mollepata municipality (S/. 20 entrance).

8. Local Guide Tips for Maximizing Your Pass

1. If staying 4+ days, always buy the Comprehensive Ticket: Visiting Saqsayhuamán (Circuit 1: S/. 70) and the Sacred Valley (Circuit 3: S/. 70) separately totals S/. 140. The Comprehensive ticket costs S/. 130 and gives you 10 full days plus museums.
2. Protect Your Ticket from Moisture: Keep the paper pass inside a zip-lock plastic pouch inside your daypack. Checkpoint attendants will reject torn or illegible tickets.
3. Carry Your Physical Passport: Security staff will ask to compare the name on your ticket with your original passport at every entrance. Photos on phones are frequently denied.

Exploring the majestic ruins of Cusco is a profoundly inspiring experience when led by passionate native storytellers. Check out our customizable Cusco Day Tours with Peru by Locals, where our certified guides take care of tickets, transport, and hidden historical secrets!