Buy the entrance Ticket to Machu Picchu for Students

The enigmatic Inca citadel of Machu Picchu is one of the favorite destinations for national and international students who yearn to see this amazing place first hand. The Peruvian government allows students to access discounts on the purchase of tickets or admission tickets, thus encouraging the knowledge of the historical legacy of the Incas to new generations.

What is the Machu Picchu ticket for students?

The Machu Picchu ticket for students is the official document issued by the agency in charge of the care of the Machu Picchu Archaeological Park, the INC or National Institute of Culture of Peru, which allows you to enter and visit the Inca citadel. There are basically three types of Machu Picchu tickets:

The first allows you to tour the citadel, known by the Quechua name of 'Llaqta' which are the main buildings of Machu Picchu, among which are the streets, squares, walls, viewpoints, temples and more. This entrance ticket to the Llaqta has three circuits to explore:

• Circuit N°1 is the one with the longest route, visiting almost all the important points of the Inca citadel or Llaqta, with an approximate duration of two to three hours. It was designed for travelers in good physical condition.
• The N°2 circuit allows you to explore the best known and most touristic places of the citadel, with an average duration of two hours. You should be in average physical condition.
• The N°3 circuit is the shortest of all, it allows to know the less elevated and more easily accessible points of the Llaqta. It was designed for the elderly or people with some kind of physical disability.

The second type of Machu Picchu ticket for students allows you to visit the Inca citadel 'Llaqta' and also the Huayna Picchu mountain, which is the mountain that appears in almost every photo of Machu Picchu. The journey up the Huayna Picchu mountain is about two hours, through a very narrow path and with chasms of more than 400 meters on the sides. It is one of the most popular places in the Machu Picchu Archaeological Park and for this reason, tickets to Huayna Picchu for students should be purchased at least three months in advance, since tickets for this mountain are usually sold out.

It must be taken into account that the minimum age limit to enter this mountain is 12 years old, because at certain points of the route there are steps or rungs that could be very dangerous for children, taking into account that a fall or slip could have fatal consequences.

The third type of Machu Picchu ticket for students combines the entrance to the citadel 'Llaqta' as well as the tour or climb to the so-called Machu Picchu Mountain, which is located behind the archaeological site. The ascent to the top of the Machu Picchu mountain takes approximately four hours, the journey is through a wide but steep stone path. Good physical condition is required.

HOW CAN I BUY A TICKET TO MACHU PICCHU FOR STUDENTS?

The first requirement to purchase a Machu Picchu ticket for students is to be no more than 25 years old at the time of the trip, as mentioned above.

The second requirement is to have a valid student ID valid for no more than one year at the time of purchase.

What type of student card is valid

It is important to point out that the rules of entry to the citadel of Machu Picchu have changed in recent years because there have been many cases of unscrupulous people who have tried to obtain the benefit of the student discount by presenting false or adulterated documentation, generating many problems at the time of entry and registration of visitors to the Inca complex.

Previously it was possible to present the international student card known as 'ISIC', but due to adulterations and forgeries this is no longer allowed.

The following considerations and precautions should be taken into account in order to know whether or not the university card you have is valid to purchase a ticket at student price:

• The first requirement is that the card has been issued by the university where you are currently a student, whether it is a university in Peru or abroad.
• The second requirement is that the card must be valid at the time of purchase, i.e. it must not be more than one year old and this period must also include the days of the visit to Machu Picchu. The date of validity of the university card MUST be registered in the document, otherwise it will be considered invalid.
• The material of the document must be made of PVC plastic, on which the names, surnames and photo of the student must be written, as well as the name of the University.
• Certificates of studies, transcripts, student book, student certificate or any other document other than the laminated university card will not be accepted as valid documents to obtain the discount.
• If the university card presented complies with all these requirements, it will be considered valid; if it does not comply with any of these requirements, it will not be eligible for the student discount.

Where can I buy a Machu Picchu ticket for students?

The purchase of the Machu Picchu ticket for students must be made in person at the INC offices, located at Garcilazo S/N - Museo Histórico Regional, at 340 Maruri Street in downtown Cusco, and at the Cultural Center in the town of Aguas Calientes. The reservation of tickets to Machu Picchu for students through the Internet is not available due to problems with the falsification of documents.

At the time of purchase, it is mandatory to present a valid university ID card and the national identity card (DNI) for Peruvian students or passport for foreign students.

You can also send us a digital copy of your university card, as well as your ID or passport and we will take care of the reservation process for you. Just go to the following link: info@cuscoperu.com and request a reservation to visit Machu Picchu.

What documents should I bring with me to enter Machu Picchu?

To enter the archaeological site of Machu Picchu, you must carry the entrance ticket to Machu Picchu for students, your physical university card and your national identity card or passport.

An important fact to consider is that the INC considers as school children all those under 18 years of age, that is to say, they have a differentiated price to enter Machu Picchu.