You’ve just arrived in Cusco, and someone at your hotel mentions the Boleto Turístico. Is it the same as a tour? Does it cover Machu Picchu? Can you buy it on its own?
This is the most common question new arrivals have. Here we explain, in plain terms, the difference between the Cusco Tourist Ticket (your entry pass to the ruins) and the city tour (the transport and guide service), plus where to buy the ticket and how much it costs.
What the Cusco Tourist Ticket (BTG) is
The Boleto Turístico General (BTG) is not a tour: it’s the required entry ticket for the main archaeological sites and museums in Cusco and the Sacred Valley. Machu Picchu is not included.
- How it works. It’s a card that gets you into several sites, grouped into three circuits.
- It’s not a tour. The BTG is only the entry ticket. You book the guide and transport separately (for example, with Tari Tours).
- It doesn’t include Machu Picchu. Machu Picchu tickets are sold separately and managed by a different government agency.
Which sites the ticket includes
The full ticket (General) is valid for 10 days and gives you access to more than 16 sites, split into three circuits:
| Circuit | Main sites |
|---|---|
| Circuit I | Sacsayhuamán, Qenqo, Puca Pucara and Tambomachay |
| Sacred Valley | Pisac, Ollantaytambo, Moray and Chinchero |
| Museums and South Valley | City museums and South Valley sites |
The ticket does not include Qoricancha (the Temple of the Sun) or the Cathedral. You pay for those separately at the entrance.
Full or partial ticket?
- Boleto General (full ticket). Valid for 10 days and covers all three circuits. It’s worth it if you’re doing both the city tour and the Sacred Valley.
- Boleto Parcial (partial ticket). The cheaper option if you’re short on time: it’s valid for 1 or 2 days and covers a single circuit, such as the city tour ruins (Circuit I) or the Sacred Valley.
How much it costs (reference prices)
The price depends on your nationality and the type of ticket. For foreign visitors, the reference prices are:
- Boleto General. About S/ 130 (around US$ 35).
- Boleto Parcial. About S/ 70 (around US$ 19).
Where to buy it
The ticket is sold at the official COSITUC offices (Comité de Servicios Integrados Turístico Culturales), at Avenida El Sol 103, near the Plaza de Armas. Don’t leave it until you reach the gate of the ruins: buy it in advance.
Logistics tip: buy the ticket the day before your city tour or Sacred Valley tour. That way you leave on time, with no lines and no rush.
And what is the city tour?
The Cusco City Tour is the service that takes you to the ruins: transport (bus or van) and a professional guide who stays with the group and tells you the story of each site.
Heads-up: the city tour takes you to the sites, but it does not include the Tourist Ticket. You need both: the entry ticket (BTG) and the tour you book.
On the city tour, the Circuit I Boleto Parcial gets you into:
- Sacsayhuamán. The Inca fortress with the giant stones.
- Qenqo, Puca Pucara and Tambomachay. The other three archaeological sites on the outskirts of the city.
Summary: which ticket to buy
| If you’re doing… | What to buy |
|---|---|
| City tour | Book the tour (transport + guide) and buy the Circuit I Boleto Parcial. |
| Sacred Valley | Book the tour and buy the Sacred Valley Boleto Parcial. |
| City tour + Sacred Valley | Buy the Boleto General (BTG): it costs less and saves you time. |
Doing the city tour or the Sacred Valley?
We’re a local agency in Cusco, registered with MINCETUR since 2003, with English-speaking guides. We organize the city tour and the Sacred Valley tour, and we help you pick the right ticket for your itinerary.