Quick Summary: Pay for the big, fixed items by card before you travel: the state Machu Picchu ticket portal takes Visa and Mastercard, both train companies take the main cards online, and both bus companies sell online. Everything small runs on soles in cash: the Boleto Turístico, colectivos, taxis, markets and many cheap restaurants. In 2026 most Cusco bank ATMs reportedly charge foreign cards about S/18–25 (US$5–7) per withdrawal, capped at about S/400 a time (S/700 at BCP), while Banco de la Nación is usually reported as free. This guide is for independent travellers working out how to pay along the Cusco to Machu Picchu route; for what each item costs, see our Machu Picchu cost breakdown.
What You Pay For and How: The Short Version
Dollar figures use about S/3.44 per US$1 (BCRP, mid-October 2026). For daily costs rather than payment methods, see our Cusco on a budget guide.
| What you pay for | How it is paid | Currency |
|---|---|---|
| Machu Picchu ticket, online | Visa or Mastercard (debit or credit) or the Yape wallet | Soles |
| Machu Picchu ticket, in person | Cash | Soles |
| Bus to the ruins | Card online; cash at the counter (Torontoy also takes cards there) | US$ or soles |
| Trains | Card or PayPal online | US$ |
| Boleto Turístico | In person; no published payment methods, so bring cash | Soles |
| Colectivos, taxis, markets | Cash, small notes | Soles |
| Restaurants and hotels | Visa and Mastercard widely; American Express less often | Soles; hotels often quote US$ |
Machu Picchu Tickets: Card Online, Cash in Person
The state portal, tuboleto.cultura.pe, takes Visa and Mastercard debit or credit cards and the Peruvian Yape wallet, according to Andina's visitor guide of 6 October 2026. The Ministry is still working on adding Diners and American Express. Andina also reports a payment-gateway fee of 2.83% on domestic transactions and 4.69% on international ones. A foreign adult's standard ticket is about S/163 (S/152 plus the S/11 SERNANP conservation charge since 1 May 2026, per El Tiempo), so 4.69% would add about S/7.60 (US$2.20) if it applies to the full amount.
- Online: you have 15 minutes to pay once you choose a slot, and the ticket is confirmed only when payment goes through (Andina).
- In person in Machu Picchu Pueblo: the DDC Cusco office sells up to 1,000 tickets a day for the next day's entry (Ministry of Culture). The Ministry's page lists no payment methods. An agency guide of 13 May 2026 says you pay in soles and cards "do not always get accepted" (Alpaca Expeditions), so carry the full amount in cash.
- In person in Cusco: Andina's October guide adds that you can buy in person at Casa Garcilaso, paying cash; the Machu Picchu Pueblo sales point sits in the town's municipal Cultural Center. Confirm the dates sold before relying on it.
The Bus and the Trains
Two companies run the bus between Aguas Calientes and the ruins in 2026, and both take dollars or soles; our bus guide covers fares and queues.
- Consettur: PeruRail's planning guide lists card payment online and cash in soles or US dollars in person, at the Avenida Hermanos Ayar office in Aguas Calientes and at Av. Pardo 827 in Cusco. Foreign adults pay about US$12 one way or US$24 round trip.
- San Antonio de Torontoy: its terms (updated 23 February 2026) list credit and debit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express), e-wallets such as Yape and Plin, cash at its authorised offices, and cards by PIN pad at those offices. Prices are in soles and dollars, and you can reserve online and pay at a counter at no extra charge. About US$11 one way or US$22 round trip.
- PeruRail: online by Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Diners Club, UnionPay, PayPal or SafetyPay bank transfer. You pay in US dollars at your bank's exchange rate, and your card must be enabled for online and foreign payments (PeruRail).
- Inca Rail: its site shows Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Diners Club, PayPal and Apple Pay (Inca Rail).
The train companies' payment pages we read do not mention cash at stations, so treat the train as an advance card purchase, ideally on a card without a foreign transaction fee.
In Cusco: What Needs Cash and What Takes Cards
- Boleto Turístico: sold in person only, S/130 (about US$38) for the full ticket or S/70 per partial circuit (COSITUC). COSITUC publishes no accepted payment methods, so bring the amount in soles. Our Boleto Turístico guide covers where to buy it.
- Colectivos to the Sacred Valley: cash in soles, in small notes. Recent fares run about S/5–8 to Pisac and S/10–20 to Ollantaytambo; our colectivo guide has the details.
- Taxis, local buses and markets: cash only, including San Pedro Market (Travel Currency Guide, June 2026).
- Restaurants, shops and hotels: Visa and Mastercard are widely taken in hotels, tourist restaurants, supermarkets and larger shops; American Express only at some upmarket places. Hotels often quote in US dollars (Travel Currency Guide). Smaller restaurants still expect cash (LatAm Travellers, May 2026).
Two traps at the card machine. First, a card surcharge is legal only if shown visibly before you decide to buy, for example on a sign; one that first appears on the receipt need not be paid, and you can ask for the Libro de Reclamaciones, the complaints book (Gestión, 3 June 2026, citing Indecopi rulings). Second, if the terminal offers to charge you in your home currency, decline and pay in soles (Salkantay Trekking), and check the amount on screen before confirming (Tierras Vivas).
ATM Fees and Withdrawal Limits by Bank in 2026
We found no Peruvian bank page publishing what it charges foreign cards, so the figures below come from dated travel-company reports: Alpaca Expeditions (5 February 2026), Salkantay Trekking (table dated July 2025) and LatAm Travellers (May 2026). They disagree in places, and the ATM screen shows the fee before you confirm.
| Bank or network | Reported fee per withdrawal | Reported cap per withdrawal | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Banco de la Nación (MultiRed) | Usually free (S/0 in two reports) | S/400 (about US$116) | Some branches reportedly pay out at the counter without the ATM fee |
| BCP | S/20–25 (about US$6–7); one 2026 guide says often free | S/700 (about US$203) | Some foreign cards are exempt from the fee |
| Interbank | S/20–25 | S/400 | Limited dollar dispensing |
| BBVA | S/18–25 | S/400 | Some machines dispense dollars |
| Scotiabank | S/18–25 | S/400 | Member of the Global ATM Alliance |
| BanBif | S/18–20 | S/700 | Branches on Av. La Cultura and Santa Catalina Angosta |
| GlobalNet (stand-alone machines) | S/19–36 (up to about US$10) | S/400 | Highest reported fees; common in hostels and shops |
- Your own bank adds more: its foreign ATM fee and exchange margin come on top. Scotiabank Perú is on the Global ATM Alliance member list, with banks such as Bank of America, Barclays and Westpac; if your bank is a member, check whether it waives fees there. Conversion fees still apply.
- Withdraw fewer, larger amounts: a S/20 fee is about 2.9% of S/700 but 5% of S/400.
- Decline the ATM's conversion: if the machine offers to convert the withdrawal for you, choose the option without conversion so your card network sets the rate (ATM Fee Saver).
- Where in Cusco: BCP at Av. El Sol 189, Banco de la Nación near Av. El Sol 800 and Scotiabank at Portal de Carnes 244 (Alpaca Expeditions). GlobalNet has a machine at Portal de Confitería 221 on the Plaza de Armas (Salkantay Trekking). Use machines inside banks; our Cusco safety guide covers skimming.
ATMs in Aguas Calientes
Aguas Calientes has cash machines, but too few to rely on. A guide updated in August 2026 counts roughly four: two attached to banks on the main river avenue and a stand-alone machine near the plaza. It says they run dry from Friday afternoon in the June to August peak and around national holidays, charge about S/20–25 in local fees, and cap withdrawals at about S/400–700. It also warns that card terminals stop working whenever the connection drops (Peru Tourism, August 2026). Alpaca Expeditions warned in May 2026 that the village machines can run out of cash.
Cash is needed there for an in-person Machu Picchu ticket, a bus ticket bought at the counter, market stalls, small eateries, the hot springs and luggage lockers (Peru Tourism, which suggests S/400–600 a person from Cusco for one night). Withdraw in Cusco, and arrive with your Machu Picchu and bus tickets already paid by card.
US Dollars, Soles and Casas de Cambio
- Soles for daily life: US dollars are accepted in many shops, hotels and restaurants, but paying in soles avoids confusion over the exchange rate (Tierras Vivas).
- Bring clean notes: casas de cambio decline US dollar bills with small tears, folds or ink marks (Exploor Peru, updated 16 October 2026).
- Where to change: a casa de cambio (exchange office) or a bank, not the airport or a hotel desk, which usually give the weakest rates (Exploor Peru), and not on the street (Tierras Vivas).
- At the counter: count your soles before leaving, and ask for some small notes.
How to Check Notes for Counterfeits
Peru's Central Reserve Bank (BCRP) teaches a three-step check, "toque, mire y gire": touch, look, tilt (El Peruano, 26 May 2024).
- Touch: genuine notes are 100% cotton paper with a distinctive firm feel. Fakes often use softer, lighter paper.
- Look: hold the note against the light. The watermark on a genuine note shows several tones; fakes often show only two.
- Tilt: tilt the note slightly at eye level. On a genuine note the security thread changes colour and its squares appear to join and separate.
- The new S/200: since February 2026 a version of the S/200 note has a wider 5 mm band (it was 4 mm) in blue and green with a moving effect. Old and new S/200 notes are both fully valid (La República, 25 February 2026).
Check large notes when you receive them. A fake passed to you is your loss: Torontoy's terms say counterfeits handed in at its window are kept, punched and reported.
Our Pick: How to Split Cash and Card
Pay the Machu Picchu ticket, the train, the bus and your hotels by card, in advance. The 4.69% gateway fee is small next to a sold-out day or an empty ATM in Aguas Calientes. Then carry soles for everything else: the Boleto Turístico, colectivos, taxis, markets and small restaurants. Withdraw in Cusco early in your trip, at a machine inside a bank. Try Banco de la Nación first; if it does not take your card, BCP's higher S/700 cap makes its fee go further. Skip stand-alone GlobalNet machines unless you are stuck. Bring some US dollars in clean notes as a back-up, not as your main money.
What is overhyped: the idea that you need a thick wad of dollars, and blog claims that one bank is always fee-free. Reports disagree, fees vary by card, and the only number that counts is the one on the ATM screen.
FAQ
Can I pay for Machu Picchu tickets with a foreign credit card?
Yes. The official portal takes Visa and Mastercard debit or credit cards, with a 4.69% gateway fee on international payments, Andina reports. Diners and American Express were not yet accepted in October 2026.
Do the Machu Picchu buses accept credit cards?
Online, yes, with both companies. At the counter, Consettur takes cash in soles or dollars (per PeruRail), while Torontoy also takes cards and e-wallets at its offices.
Can I pay for the Boleto Turístico by card?
COSITUC does not say which payment methods it accepts. It is sold in person only, so bring S/130 in soles for the full ticket or S/70 for a partial circuit.
Are there ATMs in Aguas Calientes?
Yes, a handful, but an August 2026 guide says they run dry on peak-season weekends and around holidays. Withdraw in Cusco before the train.
Which ATM in Cusco has no fees for foreign cards?
Banco de la Nación is the one most often reported as free, with a S/400 cap per withdrawal. Some reports say BCP is free for certain cards, but others put its fee at S/20–25, so check the screen before you confirm.
How much can I withdraw from an ATM in Cusco?
Reports put the cap at about S/400 per withdrawal at most banks and S/700 at BCP and BanBif. Your own bank's daily limit also applies.
Should I bring US dollars or soles?
Soles for daily spending, plus some clean US dollars as a back-up. Exchange offices refuse dollar notes with tears, folds or ink marks.
Is it legal for a restaurant in Peru to charge extra for paying by card?
Yes, but only if the surcharge is shown visibly before you decide to buy. If it first appears on the bill, you do not have to pay it, and you can ask for the Libro de Reclamaciones.
Limitations
Everything here is as of November 2026. We found no Peruvian bank page publishing its ATM charges for foreign cards, so the fees and caps above come from travel-company reports that disagree with each other and can change without notice. Aguas Calientes ATMs, the ticket portal's payment options and its gateway fee can change too, and we could not confirm what the in-person Machu Picchu and Boleto Turístico counters accept. Work-around: before you travel, check your own bank's foreign ATM and card fees, confirm payment options on each booking site as you pay, and read the fee on every ATM screen.