Quick Summary: In 2026 a foreign adult pays S/152 for a standard Machu Picchu route plus an S/11 conservation charge, about S/163 (US$47). An undergraduate with a valid university photo card pays S/77 plus S/11, children aged 3 to 17 pay S/70 plus S/5, and under-3s enter free. Peruvians, foreign residents and citizens of Bolivia, Colombia and Ecuador pay promotional rates of S/64 on standard routes, or S/32 for students and minors. This guide is for families and students checking who qualifies and what each discount saves; for how circuits and routes work, see Machu Picchu tickets explained.
The 2026 Entry Fares at a Glance
Two official documents set the prices. Foreign tourists pay the Ministry of Culture's standing tariff list, the TUSNE, in force since 1 January 2025 and restated for the 2026 Circuit 3 routes by Resolution 000317-2025-MC. Peruvians, foreign residents and Andean Community citizens pay promotional 2026 rates set by Resolution 000284-2025-MC. In soles, before the conservation charge:
| Visitor | Standard routes (1-B, 1-C, 1-D, 2-A, 2-B, 3-B, 3-D) | Mountain routes (1-A, 3-A, 3-C) | Conservation charge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Foreign adult | S/152 (about US$44) | S/200 (about US$58) | +S/11 |
| Foreign undergraduate student | S/77 (about US$22) | S/125 (about US$36) | +S/11 |
| Foreign minor, 3 to 17 | S/70 (about US$20) | S/118 (about US$34) | +S/5 |
| Peruvian, foreign resident or Andean Community adult | S/64 (about US$19) | S/112 (about US$33) | +S/5 for Peruvians |
| Those visitors, student or minor | S/32 (about US$9) | S/80 (about US$23) | +S/5 adult or +S/3 minor, Peruvians |
| Under 3, any nationality | Free | Free | None |
Routes 1-A (Machu Picchu Mountain), 3-A (Huayna Picchu) and 3-C (Great Cavern) form the expensive tier; Huchuypicchu (3-D) is priced as standard.
The conservation charge. SERNANP, Peru's protected-areas service, has added its own charge since 1 May 2026 (El Tiempo): S/11 for foreign visitors aged 18 and over, S/5 for those aged 3 to 17, S/5 for Peruvian adults, S/3 for Peruvian minors and nothing for under-3s (Infobae, citing the sanctuary). The bands go by age, so adult students pay the full S/11. The Ministry's September 2026 buying guide still shows S/152 on its sample checkout, so trust the total on your payment screen.
Card fees. The same guide shows S/152 becoming S/159.48 on a foreign card, an administrative charge of about 5%. The portal takes only Visa and Mastercard (terms, September 2026).
Students: Who Qualifies and Which Cards Work
The student rate is the one discount adult foreigners can count on, with conditions:
- Level: undergraduate only ("pregrado"), at a university or technical institute. Postgraduates pay the adult rate.
- The card: the TUSNE asks for the original, current card of your foreign university or technical institute, showing your personal details, a photo and an expiry date. Peruvian students show a card issued by SUNEDU or the Ministry of Education.
- At the gate: the visitor regulation, as amended by Resolution 000334-2026-MC (Art. 17.1), says foreign students identify themselves with their original, current card or enrolment certificate plus their passport. Carry both.
- ISIC: neither document mentions it. One trekking operator says ISIC cards are no longer accepted for Inca Trail student permits (August 2026). We found no official text that accepts ISIC, so do not rely on it alone.
- Age: the official texts set no upper age. That operator's under-25 rule is its own policy.
One trap: a 17-year-old who has already started university should book as a minor. S/70 is cheaper than S/77, and no student card is needed.
Children and Teens: Age Bands and the Under-3 Rule
- Ages 3 to 17: the minors' rate, S/70 on a standard route plus S/5, about S/75 (US$22). Age is counted on the day of the visit ("cumplidos al momento de la visita"), not the day you book.
- Under 3: free entry, with no conservation charge. We could not confirm whether the portal issues a zero-price ticket for babies, so carry the child's passport either way.
- Supervision: both tariff texts require minors to be with an adult who is responsible for their care and safety.
- Proof: the booking form asks each visitor's date of birth, and details are checked at the entry control. Bring every child's passport.
- Mountains: Andina reported that Machu Picchu Mountain has admitted over-18s only since 1 June 2024, and an earlier Andina guide said Huayna Picchu admits adults only. The tariff still lists a minors' rate for those routes. Confirm before paying for anyone under 18.
Foreign teens pay the minors' rate at the citadel but adult fares on the train and bus. Our age-by-age guide covers what each age can manage on the day.
Peruvians, Andean Community Citizens and Residents
The promotional 2026 rates cover Peruvians, foreigners resident in Peru and citizens of the Andean Community, whose members are Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. Proof is a DNI, a carné de extranjería or a passport showing that status; students need a SUNEDU or Ministry of Education card, or the original card of an Andean Community university.
- Mercosur citizens: the regulation accepts national ID cards from Andean Community and Mercosur citizens as identification, but the promotional rate names only the Andean Community. By our reading, an Argentine or Brazilian tourist pays the foreign fare.
- First Sundays: Peru's free entry for nationals on the first Sunday of each month does not apply here. The TUSNE notes exclude the Machu Picchu archaeological park.
- Cusco residents: those on the regional social-tourism programme enter free, subject to prior registration and the daily cap, between 12:00 and 16:00 (Art. 17.2 and 17.4). SERNANP also waives its charge for Cusco residents on Sundays (La República).
Over-60s, Teachers and Visitors With Disabilities
Every Machu Picchu route in the TUSNE carries a "tarifa especial": 50% off the general rate for people aged 60 and over, people in voluntary military service, teachers and people with disabilities, each under a named Peruvian law and with the matching accreditation. On a foreign standard ticket that would be S/76.
We could not confirm that non-resident foreign tourists can claim it: the laws cited are Peruvian. The Rio Times (October 2026) lists 50% off for over-60s without saying who qualifies. If the portal's fare menu does not offer it to you, do not expect it at the gate.
Mountain Routes and the Inca Trail
The discounts are fixed amounts in soles, so they shrink as a share of the mountain price. A foreign student saves S/75 on either tier and a foreign minor S/82; the promotional rates take S/32 off both.
Adding the conservation charge, as agency price lists do, a foreign adult pays about S/211 (US$61) for Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain, and a student about S/136 (US$40). Each route is a separate ticket; there is no bundle discount.
The Inca Trail uses the same three categories. In the TUSNE, as restated in April 2025, the classic routes cost S/292 general, S/147 student and S/135 for minors (about US$85, US$43 and US$39), and the short trail from km 104 costs S/222, S/112 and S/105. SERNANP's charge does not apply to trail entries. Registered agencies buy the permits, so give yours your student card when you book; see the Inca Trail guide.
Trains and the Bus: Child Fares, No Student Fares
- PeruRail: under its purchase terms (updated 15 September 2026), infants aged 0 to 2 ride free on an adult's lap, one per adult. Children aged 3 to 11 pay 75% of the adult fare, and promotions exclude child tickets.
- Inca Rail: its FAQ says infants up to 35 months travel free without a seat, one per adult. Register them by emailing a photo of the child's ID at least a day ahead. Children from 3 to 11 have their own fare, with no published percentage.
- Students on trains: neither company lists a student fare. Everyone aged 12 and over pays the adult fare.
- Consettur bus: a foreign child under 12 pays US$7 one way or US$12 round trip, against US$12 and US$24 for adults (PeruRail's guide, August 2026).
- Torontoy bus: its site lists foreign children aged 5 to 11 at US$6 or US$10, against US$11 and US$22. Under-5s ride free on an adult's lap without a seat. Its student fare (ages 12 to 17) sits under national fares only.
Foreign teens and students pay the full bus fare. Our bus guide covers schedules and queues.
What a Family or a Student Actually Saves
| Item | Foreign adult | Undergraduate, 18+ | Child 3–11 | Teen 12–17 | Under 3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entry, standard route with charge | S/163 | S/88 | S/75 | S/75 | Free |
| Entry, mountain route with charge | S/211 | S/136 | S/123, if admitted | S/123, if admitted | Check age rules |
| Bus round trip, Consettur / Torontoy | US$24 / US$22 | US$24 / US$22 | US$12 / US$10 (Torontoy from age 5) | US$24 / US$22 | Free on lap under 5 (Torontoy) |
| Train, PeruRail | Full fare | Full fare | 75% of adult fare | Full fare | Free on lap |
| Train, Inca Rail | Full fare | Full fare | Child fare | Full fare | Free, no seat, register first |
A worked example: two adults with children aged 8 and 14 on a standard route pay S/476 in entry fees instead of S/652 for four adults, saving S/176 (about US$51). On Consettur the round trip comes to US$84 instead of US$96. On PeruRail only the eight-year-old's fare is reduced. A solo undergraduate saves S/75 (about US$22) on entry and nothing on transport. For the trip's other costs, see our cost breakdown.
Is the Student Discount Worth Chasing?
Our position: yes, if you are a current undergraduate with your own university's photo card showing an expiry date after your visit. S/75 per entry is the biggest saving most adult foreigners can count on at the citadel, and S/150 if you book two entries.
Skip it if you would need to buy an ISIC card for the purpose, your card has no photo or expiry date, you are a postgraduate, or you are under 18 (the minors' rate is cheaper). We found no published way to pay the difference at the gate, and tickets cannot be changed or refunded (Art. 15.4 and 15.5). When in doubt, book the adult rate.
Families have less to decide: book every child aged 3 to 17 at the minors' rate, carry passports, and check age rules before adding a mountain. Transport savings apply only to children under 12.
FAQ
How much is a Machu Picchu ticket for a foreign student in 2026?
S/77 for a standard route or S/125 for a mountain route, plus the S/11 conservation charge, so about S/88 (US$26) or S/136 (US$40). You must be an undergraduate and show your original, current university card with photo and expiry date, plus your passport.
Is the ISIC card accepted at Machu Picchu?
The official tariff and regulation do not mention it, and one trekking operator says ISIC cards are no longer accepted for Inca Trail permits. Use your own university's card instead.
How much does a child pay to enter Machu Picchu?
A foreign child aged 3 to 17 pays S/70 for a standard route plus S/5, about S/75 (US$22). On a mountain route the base fare is S/118, but check the age rules first.
Do children under 3 need a ticket?
Entry is free for under-3s and they pay no conservation charge. We could not confirm whether the portal issues a zero-price ticket for them, so bring the child's passport to prove their age.
Is there a senior discount at Machu Picchu?
The tariff lists 50% off for people aged 60 and over under a Peruvian law, but we could not confirm that non-resident foreign tourists can claim it. Check whether the portal offers it in the fare menu before you book.
Do citizens of Colombia, Ecuador or Bolivia pay less?
Yes. Andean Community citizens pay the promotional 2026 rates: S/64 on standard routes and S/112 on mountain routes, or S/32 and S/80 for students and minors. Bring a passport or national ID that proves your nationality.
Is Machu Picchu free on the first Sunday of the month?
No. Peru's first-Sunday free entry for nationals excludes the Machu Picchu archaeological park. Free entry exists only for Cusco residents on a regional social-tourism programme, with prior registration.
Do the train or bus give student discounts?
Not to foreign visitors. PeruRail and Inca Rail list no student fares, and the bus student fares are for Peruvians. Children under 12 do get reduced train and bus fares.
Limitations
Fares and discount rules can change with any new resolution, and promotional rates are set yearly. This guide reflects official texts and dated sources as of October 2026. We could not see the live fare menu on the ticket portal, confirm that foreign tourists can claim the over-60 rate, or confirm how babies under 3 are recorded. Mountain-route age rules conflict between press reports and the tariff, and the conservation charge does not appear on the Ministry's sample checkout. Work-around: before you pay on tuboleto.cultura.pe, check that the fare menu for each visitor shows the category you expect and that the total includes any charges, and have every student card and passport ready to match what you entered.