In this article, we’ve summarized all the information you need to know about purchasing a boleto turistico in Cusco! If you’re planning to visit Cusco, the cultural and tourist capital of Peru, you’ll need to purchase a boleto turistico to enter many of the most popular sites in the city and surrounding Sacred Valley. However, there are multiple version of the boleto turistico and it can be difficult to figure out which option is best for you. Luckily, we’ve created this simple and easy guide to help you understand everything you need to know about the Cusco boleto turistico!
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What is the Boleto Turistico?
If you spent any amount of time planning a trip to Cusco or the Sacred Valley, you’ve probably heard about the boleto turistico and wondered what exactly it is.
Well, we’re here to explain everything you need to know about the boleto turistico in Cusco!
In short, the boleto turistico, which translates to “tourist ticket”, is a pass that you can purchase which gives you entry to many of the most popular tourist attractions in Cusco and the Sacred Valley.
You can either purchase the full pass, which gives you access to the largest number of attractions for 10 days, or partial tickets, which give you access to a smaller number of sites for a shorter amount of time. We’ll explain each of these options in more detail below.
The boleto turistico is convenient because it allows you to purchase one ticket and be able to enter many different attractions, likely for the duration of your trip. No need to wait in lines for every museum or rush to book tickets online!
However, it can feel a bit restrictive, as it only lasts for a certain number of days and there is little flexibility between the 4 options. For example, even if you’re only visiting one site on the list, you’ll still need to purchase the full boleto turistico, which can of course be frustrating (and expensive).
Do I need to buy the boleto turistico?
Many of the best things to do in Cusco require a boleto turistico. If you want to visit many of the popular spots around Cusco and the Sacred Valley, such as Sacsayhuaman, Pisac, Moray, Ollantaytambo, or Puka Pukara, you will need to buy the boleto turistico.
The boleto turistico is not intended to be a bundle discount type deal, where you only should buy it if you’re going to visit enough sites to make it worthwhile. For the sites it provides access to, it is the only way to enter.
For example, if you want to spend an hour exploring Sacsayhuaman during an afternoon in Cusco, you will need to buy a boleto turistico. Want to explore the ruins of Ollantaytambo on the way to Machu Picchu, you’ll need a boleto turistico.
So the short answer is yes, if you’re going to Cusco, you’ll almost assuredly need to purchase the boleto turistico.
Sacred Valley guided tours
There are many tour operators in Cusco that provide guided tours that include one or multiple sites on the Cusco boleto turistico. There are several advantages of visiting with a guided tour.
First, they handle all the transportation logistics for you. Traveling around Cusco can become complicated, especially if you don’t know a good amount of Spanish.
Second, your tour guide can provide more detailed information about the sites you are visiting, and you’ll walk away with a much deeper understanding of the archeology and culture of the Inca people.
Below are a few awesome tour options in Cusco. Note that for many of the tours here, you’ll have to purchase your boleto turistico separately, so be sure to factor that into your budget.
What does the boleto turistico give me access to?
As mentioned above, there are 4 different types of boleto turstico in Cusco.
The full boleto turistico gives you access to 16 different sites and is valid for 10 days. There are also three partial tickets – Circuit 1, Circuit 2, and Circuit 3.
Each of these partial tickets provides access to a subset of the 16 sites in the full boleto, roughly grouped by geographic area. The partial tickets are valid for 1 or 2 days depending on the Circuit you choose.
Full boleto turistico
The full boleto turistico gives you access to the following sites in and around Cusco:
- Regional Historical Art Museum
- Contemporary Art Museum
- Folk Art Museum
- Koricancha Site Musuem
- Inca Pachacutec Monument
- Sacsayhuaman
- Q’enqo
- PukaPukara
- Tambomachay
- Pisac
- Ollantaytambo
- Moray
- Tipon
- Piquillacta
P.S. If you’re planning to visit Machu Picchu from Cusco, you’ll go through the small town of Ollantaytambo, home to two beautiful sets of ruins that are included on the boleto turistico and worth a visit. Find more details about visiting Ollantaytambo here:
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Circuit 1 boleto turistico
The Circuit 1 boleto turistico in Cusco is valid for 1 day and permits entry into the four sites in the Sacsayhuaman Archeological Area, which sits on the northwest corner of Cusco.
The four sites included in the Circuit 1 boleto turistico are:
- Sacsayhuaman
- Q’enqo
- PukaPukara
- Tambomachay
Circuit 2 boleto tursistico
The Circuit 2 boleto turistico is valid for 2 days and provides access to some of the museums and historical cites throughout the city of Cusco, as well as some of the sites located to the southeast of the city.
The Circuit 2 boleto turistico covers:
- Regional Historical Art Museum
- Contemporary Art Museum
- Folk Art Museum
- Koricancha Site Musuem
- Qosqo Native Art Center
- Inca Pachacutec Monument
- Tipon Archeological Park
- Pikillacta Archeological Park
Circuit 3 boleto turistico
The Circuit 3 boleto turistico is valid for 2 days and provides access to the archeological and historical sites scattered throughout the Sacred Valley around Cusco.
The Circuit 3 tickets permits entry to:
- Pisac
- Ollantaytambo
- Chinchero
- Moray
What does the boleto turistico NOT include?
Importantly, there are a few sites in the area that are not covered by the boleto tursitico.
It does not provide access to the Maras Salinerias, as these are owned by local families in the area. In addition, the Cusco boleto turistico doesn’t cover Machu Picchu or the Huchuy Qosqo ruins.
Which Boleto Turistico is right for me?
It all depends on what you plan to do while visiting Cusco and the Sacred Valley! If you are only planning to visit a few spots and you can get away with only purchasing one of the circuits, then we’d certainly recommend that.
However, we think that most people who visit Cusco should strongly consider the full boleto turistico because it covers more sites and gives you more freedom during your trip.
For instance, we purchased the full boleto turistico and it allowed us to add a few visits to our trip, including Korikancha and Pisac, that we may not have visited without purchasing the full ticket.
Let’s say for instance that you’re visiting Cusco for 5 or 7 days, with the trip mainly centered around Machu Picchu. If you want to visit Moray, Pisac, or Ollantaytambo, you’d have to at least purchase the Circuit 3 boleto turistico.
However, if you plan to spend some time in Cusco, you’ll likely want to visit some of the city’s ruins, like Sacsayhuaman, which are covered by a different circuit. In this case, it’s almost certainly worth buying the full boleto turistico.
How much does the boleto turistico cost?
The full boleto turistico in Cusco costs 130 soles, which is about $34 USD (at the time this article was written in early 2023). If you are a student with a valid International Student Identity Card (ISIC), the price for the full boleto turistico is 70 soles, which is about $19 USD.
Each of the boleto turistico circuits cost 70 soles (approximately $19 USD) and there is no discount for students.
Where can I buy it?
Luckily, it is very easy to purchase a Cusco boleto turistico. If you’re in the city itself, you can purchase your boleto turistico at the COSITUC Office, which is located at Av. El Sol 103, right next to the Plaze De Armas in Cusco.
You can also purchase a boleto turistico at any of the sites covered by the ticket. Each site has a ticket office before entering where you can buy the boleto turistico. That being said, its best to know which type of ticket you want to buy before you arrive!
There is no limit to the number of boletos turistico that are sold and you do not need to make a reservation or buy one in advance.
Other Peru Resources
Looking for more to do while exploring Cusco and the Sacred Valley?! We’ve compiled a list of other useful resources here:
- Machu Picchu | Hike to Huayna Picchu: Machu Picchu’s Mountain
- Machu Picchu | How to Get to Machu Picchu from Cusco: Everything You Need to Know
- Cusco | Complete Guide to the Huchuy Qosqo Trek
- Cusco | How to Visit the Stunning Laguna Humantay from Cusco
- Sacred Valley | Maras & Moray: Incredible Incan Ruins and Salt Mines
- Peru | 10 Days in the Sacred Valley
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Questions about which boleto turistico is best for you? What’s your favorite site covered by the ticket? Drop us a comment below!
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