Cusco Tourist Ticket: The Ultimate Guide – 2024

1.- WHAT IS THE CUSCO TOURIST TICKET?

The capital of the Inca culture contains many unique places that are really worth visiting during your stay, from historical museums, archaeological centers and monuments that far exceed anyone’s expectations. This is why the Cusco Tourist ticket was created, a special entrance ticket that allows travelers to access each of these spaces both in the city as well as the additional options within the Sacred Valley. Of course, to buy the right Cusco Tourist Ticket you must first know how to acquire it, for this you must take into account the Cusco tourist ticket map that shows you everything you can know.

cusco map

2.- ATTRACTIONS COVERED BY THE CUSCO TOURIST TICKET

The Cusco Tourist Ticket allows its user to visit a total of 10 archaeological sites distributed between the north, center and south of the city of Cusco. Additionally it also allows you to access 6 cultural centers and museums where you can appreciate in a different way the culture and history. Knowing each of these places will allow you to have a unique experience, the places that you can access thanks to the Tourist ticket Cusco are:

2.1.- Main Archaeological Sites

2.1.2.- Sacsayhuaman

Among all the archaeological sites that you can visit thanks to the Cusco Tourist Ticket, this is undoubtedly one of the largest and most impressive. When you visit it you can see huge stones that form the base of multiple Inca constructions that had a multifunctional purpose (urban, storage, military, others). The incredible thing about this place is that the immense stones have a weight between 100 to 200 tons added to the incredible panoramic view of the entire city.

sacsayhuaman

2.1.3.- Qenqo

It is part of the places you can visit thanks to the Tourist ticket Cusco, is known for being located very close to the archaeological center of Saqsayhuaman, unlike the first is much smaller but is attributed a more religious purpose due to the presence of a table of sacrifices.

qenqo

2.1.4.- Puca Pucara

An incredible archaeological center that you can access thanks to the Cusco Tourist Ticket, its name means Red Fortress which gave it the appearance of a military center, although it is one of the smallest archaeological centers stands out for the beautiful view it offers to all visitors.

puca pucara

2.1.5.- Tambomachay

This archaeological center had a more exclusive dedication to water because inside you can see fountains made of stone but with a finish as fine as the religious sites of the city of Cusco, although there is a reference that the real name of this place is Quinuas Puquio is still under investigation which gives some mystery and makes your visit more exciting.

tambomachay

2.1.6.- Pikillaqta

It is part of the southern route from Cusco which you can access with the Tourist ticket Cusco, this place is much older than the Inca culture, actually belongs to the Wari culture, who influenced a lot on the Incas. It has a very clear difference over the other constructions but it offers a serene and quiet environment that you can enjoy since not many travelers visit it.

pikillaqta

2.1.7.- Tipón

Among all the Cusco tourist ticket map this is undoubtedly the most incredible because it shows at its best the Inca engineering to control the flow of water, in a set of terraces on top of a mountain you can see how a water system was organized through canals to various nearby places for agricultural purposes, we know that visiting Tipon will leave you more than amazed.

tipon

2.1.8.- Pisac

It is one of the most popular places for travelers who come to visit, during the traditional tour of the Sacred Valley this is the first destination to be visited and shows an impressive construction on top of a mountain from which you can see an Inca cemetery unique in the Sacred Valley, no doubt it will be an incredible experience.

pisaq

2.1.9.- Ollantaytambo

A set of terraces incredibly well positioned at one end of the mountain make it a very important checkpoint for people seeking to reach the wonder of Machu Picchu. The town of Ollantaytambo offers a traditional and historical experience to its visitors, from ceremonial fountains to imposing stones weighing more than 100 tons.

ollantaytambo

2.1.10.- Chinchero

Chinchero is a town located within the Sacred Valley, known for its textile excellence in addition to its tradition. In the upper part it offers a more historical experience for visitors as you can appreciate a set of Inca terraces in addition to a beautiful colonial church that contains unique artistic relics.

chinchero

2.1.11.- Moray

This is undoubtedly a perfect blend of ingenuity and curiosity, the archaeological center of Moray provides a direct representation of the importance of agriculture during the Inca culture. These terraces had the function of acclimatizing certain plants so that they could be harvested at higher elevations or in different climates. Some even compare it to an agricultural laboratory.

moray

2.2.- Museums and Attractions in Cusco City

2.2.1.- Museum of Contemporary Art

It is a small museum that is located in the  Regocijo square, within the same municipality of Cusco. Inside you can see many interesting pieces and all its surroundings have a history from the colony, providing an incredible and unique historical experience. At the time of entering you must present the Tourist ticket Cusco (accepted only in its full version).

museum of contemporary art

2.2.2.- Regional Historical Museum

The name alone gives you an understanding that everything you can find inside is related to the history of the city of Cusco, from prehistoric times mentioning some animals that inhabited the place, through the pre-Inca settlements, the Inca culture and articles of colonial times. It is located inside the Casa Garcilaso (An emblematic building thanks to an important character, the Inca Garcilaso De la Vega).

Regional Historical Museum

2.2.3.- Museum of Popular Art

This museum is located on the main street of the city, El Sol Avenue. Although it is quite small, it contains unique sculpture and painting items of its kind. Considering within this Inca religious masks, as well as a unique mix between cultures, representing a painting of the last supper but with a Cuy (Guinea pig) in the middle of the table and instead of wine you see chicha. It is a different experience from the rest of the museums in the city, you can also access here using the Cusco Tourist Ticket in its full version.

museum of popular art

2.2.4.- Museum of the Site of Qoricancha

It is located on the esplanade, under the Temple of the Sun. Inside you can see everything that was discovered during its excavation between religious artifacts, mummies and pieces of pottery, providing a more detailed explanation of the importance of the Temple of the Sun during the time of the Inca culture.

museum of the site qoricancha

2.2.5.- Monument to the Inca Pachacuteq

This is a thematic museum but with a very particular construction, a tower in which each floor tells a fraction of the history of a very important character that according to history reformed the city, the Inca Pachacuteq. On the top level you have a panoramic view of the entire city, this is something unique that you can not miss.

monument to the inca pachaquteq

2.2.6.- Qosqo Center for Native Art

A place where you can appreciate artistic expression through dance. A group of dancers represent folkloric dances from the region of Cusco, it is a good place to learn more about the tradition.

qosqo center for native art

3.- TICKET OPTIONS AND VALIDITY

There are 2 types of Cusco Tourist Ticket, each one has its unique characteristics and serves for different moments. These are:

3.1.- Partial Tourist Ticket – BTP

The Cusco Tourist Ticket with Partial or BTP has a duration of only 2 days from its issuance and is mainly used by travelers who do not have much time in the city, it is subdivided into 3 different circuits which give access to different places:

partial tourist ticket

• Circuit 1: City
  • Sacsayhuaman
  • Qenqo
  • Tambomachay
  • Puka Pukara

• Circuit 2: City and South Zone
  • Museum of Regional History
  • Museum of Contemporary Art
  • Museum of Popular Art
  • Museum of the Site of Qoricancha
  • Center of Native Art Qosqo
  • Monument to Pachacutec
  • Tipon
  • Pikillacta

• Circuit 3: Sacred Valley
  • Pisac
  • Ollantaytambo
  • Chinchero
  • Moray

3.2.- General Tourist Ticket – BTC

The Cusco Tourist Ticket in its complete version or BTC is the most complete as it allows travelers to have full access to the 16 places included in addition to being valid for 10 days from its issuance.

general touristic ticket

4.- BETWEEN HISTORY AND CULTURE

“Some of the places that you can visit during your tour of the capital of the Inca culture are unique in its kind, all of them falls into the category of places that you must visit at least once before you die.”

Click here to learn more

5.- STUDENT AND CHILD DISCOUNTS

The student ticket is offered for people from 10 to 17 years old, only with the presentation of the identity card or passport; while from 18 years old, it is upon presentation of the student card (issued by the same university), in the case of children under 10 years old do not pay any amount but must present their identity card or passport.

6.- WHERE TO BUY TOURIST TICKET?

There are 3 options Where to buy tourist Ticket, it all depends on the planning you have during your trip:

• The first option is at the access point to any of the archaeological centers. They have implemented sales booths so that all visitors can buy it. It is part of the process to present your identity document, so do not forget it.
• The second option is to do it during your stay in the city of Cusco, in el Sol avenue is a place called tourist galleries where there is a headquarters of the entity COSITUC and here is Where to buy tourist Ticket.
• The last option is to make the purchase through a travel agency, actually when you organize your trip in a personalized way they already include this ticket as part of the package so you don’t have to worry about getting it on your own.

With this information about the Cusco tourist ticket map it will be easier for you to choose which destinations to visit during your stay, from a city tour to the vast Sacred Valley. Auri Peru can help you organize a tailor-made experience, contact us now and start designing your next unforgettable Peruvian adventure in 2024.

“If something good happens to you, travel to celebrate. If something bad happens to you, travel to forget. If nothing happens to you, travel to make something happen.”