If you’ve been planning your own adventure to Peru, then you may have come across the phrase boleto turistico quite a few times. This ‘Cusco tourist ticket’ is an essential purchase for any visit to Cusco and the Sacred Valley due to a unique, but slightly confusing, system implemented by the Peruvian government a few years ago to increase revenues.

In this short guide, we want to cut through the various options and any confusion to give you the essential facts so you know exactly what the boleto turistico is, why you need, understand what’s included in it, and know the best value Cusco tourist ticket option for your upcoming Peru itinerary and budget.

Here’s everything you need to know about boleto turistico!

What Is The Cusco Boleto Turistico?

Normally to enter tourist sites and attractions, you would expect to simply turn up and pay your entrance fee on the day, right? Well, that’s no longer the case for some of the biggest archaeological and museum attractions in Cusco and the Sacred Valley.

Instead, the boleto turistico is a single ticket which has to be purchased in advance to allow entry to various sites, such as the Pisac and Ollantaytambo ruins. It is not possible to visit or enter these sites without a valid boleto turistico, and it is not possible to buy an individual entry ticket for any single site which is included on the boleto turistico.

What’s Included in the Boleto Turistico?

Broadly speaking, the majority of the the most popular and well-known sites in Cusco and the Sacred Valley (except Machu Picchu) are included on the boleto.

As explained below, there are four ticket package options available, but the following is a complete list of boleto turistico sites:

Cusco Ruins | Saqsayhuamán, Q’enqo, Puka pukara, Tambomachay

Cusco Museums + Monuments | Contemporary Art, Museo Historical Regional, Monumento Pachacuteq, Tipon, Museo de Quoricancha, Museo de Arte Popular, Centro Quosqo de Arte Nativo. Pikillaqta

Sacred Valley Ruins | Pisac, Ollantaytambo, Chinchero, Moray.

The Maras Salt Mines, Cusco Cathderal, Machu Picchu, and Rainbow Mountain are not included on the boleto turistico and therefore require a separate entrance fee; several of Cusco’s best museums and sites in Cusco are also not included.

We’ve shared the seven best days trips from Cusco in this post.

How Much Is The Boleto Turistico?

This is where things become a little more complicated!

There are four boleto turistico options, which are all valid for different lengths of time, include different sites, and have different prices. We have included all the essential details below:

Boleto Turístico General / Full Cusco Tourist Ticket

This is the standard and most expensive ticket.

What’s Included | All the sites listed above

Price | S/. 130 / £30 / $38 / €33 for non-Peruvian adults. S/. 70 / £16 / $21 / €18 for non-Peruvian students (see below for more information).

Time | Valid for 10 consecutive days (i.e. it will expire 10 days after you purchase it, regardless of how or when you use the ticket).

Tip | Note that the Quoricacha aspect is only access to the outdoor gardens - an additional entry has to be purchased for the museum or Inca temple inside, which is a little bit annoying.

Boleto Turistico Parcial / Partical Cusco Tourist Ticket

The partial ticket is the ideal option for those on a tighter budget, or who only wish to visit a handful of specific sites. There are three different ‘Circuitos’ / Circuits available:

Circuito 1

What’s Included | The ruins which lie just outside Cusco: Saqsayhuamán, Q’enqo, Puka pukara, Tambomacha. These are best visited on a single day-trip.

Price | S/. 70 / £16 / $21 / €18 for non-Peruvian adults

Time | Valid for 1 day only.

Circuito 2

What’s Included | The Cusco Museums: Contemporary Art, Museo Historical Regional, Monumento Pachacuteq, Tipon, Quoricancha, Museo de Arte Popular, Centro Quosqo de Arte Nativo. Pikillaqta.

We imagine that this is the least purchased Cusco tourist ticket because a number of these museums ain’t great.

Price | S/. 70 / £16 / $21 / €18 for non-Peruvian adults

Time | Valid for 2 days.

Circuito 3

What’s Included | The Sacred Valley Ruins: Pisac, Ollantaytambo, Chinchero, Moray.

Price | S/. 70 / £16 / $21 / €18 for non-Peruvian adults

Time | Valid for 2 days. This is a good option for a stand-alone ticket, but with it being valid for only two days, it’s actually a bit of a challenge (unless joining a Sacred Valley Tour) to visit all of these sites in two days at an enjoyable pace - although it is absolutely possible with a combination of taxis, public transport, and walking. On our second visit to Cusco, this is what we went for.

On the full boleto turistico, international students can receive a 50% discount - making the ticket just S/. 70 / £16 / $21 / €18. To take advantage of this offer, you have to be 25 or under, and need to bring your original student or ISIC card and passport. Children are also charged a discounted price.

Tickets will be required at the checkpoint for each site and it’s essential that you don’t lose it as we’ve heard that no replacements are issued and this is a strictly adhered to.

Is The Cusco Tourist Ticket Worth It and Do You Really Need It?

As you can see, the Cusco tourist ticket system is designed so that for the majority of people, the most convenient option is to buy the full S/. 130 ticket.

We know, it’s not a small amount of money. In fact, on our first visit to Peru during a two year trip in Latin America, we really resented having to buy one - especially as we had zero places to visit a number of included sites.

However, for the vast majority of visitors to Cusco, it’s an unavoidable and essential cost; the key is planning ahead so you get the best option for your Cusco / Sacred Valley itinerary and budget. For example, if you know that you’re going to visit more than 50% of the sites included, then simply go ahead and buy the S/. 130 / 10 day ticket - you will definitely get your money’s worth out of it. If you calculate the entry price per site, it actually represents pretty good value.

If you are travelling on a budget however, or know that you only want to visit a specific selection of sites, then we’d recommend going for one of the partial tickets. But - and this is a big but - be sure to plan your time wisely! Work out what’s possible, and where you really, really want to go, then purchase your boleto turistico accordingly so that you don’t end up unable to make it to a certain ruin in time or end up extending your stay in Cusco and end up having to buy another ticket!

How & Where To Buy the Boleto Turistico in Cusco?

The tourist ticket is available to buy from most of the sites included within the boleto turistico, but the safest bet is to go straight to the COSITUC office on Avenida El Sol 103 in Cusco (finding actual opening hours is quite difficult, but your best bet is Mon - Fri 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. and before 2 p.m. on Saturdays) to purchase directly. ID is technically required (although it is possible that you may not be asked) and you will need to pay in cash in Peruvian soles.

When you buy the ticket, your name will be written on it and it will be valid from that day. This is particularly important if buying one of the partial tickets, as they are only valid for a relatively short time. You may be asked to present ID at sites when using the ticket, but this never happened with us (but just keep a passport copy on your phone).

Note that it isn’t possible to purchase the boleto turistico online or in advance.

Will Your Tour Company Include the Cusco Tourist Ticket?

No - the tour price will not include the price of the boleto turistico and you will be required to purchase this in advance or on the day of your tour. If unsure about logistics, contact your tour company directly. If you would like to take a Sacred Valley tour from Cusco, this is a highly rated one.