Sacred Valley Site Tickets: The Boleto Turístico, Explained

What the boleto turístico is — and isn't

The first thing to understand about Sacred Valley ruins is that you mostly cannot just rock up and pay at the gate. The major Inca archaeological sites across Cusco and the valley are bundled into a single combined ticket, the boleto turístico — the Cusco Tourist Ticket — issued by the regional authority. It is the ticket that gets you into Písac, Ollantaytambo, Chinchero and Moray, among others, and it is checked at the entrance to each. Turn up without it and you may not get in.

Crucially, the boleto turístico has nothing to do with Machu Picchu. The citadel is a separate, timed-entry ticket on its own system entirely, tied to a circuit and a slot. So a complete trip needs both: the boleto turístico for the valley ruins, and a distinct Machu Picchu ticket for the citadel. Don't let the two be confused — they are bought differently, cost differently and work differently.

Full ticket or partial — which version do you need?

The boleto turístico is sold as a full ticket and as cheaper partial circuits. The full version covers the broadest set of sites — Cusco-area ruins, museums and the valley together — over several days and is the natural choice if you are sightseeing widely across both the city and the valley. The partial versions each cover a smaller, themed cluster of sites over a shorter validity, and one of them is built around the Sacred Valley ruins specifically.

The practical move is to map your actual route first, then pick the version that covers it and nothing more. If your whole plan is a one or two-day valley loop — Písac, Ollantaytambo, Chinchero, Moray — a valley-focused partial ticket is usually the better value than the full one. If you are also doing the Cusco city sights and Sacsayhuamán, the full ticket may pay for itself. Exactly which sites fall under each version, and the current prices and validity periods, are set by the regional authority and change, so verify them directly before you buy.

• Doing only the valley ruins? A valley-focused partial ticket is usually best value.
• Doing valley plus Cusco city and Sacsayhuamán? The full ticket may work out cheaper overall.
• Each version has its own validity period and site list — match it to your route, not the reverse.
• Verify current prices, validity and the exact site list for each version before buying.

Which valley sites need it — and which don't

Here is the quick sort for the main Sacred Valley stops. Treat it as a planning guide and confirm the specifics when you buy, because coverage and access rules do shift.

• Písac ruins — on the boleto turístico. The high terraces and Inca complex above the market town.
• Ollantaytambo fortress — on the boleto turístico. The great terraced Temple Hill at the western end of the valley.
• Chinchero — on the boleto turístico. The Inca terraces and the church built on Inca walls.
• Moray — on the boleto turístico. The concentric circular agricultural terraces on the plateau.
• Maras salt pans (Salineras) — NOT on the boleto turístico. A separate small community entry; access rules to walk among the pans can change, so verify.
• Písac and Ollantaytambo markets, and walking the towns — free; the ticket covers the ruins, not the streets.
• Machu Picchu — entirely separate, timed-entry ticket. Never on the boleto turístico.

Common questions

The questions travellers ask most often about valley site tickets.

• Can I buy individual tickets for a single ruin instead of the boleto? Generally no — the major valley ruins are bundled into the boleto turístico, not sold standalone at the gate. Plan to buy the ticket.
• Is Maras (the salt pans) on the boleto turístico? No. Maras has its own separate small entry, paid locally. Moray, nearby, is on the boleto — they are different systems despite being close together.
• Does the boleto turístico include Machu Picchu? No, never. The citadel is a wholly separate timed ticket.
• Where do I buy the boleto turístico? It is sold at official ticket offices in Cusco and at some of the sites; many tours and drivers can arrange it. Confirm current sales points when you plan.
• How long is it valid? The full and partial versions have different validity windows — verify the current periods, as they are set by the regional authority.
• Do I need to print it or can I show a phone? Rules can change; the safest assumption is to carry the physical ticket, as it is hole-punched or checked at each site. Verify the current format.

How to plan the ticket into your valley day

Buy the right version before you set out, not at the first gate, because the offices are not always where you want them when the clock is running. If your day is a valley loop ending at the train, a valley-focused partial ticket usually covers everything you will touch — Písac, Ollantaytambo, Chinchero, Moray — while leaving Maras to its own small separate entry, paid on the spot. Carry small cash for that, for the markets, and for tips.

And keep the two ticket systems firmly separate in your head. The boleto turístico is the valley ruins; the timed citadel ticket is Machu Picchu. Book the Machu Picchu ticket first — it is the slot the whole trip is built around and the one that sells out — then sort the boleto turístico for the valley around it. Verify current prices, validity and coverage directly before you buy either, because both are set by Peruvian authorities and do change.

• Buy the boleto turístico (the right version) before your valley day starts.
• Carry small cash for the separate Maras salt-pan entry and the markets.
• Keep it distinct from the Machu Picchu ticket — two different systems entirely.
• Book the citadel ticket first; sort the valley boleto around it.
• Verify current prices, validity periods and site coverage directly before buying.