Why Do You Need a Boleto Turistico in Cusco?

Why Do You Need a Boleto Turistico in Cusco?

All you need to know before buying your Boleto Turistico (Cusco’s tourist ticket)

For many Cusco is the place of dreams. The city and surrounding region are full of exciting history and images etched in our brains. The sight of Machu Picchu is so impressive that it brings 2 million tourists to the region every year. But Machu Picchu is not the only Inca site to visit. There are dozens of others that easily will blow you away.

However, to visit these sites you will need tourist ticket also called “Boleto Turistico”.

But what is the Boleto Turistico? And why are there 3 tickets? Here is a dedicated blog post about the different circuits offered within the Boleto turistico, the prices, where to use it and a few tips to use it appropriately.

What is the Boleto Turistico?

The ‘Boleto Turistico’ is the primary pass in Cusco, granting entry to nearly all archaeological sites, museums, and the several sites in the Sacred Valley itself. Valid for 10 days from the first site visited, this ticket allows access to 16 different locations.

What is included in the Boleto Turistico?

In Cusco there are 3 separate Boleto Turisticos, offering pre-defined “circuits” that can be bought independently from one another. If you wish to visit one or more sites within a specific circuit, you can purchase the partial ticket related to this circuit.

However, if you decide to go to several sites included in different circuits, you will have to buy two or more Boleto Turisticos. In this case, it will be more interesting financially to buy the integral ticket, granting you access to all the sites for 10 days. Here are the details:

• Circuit 1: The Sacsayhuaman Park – The Cusco Ruins
  Sites Included: Sacsayhuaman – Qènqo – Tambomachay – Puka Pukara
• Circuit 2: City of Cusco & south side of the Sacred Valley
  Sites Included: Qoricancha Site Museum – Regional Historical Museum – Museum of Contemporary Art – Monument to the Inca Pachacutec – Museum of the Popular arts – Native Art Center Qosqo – Archeological site of Tipon and Pikilacta (new!)
• Circuit 3: The Sacred Valley
  Sites Included: Pisac – Ollantaytambo – Chinchero – Moray

Note: The Salineras de Maras or Maras Salt Ponds is run independently and is not included in any Boleto Turistico. To enter, you will need to pay an entrance fee at the site. The price is 10 soles. Here is our guide to visit the sacred valley.

NEXT READ: What to do in Cusco when you are not hiking?

Map of the Boleto Turistico circuits

How much is the Boleto turistico?

There are 4 boleto turistico version you can buy. They have different validity period and include different sites. Here are the details:

The Boleto Turistico General / “Integral” ticket:

This is the full ticket. If you are planning to stay in the region for more than a few days and wish to see as much as possible, then this is the ticket for you

• Access to all the circuits within 10 days of purchase General admission for foreigners: 130 Soles (€34).
• International Students aged 18-25, holding an ISIC card: 70 Soles (€18)
• Children under 10 years old: Free
• You can enter each site only once
• The ticket price does not include transportation, tours or guides

The Boleto Turistico “Parcial” ticket:

If you only want to visit a couple of the sites or if you are stuck for time, a partial ticket offering only one circuit is best. If you plan on visiting sites in two different circuits, the general ticket is a better value.

• Each circuit costs 70 soles (€18) for foreigners.
• There are no discounts for children or students.
• Circuit #1 is valid for only 1 day while circuits #2 and #3 are valid for 2 days each.
• You can enter each site only once.
• The ticket price does not include transportation, tours or guides.

Reminder of what each circuit included:

• Circuit 1: The Sacsayhuaman Park – The Cusco Ruins
  Sites: Sacsayhuaman – Qènqo – Tambomachay – Puka Pukara
• Circuit 2: City of Cusco & south side of the Sacred Valley
  Sites: Qoricancha Site Museum – Regional Historical Museum – Museum of Contemporary Art – Monument to the Inca Pachacutec – Museum of the Popular arts – Native Art Center Qosqo – Archeological site of Tipon and Pikilacta (new!)
• Circuit 3: The Sacred Valley
  Sites: Pisac – Ollantaytambo – Chinchero – Moray

Note: For the purposes of the Boleto Turistico, a foreigner is described as any person who doesn’t hold Peruvian nationality. Non-Peruvian residents of Peru (or any other country in South America) are not entitled for the promotional price.

You might like: All the ways to get to Machu Picchu explained

Where to buy the Boleto Turistico in Cusco?

Each site in the circuit is able to sell you any of the entrance tickets. If you prefer purchasing the tourist ticket in Cusco, you will need to visit COSITUC on Calle Arequipa A-2.

Tips for buying your Boleto Turistico

• You must provide a passport to be able to buy your tourist ticket.
• You may be asked to show your passport at any/all of the ticket controls, so make sure to take a copy of your passport with you. Leave your passport in a safe at your hostel.
• The ticket is valid from the day of purchase. They can not be bought in advance of your visit to Cusco.
• You must write your name on the ticket. They are non-refundable and non-transferrable.
• Some agencies say they can buy the tickets at a cheaper price.

How to visit the circuits?

As you can see in the map above the three circuits are all located in different areas of Cusco and the Sacred Valley. To visit some or all of the sites requires a little planning.

Visiting the sites in Circuit 1

Circuit 1 is not too far for the centre of Cusco. Roughly a 45-minute walk from town. It is possible to visit all of the sites by walking. You will even pass the 8-metre statue of Christ en route. If you don’t want to walk, hiring a taxi will be required.

Because the circuit is close to town, it is possible to walk the circuit without a buying a ticket and viewing partially the sites from the path.

Visiting the sites in Circuit 2

Circuit 2 is mainly museums in the inner town. The route can, therefore, be done by walking.

Visiting the sites in Circuit 3

Visiting all of the sites in circuit 3 is slightly more difficult. The sites are spread out more and there are several options and possibilities of how to visit, depending on your preference and budget. It is worth noting that many people include a visit to the salt ponds of Maras in this circuit. The ticket for circuit 3 is valid for 2 days, so it is a little more flexible.

• With a tour – 1-day tours can be arranged in Cusco. The tours leave early in the morning and visit all of the sites. Because of this, you will only spend a short amount of time at each site and spend a lot of time in the minivan.
• With a taxi – It is possible to hire a taxi for the day. The driver will bring you to all of the sites at your pace and will stop anywhere along the route. The price of the taxi is 70 dollars.
• Public Transport: 1 day – It would not be possible to visit all of the sites in 1 day using public transport. Using this option is cheaper but also slower, so most people tend to visit only Pisac and Ollantaytambo. There are two options for transport: collectivo and bus. The collectivo is faster, slightly more expensive and only leaves when full. The bus is slower, cheaper and only departs at defined times (who knows what these are!).
• Public Transport: 2 days -It allows you to visit all of the sites during the 2-day window while travelling at your own pace and away from the tours. You can base yourself in Cusco but also spend the night in Ollantaytambo or Urubamba. There are a few accommodations in these areas but they tend to be more luxury and, therefore, more pricey than the budget hostels in Cusco.
• PublicTransport and hiking: 2 days – You can visit the sites of the circuit 3 and Maras by using the bus and doing some hiking/walking. The beautiful landscapes are worth the effort and it will give you a bit of time away from the hustle and bustle of Cusco. This is how we visited the Sacred Valley and would recommend to anyone to check our itinerary. Note, that it is remote, quiet and that you will need to sleep in the Sacred Valley for this option.

Next Read | The Ultimate guide to the Sacred valley

And that’s it. All of the information you need about the Boleto Turistico to make your trip to Cusco and the Sacred Valley a success. Do you have anything else to add to? Let us in the comments below or contact us directly

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About the Author

Jen is the Funder, Author & Photographer behind Talesfromthelens.com

Jen has lived for the past 15 years across Oceania and Ireland while also travelling in Latin America, North America, and Europe. She has visited more than 65 countries and set foot on every continent in the world! She is a coffee nerd, passionate about photography, wildlife, and outdoor activities.

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