Machu Picchu Circuits: which one should you choose?
Visiting Machu Picchu is a little more complicated than visiting most other wonders of the world. You can't simply buy an entrance ticket and explore the ancient Inca city however you like. Instead, there are three different Machu Picchu circuits, divided into ten routes. The route you choose determines which parts of Machu Picchu you'll actually get to see.
And believe us, the differences between the circuits are pretty big! Some routes take you to the famous panoramic viewpoints, while others allow you to explore the archaeological city or even climb one of the surrounding mountains.
That's why choosing the right Machu Picchu circuit is one of the most important parts of planning your visit.
We visited Machu Picchu on two different days and explored routes 1B and 2B. In this guide, we'll explain the differences between all three Machu Picchu circuits, help you choose the best route, and share our personal experiences.
What are the different Machu Picchu circuits?
Machu Picchu has three main circuits, divided into ten different routes. Circuits 1 and 3 each have four routes, including two seasonal routes. Circuit 2 has two routes that are generally available throughout the year.
When booking your entrance ticket, you'll need to choose one specific route within one of these circuits. You can't switch between routes or visit another circuit with the same ticket.
Our recommendation: If you can only choose one Machu Picchu circuit, go for Circuit 2. In our opinion, it offers the most complete experience, combining the famous views with the opportunity to walk through the ancient Inca city.
Circuit 1: Panoramic Circuit
Circuit 1 is all about the incredible panoramic views of Machu Picchu. If you've ever seen those famous photos overlooking the ancient city with Huayna Picchu Mountain in the background, this is one of the circuits where you can capture that iconic view.
There are four different routes within Circuit 1:
Route 1A – Machu Picchu Mountain: Combines the panoramic viewpoints with a challenging hike up Machu Picchu Mountain.
Route 1B – Upper Terrace: Takes you to the famous panoramic viewpoints above Machu Picchu. This is the simplest option within Circuit 1.
Route 1C – Intipunku (Sun Gate): Combines the panoramic viewpoints with a hike towards Intipunku. This route is seasonally available.
Route 1D – Inca Bridge: Combines the panoramic viewpoints with a walk towards the Inca Bridge. This route is also seasonally available.
The main thing to know about Circuit 1 is that you won't get to explore the main archaeological city itself. Instead, the focus is on the beautiful scenery, panoramic viewpoints, and optional hikes.
We personally walked Route 1B and absolutely loved the views. It's a relatively short and easy route compared to the longer mountain hikes, making it a great choice if you mainly want to take photos and admire Machu Picchu from above.
Circuit 2: Classic Circuit
Circuit 2 is the most popular Machu Picchu circuit, and for good reason! This circuit combines the famous panoramic views with a walk through a large part of the archaeological city. It gives you the opportunity to admire Machu Picchu from above before heading down to explore the impressive Inca ruins.
There are two different routes within Circuit 2:
Route 2A – Classic Designed: Combines the classic panoramic viewpoints with a walk through the archaeological city.
Route 2B – Lower Terrace: Offers a similar experience, with slightly different viewpoints and a route through the ancient city.
The differences between these two routes are relatively small compared to the differences between the other circuits. Both are excellent choices for first-time visitors. We personally walked Route 2B and thought it was absolutely amazing. After enjoying the famous panoramic views, we descended into the archaeological city, where we could admire the ancient structures up close. It was incredible to see how much of Machu Picchu is hidden from view when you're only standing at the panoramic terraces.
Circuit 3: Royalty Circuit
Circuit 3 mainly focuses on the lower part of Machu Picchu, taking you closer to several important archaeological structures. Unlike Circuits 1 and 2, this circuit doesn't offer the same iconic panoramic viewpoints overlooking the entire city. However, it's a great option if you're particularly interested in exploring the ruins or combining your visit with a mountain hike.
There are four routes within Circuit 3:
Route 3A – Huayna Picchu Mountain: Combines the lower archaeological area with the famous climb up Huayna Picchu Mountain.
Route 3B – Royalty Designed: Focuses on exploring the lower part of the archaeological city.
Route 3C – Great Cavern: Combines the lower archaeological area with a longer hike towards the Great Cavern. Seasonally available.
Route 3D – Huchuy Picchu: Combines the lower archaeological area with a hike up Huchuy Picchu Mountain. Seasonally available.
Circuit 3 is especially interesting for travelers who want to climb Huayna Picchu or explore the archaeological structures from a different perspective. Keep in mind that the mountain hikes are more physically demanding and take considerably longer than the standard routes.
What's the difference between the routes within each circuit?
One thing that can make booking Machu Picchu tickets confusing is that choosing a circuit isn't enough. You also need to choose a specific route. And these routes aren't simply shorter or longer versions of the same experience. Within Circuits 1 and 3, some routes include additional mountain hikes or visits to places such as Intipunku, the Inca Bridge, or Huchuy Picchu. These experiences can be very different from the standard routes.
Within Circuit 2, the differences are smaller. Routes 2A and 2B both combine panoramic viewpoints with a walk through the archaeological city. That's why we'd recommend looking carefully at the individual routes before booking your ticket, rather than choosing based on the circuit number alone.
Which Machu Picchu circuit has the classic view?
If you're dreaming of taking that iconic Machu Picchu photo, you'll want to choose Circuit 1 or Circuit 2. Both circuits offer beautiful panoramic views, but the viewpoints are slightly different.
Circuit 1 takes you to the upper terraces, where you can admire the ancient city surrounded by the spectacular Andes Mountains.
Circuit 2 also offers the famous views, but from a slightly different perspective. The biggest advantage is that you can continue into the archaeological city afterwards.
Having experienced both circuits ourselves, we actually thought the panoramic view from Circuit 1 was slightly more impressive. However, if we had to choose only one circuit, we'd still pick Circuit 2 because of the opportunity to explore the ruins as well.
Which Machu Picchu circuit is the best?
In our opinion, Circuit 2 is the best Machu Picchu circuit, especially if it's your first visit.
We walked both Route 1B and Route 2B and were genuinely surprised by how different the experiences were. Circuit 1 offered incredible panoramic views, but Circuit 2 allowed us to see much more of Machu Picchu. Walking through the ancient Inca city made us appreciate just how impressive this place really is.
Of course, the best circuit depends on what you're looking for. If photography is your main priority, Circuit 1 might actually be your favorite. And if you're dreaming of climbing Huayna Picchu, you'll need to choose the appropriate route within Circuit 3. But for most first-time visitors, we'd recommend Circuit 2.
What if Circuit 2 is sold out? Don't worry! You can consider combining Circuit 1 and Circuit 3 instead. This way, you'll still get to enjoy the famous panoramic views and explore part of the archaeological city. Just keep in mind that you'll need two separate entrance tickets.
Can you visit multiple Machu Picchu circuits?
Yes! It's possible to visit multiple Machu Picchu circuits, either on the same day or across different days. We chose to visit Circuit 1 and Circuit 2 on two separate days, but you could also combine Circuit 1 and Circuit 3 on the same day. You'll need a separate entrance ticket for each route.
If you're planning to visit two circuits on the same day, make sure to leave enough time between your entrance slots. You can't enter whenever you like, and you won't be able to switch circuits once you're inside.
We'd recommend allowing some extra time rather than rushing through your first circuit.
There are toilets and facilities near the entrance where you can take a break between visits.
Our experience: Machu Picchu routes 1B vs 2B
During our trip to Peru, we decided to visit Machu Picchu twice, exploring Route 1B in the afternoon and Route 2B early the following morning. And we're so glad we did!
We actually booked Route 1B relatively last minute, about a month before our trip. Originally, we'd only planned to visit Machu Picchu once. But as our trip got closer, we decided it would be amazing to see this incredible place on the afternoon we arrived in Aguas Calientes as well.
Unfortunately, almost all routes were already sold out by then. Route 1B was one of the only options still available. Luckily, it turned out to be perfect for what we wanted! We entered Machu Picchu at 3:00 PM and spent around 50 minutes enjoying the panoramic viewpoints and taking photos. The views were absolutely breathtaking, and because we visited later in the day, we got to see Machu Picchu with the afternoon sun illuminating the surrounding mountains. We loved being able to admire this incredible place without having to spend hours walking around.
We booked Route 2B several months in advance, choosing the earliest entrance time at 6:00 AM. We really wanted to experience Machu Picchu in the early morning, hopefully with that magical mist rolling over the mountains. This route started with beautiful panoramic viewpoints before taking us down into the archaeological city.
Being able to explore the ruins up close was such a different experience from our visit the previous afternoon. We spent almost three hours exploring Route 2B, stopping regularly to take photos and admire the incredible surroundings. For us, Route 2B was definitely the highlight of our two visits.
However, we're really happy we booked both routes. Seeing Machu Picchu at two different times of day made the experience even more special.
How long does each Machu Picchu circuit take?
The time you'll need depends on the specific route you choose and how much time you spend taking photos and enjoying the views. During our visit, we spent approximately 50 minutes at Route 1B and almost 3 hours for Route 2B. We took our time on both routes, stopping regularly to enjoy the scenery.
However, these were our personal walking times, not the official time limits. Each route has its own maximum permitted duration, and some of the longer hikes can take several hours.
Routes involving Machu Picchu Mountain or Huayna Picchu require significantly more time and physical effort.
How to book Machu Picchu circuit tickets
We strongly recommend booking your Machu Picchu tickets as early as possible, especially if you want to visit Circuit 2. You can purchase your entrance tickets through the official website of Peru's Ministry of Culture.
When booking, you'll need to choose your preferred circuit, specific route, date, and entrance time. Your ticket will only be valid for that particular route and time slot. Ticket prices depend on the route and visitor category. Some mountain hikes have different entrance fees, so always check the official website for the latest prices.
We booked our Circuit 2 tickets in February (for July) to make sure we could visit at our preferred time. When we decided to book an additional visit about a month before our trip, almost every route was already sold out. That's why we'd recommend booking several months in advance, particularly if you're traveling during peak season.
Our tips for choosing the best Machu Picchu circuit
Still not sure which Machu Picchu circuit to choose? Here's our advice:
Choose Circuit 1 if: You mainly want to enjoy the famous panoramic views, take beautiful photos, or combine your visit with a longer hike.
Choose Circuit 2 if: You want the most complete experience, combining the classic views with the opportunity to explore the archaeological city. This is our personal favorite!
Choose Circuit 3 if: You want to explore the lower archaeological area or combine your visit with a mountain hike, such as Huayna Picchu.
If you can only choose one Machu Picchu circuit, we'd personally recommend Circuit 2.
For us, it offered the perfect combination of incredible scenery and the opportunity to experience the ancient Inca city up close.
