The Cusco Tourist Ticket, also known as BTC, is a very important pass for people who want to explore the many cultural and old places in the city of Cusco and the areas around it. This pass lets you enter many historical sites, museums, and old centers, and it is good for 10 calendar days from when you use it for the first time. You can buy it at different official places in the city.
There are two types of tickets: the partial ticket and the general ticket. The first one lets you into a specific group of places depending on the tour you choose, while the general ticket lets you into all the places included in the BTC network.
Among the most important places you can visit with the general ticket are amazing Inca sites like Sacsayhuamán, Pisac, Ollantaytambo, Moray, Chinchero, Q’enqo and Tambomachay, among others.
What is the use of the Cusco Tourist Ticket?
The Cusco Tourist Ticket (BTC) is an easy and affordable option for people who want to see the cultural and historical richness of the region. More than just an entrance pass, this ticket makes it easier to plan your trip and makes the visitor experience better. Some of its main benefits are:
- Access to old monuments, which let you see the amazing Inca and pre-Inca buildings around the city of Cusco.
- Entry to key museums and cultural centers, like the Museum of Contemporary Art, the Regional Historical Museum, and the Museum of Popular Art, where you can learn all about the artistic, historical, and traditional heritage of the Andes.
- Saving time and money, because with just one purchase you get access to many tourist attractions, at a much cheaper cost than buying single tickets separately.
What attractions does the Cusco Tourist Ticket include?
The attractions you can visit with the Cusco Tourist Ticket change depending on the type of ticket you buy: General or Partial.
The General Ticket is the most complete choice, as it lets you enter a total of 16 important old sites, museums, and cultural centers, located in the city of Cusco, the Sacred Valley, and nearby areas.
On the other hand, the Partial Ticket is made for visitors who have less time or specific interests. It is divided into three theme routes, each with a different selection of attractions. This choice lets you make your experience your own based on the area you want to visit, whether it’s the old sites near Cusco, those in the South Valley, or those in the Sacred Valley.
This easy-to-change structure of the BTC helps travelers plan their trip based on their time, interests, and pace, while still enjoying some of the most important places in the Andean world. Below, we explain the different attractions included in each type of ticket:
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Types of Cusco Tourist Tickets: Which One to Choose?
The Cusco Tourist Ticket (BTC) comes in two main types, made to fit the different interests, time, and travel styles of visitors: the Full Tourist Ticket and the Partial Tourist Ticket. Below, we explain each one in detail, with their benefits and features so you can choose the best option for your trip through the heart of the Andean world.
Full Tourist Ticket (BTCI)
The Full Tourist Ticket gives total access to the 16 main tourist attractions in Cusco and the areas around it, including all the places from the three partial circuits. It is great for travelers who have several days to explore the region and want to discover the most important parts of the Inca and colonial past, both in the historic center and in the Sacred Valley and the South Valley.
This ticket is good for 10 days in a row from when you first use it, which lets you visit each place calmly and without rushing. Some of the most famous places included are:
- Sacsayhuamán – Impressive Inca ceremonial complex.
- Qosqo Native Art Center – With shows of traditional music and dances.
- Tipón – Remarkable example of Inca water engineering.
- Pikillacta – Important pre-Inca city of the Wari culture.
- Ollantaytambo, Pisac, Chinchero, and Moray – Architectural gems of the Sacred Valley.
Recommended for: independent travelers, history fans, photographers, and those who want to make the most of their visit to Cusco without depending on tour packages.
Partial Tourist Ticket
Made for people who don’t have much time, have special interests, or want to make specific visits, the Partial Tourist Ticket is divided into three topic groups. Each one lets you enter a different set of places depending on the area and the kind of experience the visitor wants to have.
Circuit 1: Archaeological Sites of Cusco (BTCPI)
It includes entry to four of the most important old sites located around Cusco. It is good for 1 day. Among the places included in this circuit are:
- Sacsayhuamán – known for its huge stone walls.
- Q’enqo – a holy place with underground paths.
- Puka Pukara – an old Inca military post.
- Tambomachay – a place linked to the worship of water.
Ideal for: people taking the popular Cusco City Tour. Many travel agencies need this ticket for this circuit.
Circuit 2: Museums and South Valley (BTCPII)
It lets you explore important museums in the center of Cusco and old sites in the South Valley, an area less visited but full of history. The ticket is good for 2 days.
It includes places like:
- Museum of Contemporary Art
- Regional Historical Museum
- Museum of Popular Art
- Tipón – an example of the Incas’ skill with water.
- Pikillacta – what the Wari culture left behind.
Ideal for: travelers interested in art, pre-Columbian and colonial history, or those taking the South Valley Tour. Some agencies include this ticket in their packages; others don’t.
Circuit 3: Historical Sites of the Sacred Valley (BTCPIII)
This ticket lets you visit some of the most famous old sites in the Sacred Valley of the Incas, a key area for the economy, farming, and religious life of the Inca empire. This ticket is good for 2 days and includes places like:
- Pisac – an old site with terraces and temples.
- Ollantaytambo – a living town and holy fortress.
- Chinchero – known for its colonial church and textile workshops.
- Moray – an Inca farming lab with circular terraces.
Important: It does not include entry to the Maras Salt Mines. This ticket is usually needed for the classic one-day tour of the Sacred Valley; check with your agency if it includes it.
Where can you buy the Cusco Tourist Ticket?
Getting the Cusco Tourist Ticket (BTC) is easy for all visitors. You don’t need to book it ahead of time, and there are no limits on how many are available. This means you can get it on the same day you visit without any problems.
You can buy the BTC in person at different official places in the city, especially at the tourist sites managed by the Committee of Integrated Tourist Cultural Services of Cusco (COSITUC). It’s also common to have it offered when you book organized tours in the city.
| Important: Right now, you can’t buy the ticket online, so you need to buy it directly in Cusco. |
Here are the official places where you can get your Cusco Tourist Ticket:
Main Office of COSITUC
- Address: Tourist Galleries, El Sol Ave 103, Office 101
- Opening Hours:
- Monday to Friday: 8:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
- Saturdays: 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
OFEC Branch (Information and Ticket Control Office)
- Address: Garcilaso Street s/n, Cusco – Peru
- Opening Hours:
- Monday to Saturday: 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
- Sundays: 8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
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How Much Does the Cusco Tourist Ticket Cost?
The price of this ticket changes depending on the type of ticket you choose (full or partial) and where the visitor is from. Usually, tourists from other countries pay more money compared to Peruvian citizens, who get better prices.
The full ticket costs more because it lets you enter all the places in the tourist route, while the partial ticket is cheaper and only lets you enter a specific group of attractions. This choice lets visitors plan their trip based on how much time they have and what they like.
It’s important to know that the BTC does not include entry to Machu Picchu, because this wonder of the world has its own separate ticket system. So, people who want to visit the Inca city will need to buy an extra ticket just for that place.
Before buying the BTC, it’s a good idea to check the latest prices and rules at the official ticket offices or on the tourism authorities’ website, because the prices can change. Here are the prices for the Tourist Tickets:
Ticket for Foreign Tourists
| Ticket Type | Entry type | Ticket Names | Price | Validity |
| Integral | Adult Ticket | BTCI | S/. 130 | 10 days |
| Student Ticket | BEE | S/. 70 | 10 days | |
| Partial | Circuit 1- City Tour | BTCPI | S/. 70 | 1 day |
| Circuit 2 – City + South Valley | BTCPII | S/. 70 | 2 days | |
| Circuit 3 – Sacred Valley | BTCPIII | S/. 70 | 2 days |
Ticket for Peruvians
| Ticket Type | Entry type | Ticket Names | Price | Validity |
| Integral | Adult Ticket | BIN | S/. 70 | 10 days |
| Student Ticket | BEN | S/. 40 | 10 days | |
| Partial | Circuit 1- City Tour | BTCPS | S/. 40 | 1 day |
| Circuit 2 – City + South Valley | BTCPC | S/. 40 | 2 days | |
| Circuit 3 – Sacred Valley | BTCPV | S/. 40 | 2 days |
Ticket Names
- Integral Ticket (BTCI – BIN)
- Student Ticket (BEE – BEN)
- Partial Ticket I (BTCPI – BTCPS)
- Partial Ticket II (BTCPII – BTCPC)
- Partial Ticket III (BTCPIII – BTCPV)
Discounts available
- University students over 18 years old: They can get a discount by showing their physical ISIC card along with a copy of their ID or passport.
- Teens from 10 to 17 years old: They must show a valid ID or passport to get the discounted price.
- Children under 9 years old: They get in completely free.
Recommendations When Buying Your Tourist Ticket
- Check the valid days of the ticket once you have it, as it changes depending on the type of ticket you buy.
- The ticket only lets you enter each tourist site once, so you can’t visit again with the same ticket.
- This ticket does not include guide or transportation services.
Is it worth buying the Cusco and Sacred Valley Tourist Ticket?
If you are planning your visit to Cusco, you will surely wonder if the Cusco Tourist Ticket (BTC), which costs 130 soles for the general version, really makes it worth the price. The answer will depend on several things: the time you have, your interest in history and old sites, and how complete you want your experience in the region to be.
This ticket not only makes it easy to enter many famous places without needing to buy separate tickets, but it also lets you explore a great variety of old and cultural attractions spread over three big areas: the city of Cusco, the Sacred Valley of the Incas, and the South Valley. For those who have less time, there are also partial versions of the ticket, focused on specific routes.
Below is a summary of the 16 places included in the general BTC:
Places of Interest in Cusco
- Ruins of Sacsayhuaman (above Cusco)
- Ruins of Qenqo (above Cusco)
- Ruins of Puka Pukara (above Cusco)
- Ruins of Tambomachay (above Cusco)
- Pachacútec Tower (Cusco)
- VI Regional Historical Museum (Cusco)
- VII Museum of the Inca Temple Koricancha (Cusco)
- VIII Museum of Contemporary Art (Cusco)
- IX Museum of Popular Art (Cusco)
- Folk Dances at the Native Art Center (Cusco)
Places of Interest in the Sacred Valley
- 11 Ruins of Pisac (Sacred Valley – Pisac)
- XII Ruins of Ollantaytambo (Sacred Valley – Ollantaytambo)
- XIII Ruins of Chinchero (Sacred Valley – Chinchero)
- Moray Terraces Complex (Sacred Valley – near Chinchero)
Places of Interest in the South Valley
- 15 Ruins of Tipón (South Valley – Tipón)
- XVI Ruins of Picillacta (South Valley – near Urcos).
| Note: The Maras salt terraces are not included in the tourist ticket. The entrance fee to Maras is S/. 7. |
Important Things to Know Before Buying the Cusco Tourist Ticket
When planning your visit to Cusco and the areas around it, it’s important to know about the different choices for the Cusco Tourist Ticket (BTC) so you can get the most out of your trip and your money.
There is a general or full ticket, which includes entry to the 16 most important tourist places in the city and the Sacred Valley (it is good for 10 days in a row from the first time you use it). This choice is great if you plan to see both the ruins in Cusco and the ones in the Sacred Valley, because it gives you entry to all the main old and cultural places.
But, if you only plan to explore one specific part, you can choose a partial tourist ticket. These tickets are divided into routes and give you limited entry to certain places:
- The partial ticket for Cusco is good for 1 day.
- The partial ticket for the Sacred Valley (north route) is good for 2 days.
It’s important to know that the partial tickets do not have discounts, while students with a current ISIC card can get the full ticket for 50% off, paying only 70 soles (around 18 euros). This is a great option for those who have a longer trip and want to use their student status.
Before you buy your ticket, think carefully about your plans and how much time you have, because each type of ticket lasts for a specific time and covers different places. Choosing the right option will let you make the most of your visit without spending too much.
