At the entrance to Pisac, Sacsayhuaman and the Museum in the Qoricancha, they ask: Do you have your ticket? To avoid the panic, read what Christelle has to say about the Boleto Turístico (Tourist Ticket) for Cuzco and the Sacred Valley.
Originally, the Boleto Turístico was for tourists traveling with agencies and large groups. And travelers were starting to wonder if they too could enter the main attractions in Cuzco and the Sacred Valley without the famous Boleto Turístico, sold by COSITUC. To conserve resources and ordered by the system, now the purchase of the Boleto Turístico is manditory. So let’s find out what it’s all about.
What is the Boleto Turístico?
It is your entry ticket to the magic of the Incas. The Boleto Turístico Integral is the complete ticket that costs 130 soles, valid for 10 days. It includes the admission to 16 sites. It allows entry to inescapable archaeological sites in the Sacred Valley: Sacshayhuamán and its massive stones, Chincheros and its traditional village, Písac with the Intihuatana and Andean terraces, Ollantaytambo and its stone steps that rise high into the sky and Moray and its circular, agricultural terraces.
It also includes some hidden sites like Qenko (next to Sacshayhuamán) with zigzag channels and its amphitheater or Tambomachay and its neighbor, the Puca Pucara fortress (on the way to Pisac) with a beautiful reflection of the red sunset on the rocks at dusk.
It also includes the Southern Valley archaeological sites, such as: Tipon, the jewel to learn how the Incas managed irrigation, or the Wari fortress (pre-Inca) at Piquillacta. And back in Cuzco, it includes the admission to the Museo Regional, the Museo de Sitio del Qoricancha, in the heart of Cuzco, and the Convento Santo Domingo, with great Inca constructions. The Centro Qosqo de Arte Nativo show has 70 artists, a repertoire of 50 dances and hundreds of tunes, also included in your ticket.
So, 10 days are more than necessary to visit, see and enjoy it all.
And partial tickets?
Someone with little time will have to choose among all these sites, only to see the most symbolic or those that are less crowded. For that reason, partial tickets with shorter circuits were created.
Circuit 1 includes Sacsayhuamán, Qenqo, Pucapucara and Tambomachay. These are the Inca archaeological sites closest to the city of Cuzco. Perfect for one day and costs 70 soles.
Circuit 2 focuses on the city of Cuzco and includes access to various museums: the Museo de Arte Contemporáneo, the Museo Histórico Regional with its collection of pre-Inca and colonial objects, the Museo de Arte Popular with a display of the Paucartambo dance masks and works of the artisans of Cuzco, the Museo de Sitio Qoricancha and the Centro Qosqo de Arte Nativo. Tipón and Pikillacta are also included in this circuit. Good for two days and costs 70 soles.
Circuit 3 includes the most essential parts of the Sacred Valley: Chincheros, Moray, Pisac and Ollantaytambo. Good for two days and costs 70 soles.
Keep in mind that until mid-August of 2014, individual tickets to enter Moray, Tipon or Pikillacta were available. That’s no longer true. Now you must have the corresponding Boleto Turístico. Maras is the only site that offers an individual entry ticket with a cost of 10 soles.
Are there any promotions?
Yes, for foreign students, with a valid student ID card, the Boleto Turístico Integral costs 70 soles.
Natives and residents have preferential rates: 70 soles for the Boleto Turístico Integral (40 Soles for students) and 40 soles for the partial ticket.
Where can I buy the tickets?
Normally the Boletos Turísticos are on sale at all the sites included in the tour (at the entrance of each archaeological site or museum). If you want to buy tickets in advance, go directly to Counter Central (Av. El Sol 103, Galerías Turísticas, Monday to Sunday from 8AM to 6PM) or the Tourist Information Office, DIRCETUR (Calle Mantas 117-A, Monday to Saturday from 9AM to 12AM and 2PM to 6PM). These places have the official authorization of the Ministry of Culture. Find more details on COSITUC.
See you soon!
