Machu Picchu’s 5 Circuits
Routes around the ruins
In an effort to decrease the impacts of crowds, the park service created five circuits for visiting Machu Picchu, as shown on this map
Most people do Circuit 2, which goes to most of the important parts of the ruins. People who hike Huayna Picchu or Huchuy Picchu are limited to Circuit 4 and those who hike Machu Picchu Mountain are limited to Circuit 3.
Look carefully at the maps of those circuits if you want to do an extra hike so you’re not surprised at how much of the ruins you’re missing.
Practicalities
When you are buying tickets you must choose either “Llaqta Machupicchu” which can be any of the circuits, or do an extra hike which restricts you to one of the shorter circuits. If you want to do either of the longer circuits and also do an extra hike, you must buy two separate tickets.