While a guided tour is not mandatory with a standard ticket, booking a guide is mandatory with the Machu Picchu Premium Ticket.

The reason a guide is required with this ticket is that the Peruvian government mandates that an official guide, authorized to navigate the Inca Trail, be registered at the time of issuing the access passes.

Visitors purchasing Machu Picchu Premium Tickets will receive an email upon purchase and will need to proceed with booking a guide. If the visitor does not book a guide or does so late, the system will not reserve spots, and once these are exhausted, the system will cancel the reservation.

Please note that this is ONLY mandatory for Machu Picchu Premium Tickets. Visitors with standard tickets do NOT need to book a guide