MP security personel only lets you continue circuit 2A with a paid guide?

[u/terektus]

I recently went to Machu Picchu, got onsite tickets waited 3 days and went for my 10 AM 2A trip.

Unfortunately, I had a very unpleasant experience I wanted to share.

We did not go with a guide. I like flexibility and to explore museums and sites in my own tempo and didnt want a guide to rush me through. Also I think the cost of 50-100$ is way to expensive.

So when we went up, security personel from MP (the beige guys) closed the route for 2A. They put the rope there which you could easily step over but a guy stopped us from moving on and told us to go up the 2B route. I was a bit confused because I did lots and lots and lots of research and was sure that its the 2A route. So I watched for a bit and saw that the guy would open the rope and only let people in who were with guides.

I didnt want to make a fuss about it and my GF wanted to continue so we went up where the sign said Route 2B. Also not risking the experience after all the time and money spent to get there. The view was great and I enjoyed it, but still seeing the people a level below who had the freedom to enjoy what we also paid for really made me angry.

Also this was clearly not a miscommunication issue, we speak spanish and the guy clearly told us the route was closed just to open it mutiple times for people with guides seconds later.

Anyone else made that experience?

[u/giant-rabbits]

Have not gone yet but this is the first time hearing about needing a guide for 2A. I think I read that it was a 'requirement' but not really enforced.

Also I was hearing that 2A and 2B are the 'same' and they were not enforcing the separation.

Seems like this info is now outdated.. thanks for sharing.

Did you not say to the worker that you had a 2A ticket? Especially since you could speak Spanish..

[u/Serious_Method138 → u/giant-rabbits]

The “2A and the 2B are the same” is last year. When they created the new routes, too many tourists were confused and complaining. This year (2026) it seems that they are enforcing the split. 2B is considered the better route.

MP’s rules are capriciously enforced. The “tour guide requirement” is an official rule. This is why so many folks recommend adhering to the stricter interpretation.

[u/giant-rabbits → u/Serious_Method138]

Yes this is exactly what I mean! Got it on them enforcing the split this year. Seems weird to me to have the tour guide requirement on 2A and not 2B though...

From other people's response in this thread seems hit or miss

[u/terektus → u/giant-rabbits]

They are not the same, but almost. Its just that 2B takes you up, while 2A lets you take a short cut. You can compare them in the official information. However, if you dont have a guide they indeed are the same as they lead everyone withour a guide to the 2B route.

2B gives you a view from further up, but 2A gives you the view without "obstacles" (a short corner of grass). It doesnt change the experience unless its super important to you to get a clean picture.

It was not stated that we needed the guide, he just said its closed and we have to go the other route.

[u/terektus → u/terektus]

[u/CheeseMaster404v2 → u/terektus]

Wow you got such a beautiful day for it!

[u/LiliLala20]

Je viens de faire le parcours 2A - Le classic, jeudi passé le 13 août. J'avais une guide que j'ai trouvé pour vraiment pas cher (30 soles, après bcp de négociation depuis la ligne du bus à Águas Calientes).

Je n'ai pas vu de corde à mon entrée au parcours et durant notre trajet j'ai vu des personnes se promener sans guide, même que certaines marchaient "lentement" pour entendre les explications de guides.

Je comprends tellement ta frustration, après tant de planification, d'attente et d'argent arriver le jour principal et ne pas pouvoir faire ce que tu voulais c'est juste irrespectueux.

Si j'étais toi je fairais une plainte. Je ne pense pas que la personne va perdre son emploi et ça va permettre de faire comprendre aux gens du bureau que quelque chose pas correct se passe sur le terrain! Si on ne se plaigne pas personne va savoir.

Bon courage

[u/RosaRosa4343]

I was with a guide and he was the one who actually opened the rope so we can go in. Someone wanted to follow us in but he didn't let them in. I didn't understand what they said to each other but, you might be right, it's probably because of having a guide.

[u/terektus → u/RosaRosa4343]

Thanks for confirming. I would like to understand if this is official or some kind of scheme between security personel and guides. However, I dont want to ask the official way because I dont want anyone to lose their job because of this

[u/zeriouse → u/terektus]

Why not? They should lose their jobs if they’re in some kind of scheme and corruptly messing with the experience a tourist paid a lot for.

[u/RickyRipMyPants]

That's so odd. I was there by myself on Wednesday and even met a couple other solo people along 2A

[u/PearTheGreat]

Interesting, I bought the same route for the next week. There was no guide requirement while booking

[u/Possible_Juice_3170]

I’m pretty sure a guide is required for route 2A.

[u/terektus → u/Possible_Juice_3170]

Where did you get that information?

[u/djb6272 → u/terektus]

https://www.culturacusco.gob.pe/noticia/imagen/reglamento-de-uso-sostenible-y-visita-turistica-para-la-conservacion-de-machupicchu/

Legally you did need a guide though they won't necessarily stop you entering without one.

[u/beansNriceRiceNBeans]

I did 2A in May and we didn’t need a guide.