Should have specified that we are traveling on our own, not part of a tour.

You could have your hotel purchase your tickets to lessen your worries.

I know your pain. I tried for over a month to get our tickets. Multiple calls to hear nothing was wrong. On another forum, the magic words, it seems that the only people who are successful in purchasing tickets on line are those using Bank of America cards. I know it worked for me. By the way you cannot register a BOA card with Verified by Visa, but it works. Good luck

I had the same problem. We're using a private tour guide/driver for a few days in the Sacred Valley. He is purchasing them for us. I'd suggest asking your Cuzco hotel. They'll need your passport numbers and other information.

I too, tried for over a month with no luck. Finally, I used a NON Verified by Visa Bank of America card and it worked. Keep trying and good luck!

I was able to purchase tickets yesterday (on my own and not part of a group). I too was having problems but later determined that it was my credit card company (Chase), which was blocking the transaction because they thought it was suspicious.

If you need help navigating the site, the following website is helpful: http://www.machupicchutickets.com/

So apparently all sorts of cards do work. When making an overseas purchase, not only would you need Verified by Visa (ahead of time), you need to notify both your bank and Visa itself. Just to be sure.

That said, often times no matter what you do, it still doesn't go thru. Then you may want to see if a hotel or guide would be willing to purchase them for you without a markup.

The other thing I forgot to mention is that I suspect that the MP ticket website only allows you a certain number of attempts to pay (5?). Based upon my very basic Spanish, there was one line which indicated "attempts" and included a maximum number as 5. Either 5 attempts per credit card or 5 attempts before you lose your reservation? Don't know.

I also am having problem, had an absolutely terrible time with train tickets too.. I just emailed the hotel.. if someone knows a great and trustworthy guide they would recommend for Cuzco that could potentially purchase our tickets that would be great! Thanks! T

I am going through the same problems right now Even though I am on the phone with my Chase Visa Card, who would accept the charges immediately, it always comes back as charges denied. I think it never actually reaches the Visa Card authorization point, it just shows it is processing, but then immediately it is denied. PAIN in the neck. Just as bad as booking the train - what a headache and weeks of frustration. I do not have a Bank of America Card, so can not use that one. Also, it never comes up with the Verified by Visa site to ask for password, so that is not working either.... Any other suggestions? Just go and wing it???

If you have a hotel or guide ask them to buy your tickets in advance.

I'll be going to MP in less than two weeks and I tried three chase visa cards, a citi AA visa, a capital one visa, and I even went and opened a BOA checking account and got a visa debit card and that still didn't work. I'm out of options to do this online so I'll just wing it and get the tickets when I arrive. I've been monitoring the number of tickets online and there is zero chance of them selling out. But to climb HP might. I might reach out to my hotel in AG and have them get them for me. How are people getting these tickets online with their visa card. I wonder if a visa card with one of those smart chips would do the trick. I know those are popular in europe and the british airways card just updated to that. We should compile a list of cards that work and don't work for future travellers to eleviate this painful step. Now its onto trying to book peru rail tickets. I hear its a headache as well...

Are your cards verified by Visa? Did you call your bank in advance of making the purchase, as well as Visa themselves?

What specifically happened when you failed? Was this just a one-day event or over multiple days?

People have successfully used one or more of the Chase Visa card or debit cards

I got tickets!!!!!! After 50 attempts this past week, on 5 different visa cards, a couple calls to my banks and many curse words, I was finally able to purchase MP tickets online. The key factor that worked for me was firefox. I kept trying to purchase the tickets on Internet Explorer and Safari and it kept coming up as Operacion Denegada. Frustrating. But then this morning I tried using firefox and the first attempt I made was with my Chase Southwest card, it did not work. Then I tried my BOA debit card(which I went to the bank yesterday and signed up for a checking account) and it finally went through. I never registered my card with Verified by Visa, with Chase credit cards, you can't do this, as well as with my BOA card. When using firefox, it actually brought me to a verified by visa page to enter in additional information. Also, after I purchased the tickets with my BOA card, I got an email from chase saying that my purchase on my Southwest card was denied as suspicious activity, so I think if I would've called in to remove the flag, I'm sure the purchase would've gone through on my Chase card. Hopefully this helps people and you have the same success as I did. A little patience and perseverance is all it takes

Have been trying to buy tickets for 6 weeks from Australia using every visa credit/debit card we have. Been reading the blogs so used our Lloyds [British acct] and finally got train tickets for Cusco - Machu Picchu return and a confirmation email from Peru rail so sure the purchase legit. But,10 minutes late still denied purchase for tickets on www.machupicchu.gob.Pe so rang bank thinking the bank had denied the transcation and were told this not the case, in fact Visa had blocked the site due to fraudulent behaviour. So still no tickets and hoping we can buy them in Cusco when we arrive

I'm having this same problem, not only with the entrance tickets to Machu Picchu but with StarPeru plane tickets as well. I have two visa cards through two different banks, neither of which I was able to enroll using the Verified by Visa website, and no one at my banks knows what Verified by Visa is, or why I can't enroll. Visa, when I called, said it was a problem with my bank, but the banks don't know what the problem could be. The banks don't even see a charge being attempted, so they're not declining the charges. I'm unable to open a Bank of America account (there are no branches near where I am right now). Does anyone have any other solutions for this? I've tried this in Firefox, Safari and Chrome, I've called StarPeru and Visa and my banks and can't get anyone to help me. I've tried this over 50 times over the past week, different days, different times of days, different browsers, different computers, different credit cards.

You'd think for a country that relies heavily on tourism they'd make it easier to give them money! Help!

You can use a Peruvian travel agent, several have been recommended on TripAdvisor, that charge only a small fee (not the self=promoting agent above).

I was never able to complete a purchase of MP tickets on line, trying three different Visa cards. But Star Peru wasn't a problem for me.

If your cards aren't in Verified by Visa there will not be a attempted charge.

it isn't self promoting. just suggesting different alternatives. trip advisor is full of self promoting agencies and persons. they get free advertising on trip advisor. the more reliable source is here, frommers, virtual tourist.

I can't really afford to pay the mark-up for a travel agent, etc. Is there anyone here that has any suggestions other than "too bad, you have to pay extra for someone in Peru to do this for you"? And why on earth would it make sense to only accept cards that have been enrolled in an optional "security" system? Does this sound like a scam to anyone else?

If you can't afford the extra $8 or so that some of the agents suggested on TA are charging, you can try waiting until you get to Peru and buy your ticket at face value at the Cusco offices.

Or you may want to reconsider entirely traveling during busy season, you will find hotels, taxi transfers, train tickets, and airfares marked way up if not purchased sufficiently in advance.

September isn't a bad time to go.

Have spoken to Visa directly about the payment issue and assured that it is them who have put major security measures 'verfied visa' in place. They specifically stated that it was the website that was acting fraudulently although the website states that they have had problems with others using stolen or cloned cards illegally but agreed that Visa had placed huge requirements that made transactions slow and problematic. However, they also offered a solution as detailed below. I also don't want to pay an agency, how do you know who to trust but gotta trust someone or I won't get to see Machu Picchu.

Recommend you email http://www.machupicchu.gob.pe/ call centre address is Call Center [callcenter@drc-cusco.gob.pe]& explain that you cannot book tickets for Machu Picchu. They will ask you to send them your reservation number, they then extend the date for payment until 24 hours before you are booked to visit Machu Picchu. They include instruction on how to print your 'Formato de Reseva' confirming the new deadline and also provide you with details of banks and cultural offices that accept payment once you reach Peru including Cusco. That gives you time to pay in person and then print your tickets.

We are booked for June 16 and so far 2280 tickets remain so I think we will be safe anyway.