How to Get to Machu Picchu

As a company with four hostels in Cusco, one hostel in Aguas Calientes, and a travel agency to boot, we field a lot of questions about how to organize a trip to Machu Picchu. The worst are the emails asking how to go directly from the Cusco airport to Machu Picchu- we can only cross our fingers and hope that the traveler in question has allotted more than half a day for the excursion. No, you can’t go directly from the airport to Machu Picchu in a taxi. The only town nearby the ruins is Aguas Calientes, officially known as Machu Picchu Pueblo. Here, we’ve compiled your options for getting to Machu Picchu in a detailed guide:  Hike the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu

You can book the classic 4-day Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, or a shortened 2-day version of the Inca Trail that will take you part of the way by train and allow you to hike the best part of the trail in less time. Since these two excursions can only be arranged by a travel agency, and can’t be done independently, you don’t have to do anything other than tell your agency where in Cusco to pick you up and drop you off.

Book an Alternative Trek to Machu Picchu

We’ve written a lot about other treks to Machu Picchu, which are less trafficked but just as beautiful and full of history. Popular options include the scenic Lares Trek and the Salkantay Trail. Like the Inca Trail, booking a trek lets the agency do the work for you.

The Inca Jungle Tour

While this method does include some trekking, and even boasts a segment of original Inca trail, it’s much more than a trek. What begins with downhill mountain biking gets even more exciting as you zipline across the Sacsara Valley. This tour takes you from the high puna through the cloud forest and into the jungle brow, showcasing the region’s stunning tropical rivers, orchards, and snow-covered Andean peaks as it takes you ever closer to the famed ruins of Machu Picchu.

Train from Poroy or Ollantaytambo

This is the most popular option, because it can be done in less time, either in one long day or in two-day trip to Machu Picchu. First, you need to choose the train company, which will be either Inca Rail or Peru Rail company (the latter having more options). Then, you need to decide what level of service you want; the cheapest option is Peru Rail’s no-frills Expedition train and the deluxe option is the Hiram Bingham train, which comes with food, drinks, and a show. Most travelers opt for a mid-range option like the Vistadome, which offers comfortable, basic service, large windows.

Trains to Aguas Calientes leave daily from Poroy Station and the town of Ollantaytambo in the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Poroy is located 20 minutes outside of Cusco, so you can take a taxi from central Cusco to the station for about 25 Peruvian soles, the equivalent of US$7.40. However, trains from Poroy are significantly more expensive. If possible, opt for transport to Ollantaytambo 90 minutes outside of Cusco (there are taxi and bus options), followed by the train. Trains depart from Ollantaytambo station more frequently, meaning there are more departure time options as well as lower prices.

If you plan on doing the whole trip in one day (an excursion agencies refer to as Machu Picchu by Train Full-Day), be prepared to depart Cusco at around 4am and arrive back after midnight. Those who decide to spend the night in Aguas Calientes and visit Machu Picchu the following day can take a more leisurely route on an afternoon train. If you need to take the earliest and latest trains, you’ll probably pay more for the tickets, because there are fewer service levels available at these times.

Once you’re in Aguas Calientes, you still have one more leg to go before you reach the ruins. This can be done by bus or on foot. It takes 20 minutes and US$9.50 to reach the ruins by bus. The buses leave for Machu Picchu Citadel every fifteen minutes throughout the day, until the site closes. You can buy your bus tickets in advance in Cusco or at the station in Aguas Calientes, or you can purchase them in the moment (the latter means two different lines, however).

Most who choose the overnight option do so in the hopes of catching the very first bus up to Machu Picchu, which departs at 5:10am. This allows them to arrive at the site before travelers who are trying to do it all in one day, effectively beating the train crowds. (This is why hostels in Aguas Calientes, like Pirwa Machu Picchu, offer breakfast from 4:30am onwards.)

You can always hike from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu. Since you don’t need to wait for the first bus, you increase your chances of arriving at the ruins before first light, the moment when the sun is visible over the peaks and first hits the ruins. (It’s often referred to as sunrise, but it’s actually different and occurs somewhat later.) The hike takes about 1 to 2 hours and covers a zigzagging 5-mile route. It can be strenuous for some due to a multitude of stairs, so keep your fitness level in mind…you might find it unnecessarily tiring if you planned to hike Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain during your visit to the ruins. If you’re up for the challenge, however, setting off at around 4:40am will allow you to reach the top before first light.

Getting to Aguas Calientes By Car

The cheapest method to reach the town of Aguas Calientes from Cusco is to go by car most of the way, finishing the final leg on foot. The walking is necessary because cars cannot reach Aguas Calientes; they can only go as far as the Hydroelectric Station along the railway tracks.

To do the trip in this way, you catch the morning bus from Santiago bus station to Santa María (approx. US$5.50). It takes 6 hours under normal conditions, but if the road has been affected by the rainy season it could take up to 8 hours. At Santa María, you can take a shared taxi or microbus, known as a combi, to Santa Teresa. It will cost about US$3 and take about 45 minutes over rough road to arrive. Finally, you need to reach the Hydroelectric Station along the train line- it’s the last stop before Aguas Calientes. You can take a combi for US$1.50 to US$3.70, which will take about 30 minutes. Or you can walk to the Hydroelectric station in 2 hours, along a scenic route.

From the Hydroelectric station, you can the four trains to Aguas Calientes, which take 30 minutes and cost approximately US$6, or you can walk the 6 miles to town, following the train tracks. At this point, you’re already in the semi-tropical zone, so the greenery is stunning.

Of the different ways to reach Machu Picchu, this one is most vulnerable to delays during the rainy season, due to road conditions and landslides (although these can affect train travel as well). It’s best to choose this option only if your itinerary isn’t strict and won’t be adversely affect by a delay.

Make sure to ask local travel agencies in Cusco about this option as well- you might actually get a cheaper price with a local travel agency, who can bundle the minibus, train, and bus tickets with accommodation in Aguas Calientes and the Machu Picchu entrance at the preferential rates they receive.