How to Get to Machu Picchu from Cusco

Among the best things to do in Cuzco is to take an excursion to Machu Picchu. It is a magical place, where you will connect with nature and with the architectural, cultural and historical legacy of a very ancient civilization, the Inca.

To get to Machu Picchu you need to plan the route well, so joining a guided excursion in which they organize the transportation for you and accompany you along the circuit in the Inca city is the best option, although it is not the only one.

One of the best ways to get to the Inca city is to take a day trip to Machu Picchu from Cuzco. You won't have to worry about organizing the adventure (entrance fees, tickets, guide), just enjoying yourself.

• The experience begins with the pick up at the door of your hotel in Cuzco.
• From there, you will be transferred to the Ollantaytambo train station, on a route of about 90 minutes by car.
• Once on the train you will be able to relax and, for about three hours, contemplate the panorama through the window. You will be amazed by the view of the Peruvian Andes.
• Upon arrival at the Aguas Calientes station, you will get off the train with your guide and, in less than 20 minutes, board a bus to Machu Picchu, which is about 15 minutes away.

You will then visit the imposing lost city of the Inca empire. And, as you walk through the flames, your guide will tell you the history of the places of interest discovered along the way: the Temple of the Sun, the Intihuatana stone, the Main Temple, among others. Afterwards, you will return to Cuzco.

Information of interest

• Price: 286 €.
• Duration: 14 hours.
• Advantages: you will not have to worry about planning a route or making reservations to get the entrance to the train and Machu Picchu.
• Disadvantages: the entrance to the Machu Pichu mountain is purchased separately.

Do you dare to make an unforgettable journey through the heart of the Andes for 4 days? If the answer is yes, book your place to walk the Inca Trail and let the adventure begin!

• A driver will pick you up at your accommodation in Cuzco.
• During 4 days you will walk the Andes accompanied by a professional guide.
• You will arrive at Inti Punku, known as the Gate of the Sun.
• You will visit Machu Picchu.
• A bus will take you to Aguas Calientes.
• The return to Cuzco is on a panoramic train.

In addition, you will not have to carry your sleeping bag, air mattresses or trekking poles during the whole trip through Peru because if you do the Inca Trail they are available for rent.

Useful information

• Price: 641 €.
• Duration: 4 days.
• Advantages: you will live an unforgettable experience.
• Disadvantages: you need to be in good shape.

To get to Machu Picchu from Cuzco there are no continuous and authorized roads to carry out this route. However, this is not an impediment for you to drive on your own in your adventure to know the lost city of the Incas.

• In the center of Cuzco you will find several places where you can rent a car, such as Mountain Rent a Car.
• Once you have the car, you can drive about 6 hours from Cuzco to the Hydroelectric Plant in the province of Urubamba.
• Upon arrival, you will see a family-owned property that offers parking for around 10€.
• From this point, you will have to walk an average of 2 hours and 30 minutes to Aguas Calientes, on a flat road along the rails of an abandoned train.
• Once in Aguas Calientes, you can spend the night in a hotel or continue the trip.
• You can walk up for 2.5 kilometers, or take a bus to the gate of the Inca city, paying approximately 12€ each way.

Useful information

• Price: about 200 € excluding accommodation.
• Travel time: you will need at least 16 hours to get there and back, not counting the stay in Machu Pichu.
• Advantages: you will be able to stop whenever you want to explore the trail, eat or rest before going up to Machu Picchu.
• Disadvantages: long journey with several transfers.

It is a safe and economical means of transportation that you can easily access. However, you should know that none of the bus routes cover the entire route to the Inca city. Therefore, you will have to combine it with train or walking.

You will have to travel about 179 kilometers in approximately six hours, from Cuzco to the Hydroelectric Station in the province of Urubamba in one of Liz's Explorer or Machupicchu by bus buses. Once at the Hydroelectric station, you will have these two options to get to Aguas Calientes:

• Board a train: two train services depart daily (14:20 and 16:40 hours), which will take you in about 30 minutes to your destination.
• Take a hike: the distance is only 10 kilometers (approximately two hours on foot).

When you arrive in Aguas Calientes, you will have to go to Hermanos Ayar Avenue, which is very close to the train station. There, you will take one of the public buses run by the Consettur company to Machu Picchu, about 30 minutes away. Remember to book your tickets for Machu Picchu in advance, lest you make the trip in vain.

Information of interest

• Price: about 50 € per person.
• Travel time: 7 hours one way.
• Advantages: the trip along the route of the Hydroelectric Power Plant by bus is an economical and easy access option, which will give you amazing panoramic views.
• Disadvantages: if you decide to walk from the Hydroelectric Plant you will invest a little more time and, if you board the train, you will have to be careful with the arrival times, as there are only two daily routes.

There are two railway companies in charge of the route whose destination is the Aguas Calientes station, also known as Machu Picchu Pueblo:

• Inca Rail.
• Peru Rail.

You will have to go to Wanchaq Station (approximately 13 minutes walk from the center of Cuzco) or San Pedro Station (about 30 minutes walk from the center of Cuzco). Once on board the train, you will just have to enjoy the panoramic trip that will offer you exuberant landscapes until Aguas Calientes.

There you will have to take a bus, at theHermanos Ayar Avenue**,** a few meters away from the train station, to Machu Picchu, about 30 minutes away.

Information of interest

• Price: 150€ per person.
• Travel time: 3 to 4 hours plus 30 minutes by bus.
• Advantages: you will travel directly from Cuzco to Aguas Calientes, saving time and enjoying a scenic ride.
• Disadvantages: train tickets sell out easily, so you must purchase them in advance.

You can take a cab in Cuzco to the Hydroelectric Plant. It will take you about 5 hours and you will pay approximately 100 to 150 Euros. Afterwards, you will have to walk on your own to Aguas Calientes, for about 2 hours and 30 minutes, and then go up to Machu Picchu by bus, for about 30 minutes, or walk for about 90 minutes more.

You can also take a cab from Cuzco to Ollantaytambo, a trip of about 90 minutes, paying a fare of between 30 ¤ and 45 ¤. Once at the station you will board the train, whose ticket must have been purchased in advance. Thus, you will travel to Aguas Calientes in a maximum of four hours and then go up to Machu Picchu by bus or on foot.

Useful information

• Price: about 150€ just the cab.
• Travel time: approximately 5 hours by cab from Cuzco to the hydroelectric plant. About 90 minutes by cab from Cuzco to Ollantaytambo. About 2 hours 30 minutes trekking to Aguas Calientes. At least 4 hours by train to Aguas Calientes. And finally about 30 minutes by bus to Machu Picchu, or about 90 minutes of walking.
• Advantages: you don't have to wait in long lines to board the public bus and you don't lose time in the regulatory stops of this type of service.
• Disadvantages: the cab transfer could be a bit expensive compared to other means of transportation.

If the time of your itinerary is limited, but you do not want to miss the Inca city, then you should join one of the best tours from Cuzco to visit Machu Picchu. This is a fast train activity , which incorporates a driver to Ollantaytambo station (round trip) and a guide for two hours in the historic ruins.

Generally, the itinerary of this type of adventure begins with the pick up at the door of your hotel to Ollantaytambo. The private driver will drop you off at Ollantaytambo station so that you can board the fast train and embark on a route of approximately two hours to Aguas Calientes. This way, you will save approximately one hour of time compared to other trains.

When you get off the train at the Aguas Calientes station, you will have to board one of the buses bound for the ancient Sanctuary of Machu Picchu, on a route of approximately 30 minutes. Right at the door, you will connect with your guide, who will lead you through the citadel for two hours to discover its mysteries and enigmas.

You can continue exploring the temples, mountains and monuments on your own until the end of the afternoon. All this, according to the circuit selected with the entrance to Machu Picchu. Afterwards, you will take the bus again to Aguas Calientes and there board the fast train. Upon arrival in Ollantaytambo, the driver will be waiting for you.

Information of interest

• Price: the price of this tour starts at around 296€ per person.
• Travel time: from the hotel in the center of Cuzco to Ollantaytambo station is about 90 minutes, the fast train ride to Aguas Calientes is about 2 hours (a shorter time than other trains), and the bus transfer Aguas Calientes-Machu Picchu about 30 minutes.
• Advantages: this activity is a quick alternative to not leave Cuzco without knowing one of the wonders of the world.
• Disadvantages: you will only have the company of the guide for a couple of hours in the Inca city and the rest of the tour you will do on your own.

Among the options to get to Machu Picchu from Cuzco is the Belmond Hiram Bingham luxury train excursion. Not only will you enjoy exclusive transportation, entrance to the Inca city and a professional guide; you will also enjoy exquisite gastronomy in the two restaurant cars and some drinks in the bar car.

For this adventure, considered one of the best day trips from Cuzco, you will embark on a route of approximately 20 minutes by private car with driver to the Poroy station. There, you will board the luxurious train, whose interior evokes the classic style of the 1920s.

You will travel about three hours to Aguas Calientes. During this time, you will be able to eat, drink and enjoy a live traditional music show. You will also contemplate the natural surroundings from the observation platform. Upon arrival at the Aguas Calientes station, you will immediately board a bus reserved for you.

In less than 30 minutes you will be at the gate of Machu Picchu, where a private guide will be waiting for you to discover the streets of this ancient city, dotted with temples, cultivated terraces, staircases and other areas of interest. Before returning to Cuzco, you will have free time to explore and walk to the Belmond Sanctuary Lodge hotel for tea and a snack.

Information of interest

• Price: the value of this excursion starts at 1.004€ per person.
• Travel time: about 20 minutes from the hotel transfer to Poroy station, approximately 3 hours by train, and at least 30 minutes by private bus between Aguas Calientes-Machu Picchu Picchu.
• Advantages: you will not have to worry about breakfast or lunch, since on board the train you have a restaurant car and a bar car.

The journey between Cuzco and Machu Picchu is a long route, which will offer you amazing natural panoramas. Make the most of this experience and avoid inconveniences, taking into consideration some tips:

• Do not leave the purchase or reservation of tickets to the last minute. In Machu Picchu daily access is limited to a certain number of people, so you must purchase tickets in advance. The same applies to train tickets.
• Respect the schedules. You should arrive at the train station at least 30 minutes before departure time.
• Don't forget your identification documents. Whether you board the train, take a guided tour or decide to walk, you will need to present your passport, ID card, student card and even the entrance ticket for Machu Picchu.
• Always have cash with you, preferably in small denominations, as most stores in Aguas Calientes do not accept credit cards.