How to Get to Machu Picchu
Are you looking for the best way to get to Machu Picchu?
Getting to Machu Picchu may seem difficult, but depending on your time and budget, there are a few ways to get there.
You can get to Machu Picchu by train, hiking, or bus.
Machu Picchu is located on a 2,430-meter mountain ridge, so you must first get to Cusco and head to Aguas Calientes (the town at the foot of Machu Picchu).
In this ultimate guide, you will find the different ways to get to Machu Picchu, such as the cheapest and quickest way to travel, journey times, transport costs, and alternative options.
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How to Get to Machu Picchu from Lima
Most travelers to Peru arrive at Jorge Chavez International Airport (airport code LIM), as you can get cheap flights to Lima.
Lima is the perfect place to start your Peru Itinerary.
There are many direct flights to Lima from Europe, Mexico, Colombia, Brazil, the United States, and other international countries with easy connections.
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Use Skyscanner to get cheap flights to Lima, Peru.
Getting to Machu Picchu from Lima is not as difficult as you think. If you want to get to Machu Picchu from Lima, you must first get to Cusco, the best base for getting there.
See also → What to Do in Lima
From Lima to Cusco
You can get from Lima to Cusco by car, bus or plane.
We don’t recommend renting a car in Peru to travel to Cusco due to the fast domestic flights and cheap public transport.
The roads are winding and narrow, the driving time is long, and parking space is limited in the towns, making it not worth traveling to Cusco by car.
But the main reason is that you can’t get to Machu Picchu by car as there are no roads! Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu Pueblo) can only be accessed by train or hiking.
Are you spending limited time in Peru but want to make the most of your visit? Book the best 6-day Peru Tour, including a visit to Machu Picchu.
Cusco by Bus
The cheapest way to get to Cusco is by bus! But the bus from Lima to Cusco takes at least 22-23 hours and may take longer, depending on traffic.
The bus tickets start from 190 Soles (50 USD) per person. Save money and buy your bus tickets in advance!
Good to know
Unfortunately, there are no trains from Lima to Cusco!
Read our → Ultimate Peru Itinerary
Cusco by Flight
Cusco has an International Airport, the Alejandro Velasco Astete International Airport (airport code CUZ).
The fastest and most comfortable way to reach Cusco is by plane.
Several airlines, such as LATAM, Viva Air, Sky Airline, and JetSmart, operate frequent and affordable flights between Lima and Cusco.
A one-way flight ticket costs around 50-85 USD per person. But in the high season, prices can be higher!
Cusco is just a 1.5-hour direct flight from Lima. Check Cusco flight ticket rates and availability HERE.
The Cusco Airport is about a 15-20 minute drive from the center, and taxi fare is 10-15 Soles (3-4 USD).
Keep reading → Best Places to Visit in Peru
From Arequipa to Cusco
Wondering how to get from Arequipa to Machu Picchu? Same as from Lima, you have to reach Cusco first.
Unfortunately, there are no direct buses, trains, or flight connections to Machu Picchu.
But there are flights from Arequipa, Alfredo Rodriguez Ballon International Airport (airport code AQP) to Cusco Airport.
Cusco is just a 1-hour flight from Arequipa.
A one-way flight ticket costs around 40-55 USD per person. But in the high season, prices can be higher!
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The best way to get around Peru is to take the Peru Hop (hop-on, hop-off bus system) or the Cruz del Sur company (public buses).
From Arequipa, we took an overnight bus to Cusco. The journey takes 10-11 hours, depending on traffic.
Bus tickets between Arequipa and Cusco start from 20 USD, and we recommend buy your tickets online.
Good to know
Arequipa is the perfect place to get used to the altitude of 2,335 meters before heading to Cusco and Rainbow Mountain.
Recommended post → Things to Do in Arequipa
How to Get to Machu Picchu from Cusco
Cusco is the gateway to the Lost City of the Incas, from where you can get to Aguas Calientes by bus, train, or hiking.
Cusco is the nearest city and the closest airport to Machu Picchu.
It is good to know that you cannot travel directly from Cusco to Machu Picchu.
The quickest and most comfortable way is to take the train to Aguas Calientes and then the bus to the Inca Ruins.
Many travel agencies in Cusco offer one-day tours to Machu Picchu. Therefore if you can only make a day trip, the train is the only option that makes it possible.
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Are you looking for an easier way to visit Machu Picchu? For the perfect experience, book the best of Cusco in 3 days or choose an epic 4-day tour.
If you want to make the most of your trip to Peru, we recommend spending one night in Aguas Calientes. Then visit the Inca Ruins at sunrise and enjoy one of the most magical experiences of your life in Peru.
Recommended post → Cusco Itinerary for 5 Days
Machu Picchu by Train
Are you looking for how to get to Machu Picchu without hiking?
The easiest and fastest way to reach Machu Picchu is by train. However, the train doesn’t take you there directly.
Trains run to the Aguas Calientes, also known as Machu Picchu town. From there, you will have to walk or take a bus to the entrance.
Make the most of your visit and book a day trip from Cusco to Machu Picchu via Viator. This tour is one of the most reviewed, so you will not be disappointed.
PeruRail and Inca Rail are the two companies that operate train services between Cusco and Inca Ruins.
The most popular train types are Vistadome (PeruRail) or The 360° (Inca Rail) with panoramic windows.
If you are looking for a unique experience, we recommend the luxury trains of Belmond Hiram Bingham. But the Belmond Hiram Bingham luxury trains cost around 560 USD per person per way.
Keep reading → How to Visit Machu Picchu
From Cusco, trains depart directly to Machu Picchu from San Pedro and Poroy stations.
Alternatively, if you run out of train tickets from Cusco, buy a ticket from Ollantaytambo, located in the Sacred Valley of the Incas.
When we were in Peru, the tickets were sold out from San Pedro station, so we went from Poroy station to Aguas Calientes.
From the Cusco city center to Poroy station takes 30-60 minutes, depending on traffic, so allow plenty of time to get there!
The highlight of our Peru trip was the picturesque train ride from Cusco to Aguas Calientes.
Important note
Buy your ticket to Machu Picchu at least 1 month in advance and bring your passport when you visit!
How Much Does a Train Ticket to Machu Picchu Cost?
Train tickets to Machu Picchu start from around 50-60 USD one way per person.
As train tickets can be more expensive in high season and may sell out quickly, buy them in advance!
Get Machu Picchu Train Tickets HERE.
The train journey time is between 1.5-4 hours, depending on whether you depart from Ollantaytambo or Cusco.
We recommend you take the PeruRail Vistadome train from Cusco to Machu Picchu. After that, save money and travel back to Cusco on the PeruRail Expedition.
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Be sure to choose a train that takes you directly to Aguas Calientes, as some trains are bimodal, which is a combined bus and train service.
Inca Trail to Machu Picchu
The Inca Trail is one of the most famous treks in the world, passing through beautiful archaeological sites and Inca Ruins to the Sun Gate in Machu Picchu.
As this is one of the most popular and expensive ways to reach Machu Picchu, it should be booked at least 6 months in advance.
The Inca Trail cannot be done alone! You must have a permit, so book your tour with an official tour agency or online.
Did you know that only 500 hikers are allowed per day?
The Classic Inca Trail is difficult, 42 km long, and is therefore only recommended for those who are in good physical condition and have acclimatized in Cusco beforehand.
The Classic Inca Trail 4 days 3 nights treks cost from 500 USD to 1000 USD per person.
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Before you start planning your Cusco Itinerary, it is good to know that the Inca Trail is closed every February!
Salkantay Trek
One of the most frequently asked questions is Salkantay Trek or Inca Trail? Save money and choose the second most popular trek in Peru, the Salkantay Trek, instead of the famous Inca Trail.
The Salkantay Trek 5 days and 4 nights tours range from around 250 USD to 600 USD per person.
Salkantay Trek is difficult, but the views along the mountains and Humantay Lake are worth it.
You should book at least 1 month in advance. For the best experience, book a 4-day Salkantay trek with a Sky Camp stay.
Good to know
There are some alternative hiking trails like the Inca Jungle Trail and Lares Trek to Machu Picchu.
See also → Guide to Palccoyo Rainbow Mountain
Getting to Machu Picchu by bus
The cheapest way to get to Machu Picchu is by bus, but we don’t recommend this option as it takes a long time to reach Aguas Calientes.
However, if you want to visit the famous Inca Ruins this way, follow the route below.
Take a Collectivo (minibus) or taxi from Cusco to the Hidroelectrica station on the way to the town of Santa Teresa.
A one-way bus ticket starts at around 60 Soles (16,5 USD) per person.
The journey takes approximately 7-8 hours, and this is the last town accessible by road before Machu Picchu.
After that, you have to walk along the railway tracks for about 3-4 hours until you reach Aguas Calientes, which is not very safe.
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You can book bus tickets in Cusco or buy them through the RedBus website.
Alternatively, book a minivan from Cusco (any hotel) to Hidroelectrica train station. The journey takes just 5.5 hours and costs 20 USD per person.
How to Get to Machu Picchu from Aguas Calientes
There are no cars or taxis in Aguas Calientes. Therefore, there are only two ways to get from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu, by bus or hiking.
The easiest and quickest way to get from Aguas Calientes to the Inca Citadel is by bus. The bus fare is a bit overpriced but worth it if you don’t want to walk.
You can save money by walking to the Inca Ruins instead of taking the bus. But the walk is not easy as there is a steep hill and lots of stairs leading up.
The hike from Aguas Calientes takes about 1.5-2 hours, so we don’t recommend this option.
Machu Picchu Bus
Buses run regularly between Aguas Calientes and Machu Picchu, with the first bus departing at 5:30 AM.
The buses depart every 10 minutes or as soon as they fill up!
The journey takes approximately 30-35 minutes.
Buses run uphill between 5:30 AM and 3:30 PM and downhill between 6:30 AM and 6:00 PM.
How Much is the Machu Picchu Bus Ticket?
A bus ticket costs 12 USD for one-way and 24 USD for return.
For children, a one-way ticket costs 7 USD and 12 USD round trip.
Where Can I Buy Bus Tickets?
You can buy bus tickets at ticket offices in Aguas Calientes and Cusco or online.
The bus ticket is valid for any bus on the date of purchase.
You can pay by credit card, local money (Soles), or USD.
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Don’t forget to take your passport with you!
Where to Stay in Machu Picchu
Machu Picchu Pueblo, also known as Aguas Calientes, is the closest town to the Inca Citadel.
Best hotels in Aguas Calientes
- Luxury: Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel
- Mid-Range: Hatun Inti Boutique
- Budget: Supertramp Hostel Machupicchu
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If you are only planning a day trip to the Inca Ruins, you should choose accommodation in Ollantaytambo or Cusco.
More Travel Guides about Peru
- 9 Best Things to Do in Lima, Peru
- The Ultimate Peru Itinerary for 10 Days
- How to Visit Huacachina Desert Oasis, Peru
- 10 Best Things to Do in Arequipa, Peru
- The Ultimate Guide to Palccoyo Rainbow Mountain
- 7 Best Things to Do in Sacred Valley, Peru
- The Ultimate Cusco Itinerary for 5 Days
- How to Visit Machu Picchu
We hope our post on getting to Machu Picchu will help you plan your visit to Peru. If you have any questions or thoughts, let us know in the comments below.
Travel Resources
Hotels – Booking.com
Car Rentals – Discover Cars
Flights – Skyscanner
Travel Insurance – SafetyWing
Tours & Attractions – GetYourGuide
Bus/Transfer – Bookaway
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