How to Get to Machu Picchu from Cusco

Among the best things to do in Cuzco is a trip 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 civilisation, the Inca.

To get to Machu Picchu you need to plan your route well, so joining a guided tour in which they organise transport 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 don't have to worry about organising the adventure (entrance fees, tickets, guide), just enjoying yourself.

• The experience starts with the pick up at the door of your hotel in Cuzco.
• From there, you will be transferred to the Ollantaytambo train station, a 90 minute drive.
• Once on the train you will be able to relax and, for about three hours, gaze out of the window at the panorama. You will be amazed by the view of the Peruvian Andes.
• Arriving at 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 sights discovered along the way: the Temple of the Sun, the Intihuatana stone, the Main Temple, among others. Afterwards, you will return to Cuzco.

Useful information

• Price: 286 ¤.
• Duration: 14 hours.
• Advantages: you won't have to worry about planning a route or making reservations to get entrance to the train and Machu Picchu.
• Disadvantages: Entrance to Machu Picchu 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 on the Inca Trail and let the adventure begin!

• A driver will pick you up from your accommodation in Cuzco.
• For 4 days you will walk the Andes accompanied by a professional guide.
• You will arrive at Inti Punku, known as the Gateway to 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 for the entire journey through Peru because if you do the Inca Trail they are available for rent.

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• 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 roads that can be used for this route. However, this is not an impediment for you to drive on your own on your adventure to get to know the lost city of the Incas.

• In the centre 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.
• On arrival, you'll see a family-run 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 your journey.
• You can walk up for 2.5 kilometres, or take a bus to the Inca town gate, 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 can stop whenever you want to explore the trail, have lunch or rest before climbing Machu Picchu.
• Disadvantages: Long journey with several transfers.

This is a safe and inexpensive means of transport that is easily accessible. However, you should be aware 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 179 kilometres 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:

• Hop on 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 kilometres (approximately two hours on foot).

When you get to 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 a wasted journey.

Useful information

• Price: about 50 € per person.
• Travel time: 7 hours one way.
• Advantages: Traveling by bus along the Central Hydroelectric Power Plant route is an economical and easily accessible option that will give you amazing panoramic views.
• Disadvantages: If you choose to walk from the Hydroelectric Power Station you will spend a little more time and, if you take the train, you will have to be careful with arrival times, as there are only two routes a day.

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 (about 13 minutes walk from the centre of Cuzco) or San Pedro Station (about 30 minutes walk from the centre of Cuzco). Once on board the train, you will just have to enjoy the scenic ride to Aguas Calientes.

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

Useful information

• Price: 150€ per person.
• Journey 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 buy them in advance.

You can take a taxi from Cuzco to the hydroelectric power station. It will take you about 5 hours and you will pay around 100€ to 150€. You will then walk on your own to Aguas Calientes, for about 2 hours 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 taxi from Cuzco to Ollantaytambo, a journey of about 90 minutes, paying a fare of between 30€ and 45€. Once at the station you'll board the train, which you'll need to buy a ticket for in advance. This will take you to Aguas Calientes in a maximum of four hours and then you can go up to Machu Picchu by bus or on foot.

Useful information

• Price: about 150€ for the taxi only.
• Journey time: approximately 5 hours by taxi from Cuzco to the hydroelectric power station. About 90 minutes by taxi from Cuzco to Ollantaytambo. About 2 hours 30 minutes on the hike 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 queue for the public bus and you don't waste time at the stops required for this type of service.
• Disadvantages: the taxi transfer could be a bit expensive compared to other means of transport.

If your itinerary time is limited, but you don't 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 at the historic ruins.

Generally, the itinerary for this type of adventure starts with a pick up at the door of your hotel in the direction of Ollantaytambo. Your private driver will drop you off at Ollantaytambo station and you will board the fast train for the approximately two-hour ride to Aguas Calientes. This will save you approximately one hour of time compared to other trains.

When you get off the train at Aguas Calientes station, you will board one of the buses bound for the ancient sanctuary of Machu Picchu, a route that takes 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 will be able to continue exploring the temples, mountains and monuments on your own until late afternoon. All this, according to the circuit selected with the entrance to Machu Picchu. Afterwards, you will take the bus back to Aguas Calientes to board the fast train. When you arrive in Ollantaytambo, the driver will be waiting for you.

Useful information

• Price: the price of this tour starts at around 296€ per person.
• Journey time: from the hotel in the centre of Cuzco to Ollantaytambo station is approximately 90 minutes, the fast train journey to Aguas Calientes takes about 2 hours (less time than other trains), and the bus transfer Aguas Calientes-Machu Picchu takes about 30 minutes.
• Advantages: this activity is a quick alternative to leave Cuzco without visiting 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 for getting to Machu Picchu from Cuzco is the Belmond Hiram Bingham luxury train tour. Not only will you enjoy exclusive transport, entrance to the Inca city and a professional guide, but 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'll board the luxurious train, whose interior evokes the classic style of the 1920s.

You'll travel about three hours to Aguas Calientes. During this time, you can eat, drink and enjoy a live traditional music show. You will also view the natural surroundings from the observation deck. Upon arrival at the Aguas Calientes station, you'll head immediately to a bus reserved for you.

In less than 30 minutes you'll 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 for tea and a snack.

Useful information

• Price: the price 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 don't have to worry about breakfast or lunch, as there is a restaurant car and a bar car on board the train.

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 by taking into consideration some tips:

• Do not leave the purchase or booking of tickets to the last minute. In Machu Picchu daily access is limited to a certain number of people, so you should buy your 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 shops in Aguas Calientes do not accept credit cards.