If you’re visiting Peru chances are that you’re also planning to visit the ancient city of Machu Picchu, nothing but one of the new wonders of the world. At first, there might not seem to be many possibilities to get there but with a bit of digging, even those with on a backpacker budget can find their way. Here is the list of options we’ve put together on how to travel from Cusco to Machu Picchu.
THE FIRST HALF: CUSCO TO AGUAS CALIENTES
Currently, Machu Picchu cannot be directly accessed from Cusco but you first need to arrive to the small village of Aguas Calientes also known as Machu Picchu Pueblo. There are only two options to get to Aguas Calientes.
BY BUS + BY FOOT
Cost: 30-50 soles | Time: 9-14h
This is the longest option which involve taking a bus (or several) and then hiking until the village. The “official” hike to Aguas Calientes starts at the Hydroelectric Plant of Machu Picchu, which is pretty much as far as a four-wheeled vehicle can get you. To get there you have the option to get one of the many tourist vans (30 soles one way or 60 soles return) or alternatively do the journey with public transport by getting a public bus (or a faster but more expensive colectivo) to Santa Maria (20 soles), then a bus to Santa Teresa (6 soles) and at last a colectivo/taxi to Hydroelectrica (5 soles). Be aware that with the tourist vans the journey takes you 7h altogether but if you opt for public transport it can vary from 8.5h to 11.5h.
Once in “Hidroeléctrica”, the hike to Aguas Calientes is pretty easy. Just follow the train tracks (be careful about passing trains) on the flat path next to them for about 2hrs and you’ll be there in no time.
BY TRAIN
Cost: 145-1’150 soles | Time: 4h
Another most expensive way to get to Aguas Calientes is by train. Currently, the cheapest company to buy from is Peruvian Rail which offer one way tickets starting at 35$ up until a monstrous 350$. All trains leaving/arriving from Cusco make base at Poroy, a small modern train station which is supposed to be in Cusco but is instead in the small village of Poroy, a good 20min ride away (25-30 soles by taxi).
All trains make just one stop in Ollantaytambo and take 3.5h in total. Expect all trains to be brand new, comfy and offering various services such as on-board snacks, charging points and heating/AC depending on the season.
Be aware that if you decide to visit Machu Picchu in one day without overnighting in Aguas Calientes, taking the train is your only option.
THE SECOND HALF: AGUAS CALIENTES TO MACHU PICCHU
Once again, when in Aguas Calientes, you’ll only have two options to reach the Pueblo of Machu Picchu located just above the small village.
BY FOOT
The cheapest yet more challenging option is to hike up to Machu Picchu. The trail, located just after the Mariposario (butterfly house) can be easily found and its well marked all the way up. If you decide to walk up, the control booth which let you access the trail opens at 5am so before that you won’t be allowed to start the ascent. From Aguas Calientes is takes about 20-30min to get at the trailhead and 1-1.5h more to get to Machu Picchu entrance.
Control before trailhead
Going up the trail passes just next to the road used by the buses and intersect with it 5-6 times; sometimes in order to find the next part of the trail you’ll have to walk a bit on the road. From the bottom to the top, the path is pretty much just a long long stone stair, reminding a bit the Inca Trail.
On the way back it takes about 1h30min to get back to Aguas Calientes but its much much easier in terms of physical strain.
BY BUS
The most expensive way to get to Machu Picchu is by bus. Unfortunately, similarly to the train the bus system is a complete monopoly so there’s not really a cheap or expensive fare. Everybody who wants to take the bus has to pay the price of the ticket which is 12$ (40 soles) for one way and 24$ (80 soles) return. You cannot buy the bus ticket for a specific time slot so you’ll have to cue to get on the bus you prefer. Most of the people opt to get the bus up to the site and the walk back down.
The bus stop, which is a green gazebo with the name of the bus company Consettur on it, is about 50m after the restaurant called “Piedras Sagradas”.
IMPORTANT: The first bus going up to Machu Picchu is usually around 5.20am. If you want to be among the first ones enter in Machu Picchu (and it’s definitely worth) in high season (Jun-Sep) you have to start cueing at around 3-3.30am. I know it might seem ridiculous but similarly to when we went to the Taj Mahal, being in the first people to enter is an unmissable experience.
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