So you’re in Peru. Now how do you actually get to Machu Picchu? This question was resounding in my head before my first Peru trip. I felt uncomfortable about all the logistics and planning that I would have to do, but ultimately everything went smoothly and easily! In this post I will tell you everything you need to know about getting to Machu Picchu that I learned traveling there twice.
Getting to Machu Picchu
The first thing you need to know about getting to Machu Picchu is that if you have arrived in Lima your first task is to get to Cusco. Once in Cusco you can arrange your trip to Machu Picchu. Read below to see your options to get to Cusco.
Getting to Cusco from Lima
Look at the map to the right to see the geography of Peru that we’re working with. Remember that between Lima and Cusco lies the Andes mountains which you must cross to arrive in Cusco and to Machu Picchu. For that reason there is not a direct terrestrial route from Lima directly to Cusco. You can either fly directly into cusco by plane or take a bus the scenic route South and then North back up to Cusco.
Taking a Tour Bus to Cusco
Please ignore the particular curvature of the bus lines. I drew them with a mouse.
You may opt to schedule a tour with Peru Hop or another similar company which would bring you to Cusco over the course of several days and making many interesting stops along the way.
During my second trip to Peru I went to Cusco with Peru Hop and it was absolutely fantastic although very different than usual because I took the trip very soon after the border opened in 2020. I highly recommend this company because of the care they treated us with although we encountered very odd emergencies along the way due to the country just opening up after the pandemic. The other benefit is that with a Peru Hop ticket you have the option to hop on and hop off at any of the stops along the way so that if you would like to stay longer in any particular location you have the freedom to do so. You can choose different options based on how much time you have but some of the stops included are:
- Paracas and Ballestas Island (a coastal town where you can see seals)
- Huacachina, a desert oasis where you can sandboard
- Nazca, where you can see the Nazca lines
- Arequipa and Colca Canyon
- Puno and Lake Titicaca
Traveling this way is that it gives your body time to adjust to the increasing elevation so that you don’t get altitude sickness.
Cost Estimates
You will have to check the website of the particular tour you are traveling with but this method will cost between $100 and $150 for transportation and the services of your guide. Food and lodging is not included, and neither are the optional extra tours like a trip to Colca Canyon, jaunt on a dune buggy in Huacachina or a ticket to Ballestas Island. There are different options on particular routes which make the tour longer or shorter depending on how much time you have.
Taking a Public Bus to Cusco
Okay, hear me out. It is possible to take public buses from Lima to Cusco but you have to know some things first. During my last trip to Peru I got my feet wet with riding public buses because Peru Hop didn’t yet have their official red buses back in business yet. This provided me a really good experience and I feel excited to share with you everything I learned!
- Overnight bus transportation is a common mode of transportation for locals going between cities.
- It is MUCH easier if you speak Spanish.
- You will have to be comfortable arranging transportation by taxi from bus stops to your lodgings
- There are tickets you can purchase from Lima directly to Cusco but I do not recommend this because it takes 24 hours of straight driving and they don’t let you off the bus for long. Trust me, I tried it!
- The restrooms on these buses are urine only so if this will be an issue, abort mission!
- Some companies are crap, but others provide a really nice experience.
- These buses usually have two levels and the bottom level is roomier, better and a little more expensive. The bottom level is always worth the extra cost which is not much extra.
- The seats recline almost 180 degrees and are pretty comfortable to sleep in overnight.
- Most buses do not provide food or meals and you will have to bring your own water and snacks. Sometimes vendors board the bus and you can buy things like cooked corn and cheese (choclo con queso) which is a common snack in Peru.
How to Find Your Bus
Most every city has a bus station that receives buses and has space for people waiting to board their bus. These bus stations are like terminals that act as a centralized location for many bus companies to operate together. You will find different counters there for different companies offering their routes and schedules. You can buy your ticket online directly from the company or purchase it at one of these counters.
Before boarding you need to go to the TAME booth and pay the 3-4 soles to have your ticket stamped.
Recommended Companies
This is a list of bus companies that I would recommend for tourists. There were other buses that I rode randomly because of necessity that just didn’t provide the same level of experience.
Be sure to check with the current Covid restrictions as these requirements change often in Peru. Bus companies usually have a pop-up with current information about this when you go to the website.
Flying to Cusco
The most straightforward way to get to Cusco is to take a flight from Lima to Cusco. The flight lasts around three hours and there are usually plenty of cross-country flights available for a reasonable price. For flights in Peru I have used Latam and had a good experience with them.
Note: I experienced issues when trying to purchase tickets in Peru through Latam as they only accept Peruvian credit cards online if you purchase while in Peru.
The benefit of traveling by plane is that you can see the beautiful Andes from the air as you cross the mountain range toward the south and also of course you arrive quickly. With that quick arrival leaves a little higher chance of altitude sickness so you will have to give yourself some time after arrival to rest, drink water and take it easy.
Getting From Cusco to Machu Picchu
To get to Machu Picchu Pueblo (also known as Aguascalientes) you have a few options, some more common or easier than others. Most people pass through Ollantaytambo and take the train there across the mountains to Machu Picchu Pueblo. I will talk about ways to arrive in Ollantaytambo first.
Getting to Ollantaytambo
The most common option is to travel to Ollantaytambo and take an easy train ride to Machu Picchu Pueblo. You have options as far as arriving to Ollantaytambo. An easy option is to take the train from San Pedro station in Cusco directly to Ollantaytambo. Last year when I was in Peru I chose this option coming back from Machu Picchu. The journey took about 2 hours.
Another option is to travel by Uber or Taxi to Pisac and tour the ruins at Pisac, tour the sites at Maras Salineras and Moray), arrive at Ollantaytambo to tour the ruins of Ollantaytambo before heading to Machu Picchu Pueblo. This option would have to be completed over the course of two days or so.
A third option is to book a tour from Cusco which might include transportation to Ollantaytambo. I chose this option last year when I was in Peru because it seemed the easiest option when traveling with kids.
Sacred Valley Tours
There are many tour companies that offer a tours of the Sacred Valley including these sites before a guided tour of Peru. The benefit of doing one of these tours is that it alleviates the stress of arranging transportation and arranging separate tours. I went with Rasgos Del Peru and had a good experience. Arranging tours is much less expensive if you arrange everything while in Peru rather than online in advance. There are many tour companies that advertise around the Plaza de Armas in Peru and you can check prices there. Most hotels and hostels also arrange tours for visitors.
Taking A Train to Machu Picchu Pueblo
Whether your journey on train begins in Cusco at San Pedro station (across from San Pedro Market) or in Ollantaytambo you will have to buy tickets on either Peru Rail or Inca Rail. Each company offers fares at different rates and offer different amenities. Each time I traveled by Peru Rail on their cheapest fare and everything was still fantastic. I recommend that you travel early in the day so that you can see the beautiful scenery and the change in fauna from Ollantaytambo to Machu Picchu Pueblo. My first trip I traveled at 7 PM (it gets dark in Peru around 6) and couldn’t see a thing.
Treks to Machu Picchu
There are a number of treks that you can take to get to Machu Picchu. I do not have personal experience traveling this way but I will include the information that I know and include links that you can follow to learn more.
Inca Trail
The most famous is the Inca Trail which takes around 4 days of trekking through the Andes mountains with a guide and staying in campsites along the way. If you would like to do the Inca Trail you must prepare far in advance and get a permit. I do not have personal experience with this as I have not hiked the Inca Trail. Please do your own research as far as the particulars of what to bring and how to get the permit.
Salkantay Trek
This Salkantay Trek is similar to the Inca Trail except that it goes along a different route and does not require a permit. Many people who were not able to hike the Inca Trail due to the permit issue are able to hike the Salkantay Trek.
I am including a link from a Peruvian tour guide about these two trails as I do not have personal experience with them.
Lares Trek
The Lares Trek is a lesser known method of reaching Machu Picchu, but from what I have read it is no less beautiful and enchanting than the Salkantay Trek or Inca Trail. You can click here to read more about it.
How to Get Into Machu Picchu
The last part of this that I would like to share is just a short explanation of how to get into Machu Picchu from Machu Picchu Pueblo. From Machu Picchu Pueblo you will have to travel up the mountain to get into the actual archaeological site. If you are traveling as part of a tour group or are planning to trek to Machu Picchu this will all be included in your trip. If you make it to Machu Picchu Pueblo on your own you will have to decide how to get up to the site. There are three aspects of this that you will need to know.
Getting Tickets to Machu Picchu
This is very straightforward but I wanted to include it under its own heading so that it would be easy to find. The official website of Machu Picchu can be found here. You can change the language of the site to make for easier navigation. Purchasing tickets online is the best method of obtaining tickets because you can select your time to enter.
If you are arriving last minute and cannot get tickets online (or they are marked as sold out on the site) you can visit the Centro Cultural building in Machu Picchu Pueblo. When you get your tickets at the physical office you will need to bring your passport and arrive early to make sure you can get a ticket. You will not be able to choose your own time for entry.
Taking the Bus Up to Machu Picchu
Many people take a bus up to Machu Picchu. The bus office can be found at Av. Hermanos Ayar. Many hotels and hostels have free maps of the area that will include this bus location. The price for tourists taking the bus is $24 and includes the ride up the mountain and the return (ida y vuelta). Make sure you bring your passport when purchasing tickets and when boarding the bus. You need to arrive early well before your time of entering Machu Picchu because the bus line is long.
The ride up to Machu Picchu takes around 15 minutes on bus.
Walking Up to Machu Picchu
Another way to get up to Machu Picchu is to walk up a steep staircase that begins in Machu Picchu Pueblo. This is another location that you can find on the local maps. Note that the staircase is very steep and will take around two hours to walk up completely.
