How to Get to Machu Picchu Travel Guide (Costs)

You’re planning your upcoming trip to Machu Picchu? Then you have come to the right place! Over the years I have visited Machu Picchu five times, getting there in different ways. In this blog post we’ll go over the whole process of getting to Machu Picchu with costs and links to help you book your trip with ease!

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Brief History

Machu Picchu is one of the new seven World Wonders of the World. It’s located near Cusco which was the capital of the Inca Empire. There are a few theories of what Machu Picchu was used for but it’s hard to know for sure.

We know it was a royal estate and had both an agricultural section and a residential one based on the ruins that are found there. The evidence suggests that this city was a religious and spiritual center used for ceremonies and rituals. 

Seeing as it was found intact and not destroyed or taken over by the Spaniards during their conquest, we know it had been abandoned prior to their arrival.

Although Machu Picchu was never fully lost as locals knew about its existence, Hiram Bingham showed the world about it with his extensive photos and writings in detail about the site.

Let’s go over how to get to Machu Picchu!

How to Get to Machu Picchu

First Step: Lima to Cusco

Once you land in Lima, you can either choose to stay in the city for a few days as there is lots to see and do or you can take a flight to Cusco. The flight takes about an hour, otherwise the bus takes just under 24 hours.

There are many bus companies you can take and costs can range from $25 to $65 depending on the bus company, service level, and how far in advance you book.

Airlines you can fly from Lima to Cusco are LATAM, JetSMART and Sky Airline. 

Flights are usually about $100 roundtrip but can vary based on high season.

Second Step: Cusco to Ollanytambo

Once you’re in Cusco you’ll notice the difference in altitude. The air is lighter in Cusco and you may have trouble breathing or adjusting. Not everyone is affected but some are more than others.

To prevent and alleviate symptoms of altitude sickness, I’d suggest buying medicine like ‘Sorojchi’. You used to be able to purchase this in Peru but it’s no longer available there so you’d have to buy it beforehand. There are other pills you can buy in Peru in case you don’t get a chance before your trip.

Once you are ready to start your journey to Machu Picchu, you’ll first need to get to Ollantaytambo as the next part of the journey.

It’s a two hour drive between the two cities. There are public bus options which are cheaper (~$8) but would take longer as you wait for connecting buses, about 3 to 4 buses depending on the route you plan to take. There are the Pisac and the Chinero routes.

A faster option would be a private transfer or taxi. The taxi would be about 90 soles or $25 USD. A private transfer can vary but this one is $50 for up to 3 people. You can pre book this and know what to expect as a taxi can try to charge tourists more.

Third Step: Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes

Once you arrive in Ollantaytambo, the next step is to get to Aguas Calientes which is at the base of Machu Picchu. The most common way to get there is via train. There is a road but from a different direction with signage and roads that are not in the greatest condition. 

The train companies you can take between the two cities are PeruRail and Inca Rail. The ride takes about an hour and a half and you pass through beautiful scenery right next to the river. 

On PeruRail you have different train options which include Expedition, Vistadome, Observatory, Hiram Bingham (Belmond train), and Andean Explorer (Belmond train).

Pricing for round trip tickets on PeruRail range from $115 to $1,140 which depends on the class you choose. The website mentions there is a 5% discount included for buying a round trip ticket. You can choose to pay your train ticket in installments.

The train options on Inca Rail include: The Voyager, The 360, and The First Class. 

Pricing for round trip tickets on Inca Rail range from $120 to $550 based on the train option you choose. The website mentions there is a 10% discount included when buying a round trip ticket.

Train ticket types do sell out, so once you know when you’ll be making your way to Aguas Calientes to visit Machu Picchu don’t wait to buy your ticket especially if you’re on a budget!

Fourth Step: Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu

You are ALMOST there, almost. The final step is to get from Aguas Calientes at the base of Machu Picchu up to the citadel. You have two options: hike about two hours up or take a 30 minute bus ride. 

If you choose to hike, ask for the walking path and don’t walk on the road where the buses go as there is no sidewalk and it is a bit dangerous. I have never walked up which is why I’m suggesting to ask around to get the right info to stay safe.

The bus up to Machu Picchu needs to be purchased beforehand. It costs $24 USD round trip for a tourist adult. When you purchase you will need to choose a time that you will take the bus. Although everyone has tickets the day of, there will still be long lines that are separated by ticket times. The earlier ticket time you get there, the less people there will be.

Getting to Machu Picchu

You have officially made it to Machu Picchu! It is a journey, but one that is completely worth it.

Tickets for Machu Picchu should be purchased in advance as buying in person can take a long time and is not guaranteed. 

There are multiple ticket tiers depending on what you want to visit:

• Circuit 1 – Panoramic (only views from afar, you don’t walk in the citadel)
• Circuit 2 – Classic (a panoramic view and walk in the citadel)
• Circuit 3 – Royalty (walk in the citadel)

I’d highly recommend doing Circuit 2 as you get the best of Machu Picchu.

There are 4 Circuit 1 options with 2 only being available during the high season. These options range from 152 soles ($43 USD) to 200 soles ($56 USD). 

Circuit 2 has 2 options to choose from with each being 152 soles ($43 USD) per ticket.

There are also 4 options for Circuit 3 with 2 options only available during the high season. The ticket prices range from 152 soles ($43 USD) to 200 soles ($56 USD). 

Budget vs Luxury Costs

Now that you know all the steps you’ll have to go through to make it to Machu Picchu, are you still up for the journey?

If you were to do this as budget friendly as possible it’ll cost about $224 USD for just the transportation costs from Lima and the Machu Picchu ticket. Although this number looks very affordable it does not include any hotels or food. It will also take multiple days to get there as the bus itself from Lima to Cusco takes around 24 hours.

A more realistic budget of what this will be for the majority of travelers will be around $450 USD not including accommodation or meals. This is a lot more realistic for what to expect for your Machu Picchu trip.

The luxury traveler will spend around $1,500 USD. This is taking into account either going for a business class roundtrip flight from Lima to Cusco and a higher end ticket for the train going to Aguas Calientes and back to Ollantaytambo. This could be even higher if passengers choose to stay at Hotel Tambo in Urubamba and/or the Belmond Sanctuary Lodge Hotel right outside the Machu Picchu Citadel.

The Hotel Tambo has a train station stop right on property making it very convenient to make your way over to Aguas Calientes.

If you’d rather stay closer to Machu Picchu instead in the Aguas Calientes town then you’ll be spending about $2,000/night alone at the Belmond Sanctuary Lodge Hotel as it is a 5 star hotel.

It all really comes down to your own personal budget as you can see this can be an affordable activity or a very expensive one.

Cusco Activities You Can’t Miss

If you’re making it all the way to Peru to visit Machu Picchu, it would be a shame to not explore Cusco beyond just visiting the citadel. As it was the capital of the Incan Empire there is lots to see and do that you shouldn’t miss.

• Cusco Half Day City Tour with Sacsayhuaman, Q’enqo and other sites
• Rainbow Mountain and Red Valley Guided Tour with Meals
• Sacred Valley Tour (Maras, Moray, Pisaq, Urubamba, and Ollantaytambo) with lunch
• 7 Lakes Ausangate Trek with Breakfast and Lunch
• Humantay Lake Day Trip with Breakfast and Lunch
• Peruvian Cooking Class, Cocktails, and Local Market Tour
• ATV tour to Rainbow Mountain and Red Valley with Food

Lima Activities You Can’t Miss

Lima is Peru’s capital and also an amazing culinary destination! Many people do tend to skip it as they feel there isn’t much to see or do, but there really is. Add a couple days to your itinerary so you can include some of these during your visit.

• City Walking Tour with Catacombs Ticket
• City Highlight Day Tour
• Bike Tour around Miraflores and Barranco
• Ultimate Peruvian Food Tour
• Huaca Pucllana Tour (Pre-Columbian History)
• Day Trip to Palomino Islands for Sea Lion Swim and Yacht Tour
• Ceviche, Causa, Pisco Sour Cooking Class
• Paracas and Huacachina Oasis Full Day Tour

I hope you have the best time in my parent’s home country and one of my personal favorites as I know it the best!

Related Posts

• Traditional Peruvian Food You Need to Try
• Off the Beaten Path Places in Peru
• 22 Things to do in Lima, Peru
• Lima Day Trips

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