Seeing the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu is a dream for adventure travelers worldwide. If you're wondering how to get to Machu Picchu in Peru, you're in the right place.
I've been fortunate enough to travel to Machu Picchu on three occasions: as a budget-conscious backpacker on the Salkantay trek, on an all-inclusive group tour, and booking everything independently. This article focuses on the last approach, the steps required to organize a trip to Machu Picchu independently.
Table of Contents
Planning Your Trip
Once you've decided to visit Machu Picchu in South America, you'll need to figure out what kind of experience you want and how much time and money you've got. Let's assume you're going on a one-week vacation, as I did on my most recent visit with Kel.
One-Week Itinerary
Here's a brief overview of the logistics involved:
- Book a round-trip flight from your home city to Lima, Peru.
- Make a hotel reservation for Lima.
- Book a round-trip flight from Lima to the city of Cusco.
- Arrange a private transfer from the Cusco airport to the Ollantaytambo train station.
- Buy train tickets to the town of Aguas Calientes and back to Cusco.
- Reserve a hotel for one night in Aguas Calientes.
- Purchase a timed-entry ticket for Machu Picchu. Choose your circuit wisely.
- Hire a tour guide, as it is required to enter Machu Picchu.
- You can buy a round-trip shuttle bus ticket from Aguas Calientes to the main entrance of Machu Picchu (or, as I did the first time, spend one hour hiking up the mountain for free).
- Arrange for a private transfer from the Cusco train station to your hotel.
- Fly from Cusco back to Lima.
- Depart Lima for home.
That's a lot to comprehend, and arranging it yourself is a time-intensive process. It wasn't until my third trip to Machu Picchu in Peru that I realized how complicated it is to get there.
Independent Trip vs. Group Tour
Tour operators ran my first two visits; one was a trek with a local agency, and the other was a G Adventures tour I won. As I began designing the third trip, my girlfriend saw the work involved. She said she would have booked a group tour had I not taken on the planning required.
I want that effort to be of service to you as well. But if you get to the end and realize you'd rather pay for a group tour to make life easier, I wouldn't blame you! There is no best way to see Machu Picchu. Do what is best for you and your travel companions.
My biggest takeaway from figuring out how to get to Machu Picchu in Peru was that the best strategy was to buy your entrance tickets first and build your trip around that day.
Machu Picchu Tickets
Due to Machu Picchu's popularity as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Peruvian government has implemented new rules to improve the site's sustainability. While these measures can present challenges when planning, they're intended to protect and preserve the archaeological site.
Since 2019, these regulations have included timed-entry tickets assigned to specific circuits (routes) through the Inca ruins. Travelers must adhere to the path specified on the ticket they purchase, and are not allowed to backtrack.
The tricky part is that not all routes offer the same views or features. Being forced to choose a circuit means missing out on some areas and vantage points at the ruins.
I suggest having a sense of the flights and trains you want to schedule, but not buying those tickets until you've finalized your entry to Machu Picchu.
Choosing a Circuit
Even for someone who has visited Machu Picchu in Peru before, it can be challenging to visualize and compare the different circuits.
The official government website, where tickets can be purchased online, is available in both English and Spanish. There, you can see maps of all five circuits through Machu Picchu.
The times indicated below are guidelines for the Machu Picchu site and do not account for the additional time required for side trips on Circuits 3, 4, and 5. You're given extra time if you choose those tickets.
- Circuit 1 - Machu Picchu only (2 hours)
- Circuit 2 - Machu Picchu only (3 hours)
- Circuit 3 - Machu Picchu and Machu Picchu Mountain (1.5 hours)
- Circuit 4 - Machu Picchu and Huayna Picchu (also spelled Waynapicchu) or Huchuy Picchu (2.5 hours)
- Circuit 5 - Machu Picchu and Inca Bridge (1.5 hours)
The 1.5- to 2-hour hike to Inti Punku, the Sun Gate, is currently not permitted. The only way to see Machu Picchu from the Sun Gate is if you do the Inca Trail trek, as that's where you'll enter the ruins.
Unless you've read about and studied the ruins in detail, it can be hard to know what you're missing out on when you choose one circuit over another.
Making Your Decision
The easiest way to narrow your choices is to decide if you want a circuit with a side trip, such as climbing the famous Huayna Picchu. If you want to climb Huayna Picchu, your decision is made, because it's only an option on Circuit 4.
When Kel told me she wanted a birdseye view of Machu Picchu, I assumed she meant the view from atop Huayna Picchu, which I'd first climbed in 2011. Therefore, I bought our entrance tickets for Circuit 4.
It wasn't until we arrived at the ruins that we realized she was referring to the classic postcard photo, taken at the guesthouse, which is only available on Circuits 1 and 2. She took the mix-up in stride and emerged with an unexpected benefit from the experience.
Buying Tickets Online
While you can buy tickets through the Peruvian government website, it's not the most user-friendly experience.
Alternatively, I recommend purchasing your tickets to the Machu Picchu citadel through a reputable tour booking site, such as GetYourGuide or Viator. They're better designed and easier to use.
I purchased our non-refundable Machu Picchu and Huayna Picchu Entrance Ticket (Circuit 4) on GetYourGuide. Both the entrance to Machu Picchu and Huayna Picchu have specific times.
We chose the 8 a.m. time slot to enter Machu Picchu. Later, I learned that this choice meant we could enter Machu Picchu as early as 7 a.m. to begin Circuit 4.
The 7 a.m. time was specified on our ticket. That's because it can take 40 minutes or more to reach Huayna Picchu, and our access was from 8 to 9 a.m. I know it may sound confusing.
And if you are late and miss entering Machu Picchu between 7:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m., you may be refused entry to the park.
In that event, you'd only be able to get in on the same day if you could obtain a new timed entry for later in the morning or afternoon. As you'll see, that can throw off the rest of your itinerary and travel plans.
Our Experience
I believe 8 a.m. (really 7 a.m.) is the best time for Circuit 4 because it offers a nice balance between sleep and having time in the park.
We still had an early morning:
- 5:30 a.m. breakfast at our hotel
- 6 a.m. briefing with our local guide
- 6:30 a.m. shuttle bus to Machu Picchu entrance
- 7 a.m. enter Machu Picchu
- 8:30 a.m. climb Huayna Picchu
The tickets were $88 per person, totaling $176 for two people. I also bought our round-trip shuttle bus tickets from Aguas Calientes to the Machu Picchu entrance for an additional $35 per person.
The same non-refundable 8 a.m. Machu Picchu and Huayna Picchu tickets are available on Viator for $84 per person, totaling $168 for two people.
Once you purchase the ticket, you will receive confirmation via email. Additionally, with GetYourGuide, you will receive a second email containing the actual entry ticket from a local tour operator.
Hiring a Machu Picchu Guide
We received emails for our Machu Picchu tickets from GetYourGuide and the local tour company, emphasizing that an official tour guide must be hired to enter Machu Picchu. It's a park regulation.
Being a budget-conscious traveler, I researched this online. I found that readers' comments on other blogs stated that a guide was not required or that people were not questioned upon entering Machu Picchu without a guide.
However, given our tight schedule and Kel's first trip to Machu Picchu, I didn't want to risk any last-minute problems. We hired a licensed, English-speaking private guide, Linder, for a two-hour tour at $78.
Getting a guide was easy through the tour operator that provided our Machu Picchu tickets. I could've also paid for the guide when I bought the entrance and bus tickets. A group tour through the same operator would've been $25 per person, or $50 total.
Shuttle Bus Tickets
In addition to your Machu Picchu ticket and guided tour, I recommend purchasing a round-trip shuttle bus ticket from Aguas Calientes to the entrance of Machu Picchu.
For foreign visitors, the round-trip cost is approximately $30 per person. Similar to the entry costs, it's significantly less for Peruvian nationals, students, and children.
This is a relatively inexpensive way to save yourself the time and energy of climbing up the mountain for an hour (while watching others in the buses whiz by). I speak from experience.
I was so excited on my first visit to Machu Picchu that I awoke around 5 a.m. and climbed up the mountain via the path that bisects the many switchbacks used by the buses.
If you're in good physical shape but are prone to motion sickness or want the added challenge, by all means, go for it! The views aren't great due to the foliage, and it will still be dark if you leave early in the morning.
Hotels in Aguas Calientes
Now, we're making some progress. While you can visit Machu Picchu in Peru as a day trip from Cusco, it would be a long and tiring day that I wouldn't recommend.
On all three trips, I have stayed in a hotel in Aguas Calientes the night before visiting Machu Picchu. It's a small town, easy to navigate on foot, and offers opportunities to support this remote community through activities such as dining at restaurants, hotel stays, and shopping.
Expect basic but comfortable accommodation; this isn't the place for luxury hotels. All the materials and resources in town must be brought in via the train tracks or on foot.
I booked one night at Tierra Viva Machu Picchu via Booking.com for $118. There are cheaper choices, but I liked that this one is adjacent to the river running through town.
Check all the hotel prices in Aguas Calientes. It only takes about ten minutes to walk from one side of town to the other, so location doesn't matter too much.
Pro Tip: Despite the town being named after hot springs, they're not much to look at, let alone get into. It's a bit of a walk to reach them, and I wasn't impressed.
Train Tickets to/from Aguas Calientes
Aside from trekking, the only way to reach Aguas Calientes, and therefore Machu Picchu, is by train. Two train companies are operating in Peru: Peru Rail and Inca Rail. Both offer a variety of service levels and departure times. The only luxury train is Peru Rail's Belmond Hiram Bingham.
The train schedules are available on each company's website. We used Peru Rail, and I bought the tickets through their website. The 1:27 p.m. Vistadome train with panoramic windows departing from Ollantaytambo for Aguas Calientes was $95 per person and took 90 minutes.
Cusco to Aguas Calientes
If you stay in Cusco for at least one night before going to Aguas Calientes, you can catch an early-morning train from the city's train station (about a 30-minute taxi ride from the historic center).
This isn't a bad idea, as Cusco's elevation is higher than that of Machu Picchu. The time spent acclimatizing can help you avoid altitude sickness if that's a concern.
Lima to Aguas Calientes
If you want to travel from Lima to Aguas Calientes in a single day, as we did, then you'll need a morning flight from Lima to Cusco and a private transfer from the Cusco airport to the Ollantaytambo train station.
Our Expedition train from Machu Picchu (Aguas Calientes) to Cusco departed at 3:20 p.m. The cost was $72 per person, and the duration was 4 hours and 25 minutes. I'm not sure whether it was the train or the tracks, but it was a bumpy ride.
Upon arrival at the Cusco train station in the evening, there were not many taxis available, but we still managed to get one. Reaching our hotel in the historic center near the Plaza de Armas took another 20 to 30 minutes.
Transfer from Cusco Airport to Ollantaytambo Train Station
If you need to travel from the Cusco airport to the Ollantaytambo train station, you can either arrive and negotiate with a taxi driver at the airport or book a transfer in advance.
I chose the latter and again used the company that had sent us our Machu Picchu tickets. The 2-hour private transfer was $25 per person.
It's a similar amount to what I found when researching the cost of a taxi ride upon arrival at Cusco airport. On GetYourGuide, a private transfer costs about $55 per person, so it pays to shop around.
Flying to/from Cusco
The Alejandro Velasco Astete International Airport is Cusco's main airport. There are direct flights from Lima to several destinations throughout the day, operated by various carriers.
SKY Airline is a low-cost carrier that provides daily flights between Lima and Cusco. The larger and pricier LATAM Airlines also covers this route. It's about an 80-minute flight, with a little more than one hour up in the air. We used SKY Airline for our round-trip flights between Lima and Cusco, and the experience was fine.
If I were to book Sky Airline flights a few months from the date I write this article, the base fare would be $14 each way, totaling $28. Expect to pay extra for seat selection and checked luggage.
Pro Tip: Prices can increase significantly during peak season (dry season) as demand surges. Your best option for a trip during the high season (think U.S. summers from June to August) is to book at least a month in advance to secure the times and days you prefer. The rainy season is in January, and it is best avoided.
Flying to/from Lima
And finally, we arrive at the flights to and from Lima, or wherever you decide to enter and exit Peru. I like to begin with Kayak or Skyscanner to get an overview of carriers and costs.
We ended up flying from Austin to Lima via Miami with American Airlines. I used 49,029 Chase travel points, valued at $735, to cover the cost of my round-trip flight. Check out my story on travel hacking to learn more about how you can earn free flights.
Conclusion
If you're still with me, I appreciate your time and hope this information helped answer any questions about how to get to Machu Picchu in Peru.
The more time you can spend on this trip, the more relaxed it will be. However, if time is short, I can now attest to doing it in seven days and six nights.
One last tip. There's much more to Peru than Machu Picchu. From the desert coastline, once home to ancient civilizations like Chan Chan, to the snow-capped mountains around Huaraz and the Amazon rainforest of Tambopata, Peru is incredible.
