How to Get from Cusco to Machu Picchu

There are a few different ways to get from Cusco to Machu Picchu in Peru. Having planned our own trip to the mysterious mountain fortress, we know that sifting through all the information online and figuring out which option is best can be incredibly confusing. In this article, we’ll break down several different ways to get from Cusco to Machu Picchu, complete with all the prices and details you need to know before booking your trip.

How to get from Cusco to Machu Picchu

So you’re planning a trip to the iconic Machu Picchu, a magical fortress resting precariously among the clouds. But the first step is figuring out how to get from Cusco to Machu Picchu, and honestly, it’s a bit confusing!

There are several different ways to get from Cusco to Machu Picchu, each involving multiple modes of travel and stops along the way. Luckily, we’re here to make the route from Cusco to Machu Picchu less mysterious than the origins of Machu Picchu itself!

First thing first, it’s important to know that there are no public roads to Machu Picchu. The nearby town of Aguas Calientes provides the only access to Machu Picchu. Unless you’re taking a multi-day trek, you’ll first have to make your way to Aguas Calientes, before taking either a short bus ride or steep hike up to Machu Picchu. 

In addition, the only way to get to Aguas Calientes (again, besides trekking), is via train from the town of Ollantaytambo, which sits in the heart of the Sacred Valley between Cusco and Machu Picchu.

Cusco to Machu Picchu Independently

To get to Machu Picchu independently, you will first need to get to Aquas Calientes. In the sections below, we’ll break down your options for traveling independently from Cusco to Aguas Calientes and Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu.

• Step 1 | Cusco to Aguas Calientes
  • Option 1: Direct train from Cusco to Aguas Calientes
  • Option 2: Bimodal service
  • Option 3: Taxi to Ollantaytambo, train to Aguas Calientes
• Step 2 | Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu
  • Option 1: By bus
  • Option 2: By foot

Cusco to Machu Picchu Map

The map below displays each of the key locations involved in the journey from Cusco to Machu Picchu, as well as the different train stations and bus stops that we’ll mention throughout the article.

• To view more details about each location, click on the marker on the map.
• To save this map for future use, click the star next to the title. From your phone, open the Google Maps app and click the “saved” tab, followed by the “Maps” icon. From your Gmail account, navigate to Maps –> “Saved” –> “My Maps” –> “Maps” tab.
• To email this map to yourself, click the three dots in the upper right corner.

Step 1 | Cusco to Aquas Calientes

Option 1 | Direct train from Cusco to Aguas Calientes

• Ticket cost | $125 to $1,000 USD round trip per person
• Total time | about 4 hours
• Book your tickets | PeruRail or IncaRail

The easiest and most popular way to get from Cusco to Machu Picchu is by taking a train directly from Cusco to Aguas Calientes (which stops in Ollantaytambo along the way). This direct train route is offered by both PeruRail and IncaRail and takes about 4 hours one way. 

Both companies offer several different levels of service from basic economy to luxurious private cabins with meals and live music, meaning round-trip tickets can vary in price from about $125 USD per person to over $1,000 USD per person! 

Reserve your tickets | We’d highly recommend purchasing tickets online well in advance of your trip. The Inca Rail and Peru Rail websites can be confusing to navigate, so you may find it easier to book through 12go.

Option 2 | Bimodal service (private bus to Ollantaytambo and train to Aguas Calientes)

• Ticket cost | $110 to $350 round trip per person
• Total time | 6 – 8 hours (depends on the time between your bus arrival and train departure)
• Book your tickets | PeruRail or IncaRail

The next option to get to Machu Picchu from Cusco is the bimodal service, offered by both PeruRail and IncaRain. The bimodal service combines a private bus transfer from Cusco to Ollantaytambo with a train ticket from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes.

There are two main advantages of the bimodal service over the direct train route. First, it offers the chance to spend a couple hours exploring Ollantaytambo, depending on the length of your layover. And second, tickets are generally slightly cheaper.

However, most layovers don’t allow a ton of time, and buses can often be delayed. You’d be better off going with option 3 if you really want to explore Ollantaytambo.

Our take | In our experience, the direct train (option 1) tends to sell out first, so the bimodal service seems like a backup plan. We’d recommend trying to get the direct train or traveling to Ollantaytambo on your own (see option 3).

Option 3 | Taxi or public bus to Ollantaytambo, train to Aguas Calientes

• Ticket cost | $30 – $50 USD per taxi and $110 – $350 USD per train ticket
• Total time | 4 – 8 hours (depending on the length of stops)
• Book your tickets | PeruRail or IncaRail

The third option for getting from Cusco to Aquas Calientes is to find your own means of transportation via taxi or public bus from Cusco to Ollantaytambo, and then take the train from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes. 

There are two main advantages of this option. First, you can spend as much time as you want exploring Ollantaytambo, a cute town with a picturesque square and beautiful Incan ruins.

Second, if you take a private taxi from Cusco to Ollantaytambo, you can stop by the ancient ruins at Moray and the Incan salt mines at Maras along the way. This is what we did, and we’d highly recommend it! We paid 200 soles for the entire trip and had no trouble finding a taxi willing to take us.

Unfortunately, the train ticket from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes is not much less expensive than the direct ticket from Cusco to Aguas Calientes, so this option will likely end up costing a bit more.

Step 2 | Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu

Once you arrive in Aguas Calientes, your journey is not quite over! To get from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu, you can either take a bus or hike about 2 miles up to the mystery city in the clouds.

Option 1 | Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu by bus

• Ticket cost | $12 one way $24 round-trip
• Total time | 30 minutes

The most common way to get from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu is to take a short bus ride offered only by the bus company, Consettur.

Here are a few important things to know about the bus from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu:

• The first bus departs at 5:30am and buses leave every 5 to 10 minutes.
• The bus ride takes about 30 minutes one way.
• The bus departs from Avenida Hermanos Ayar across from the train station. You’ll see buses (and people) start to line up along the street well before 5:30 AM, so it’s hard to miss!
• There is no limit on bus tickets so you don’t have to worry about them selling out. 
• It’s possible to purchase tickets in person in Aguas Calientes (cash only), but we’d recommend purchasing online in advance.
• If you do purchase tickets online, make sure to print them out before you leave. The bus conductor will scan your ticket, and we had trouble with the tickets on our mobile phones not scanning correctly.

Reserve your tickets | You can purchase Aquas Calientes to Machu Picchu bus tickets online here. 

Option 2 | Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu by foot

• Ticket cost | free
• Total time | 2 hours (one way)

If you prefer not to take the bus, you can also hike to Machu Picchu from Aquas Calientes. However, it’s a very steep 2-mile hike (one-way) with about 1,700 feet of elevation gain!

Expect the hike to take about 2 hours. It’s possible to hike one way and take the bus either up or down.  

How to get tickets for Machu Picchu

• Cost | 152 soles (approximately $40 USD)
• Purchase tickets online here

With all the logistics to simply get to Machu Picchu, don’t forget that you also need to purchase tickets to enter Machu Picchu.

When purchasing tickets, you will need to select a “circuit” through Machu Picchu and whether you want to hike up Huayna Picchu, the tall mountain behind the ruins.

The upper circuit offers the classic view you envision when you think of Machu Picchu, while the lower circuit takes a more direct route to the Huayna Picchu trailhead. In addition to choosing a circuit, you’ll also need to select an entrance time.

Pro Tip | During the peak season, tickets for the best entrance times sell out. Make sure to book your tickets well in advance.

Can I visit Machu Picchu from Cusco in one day?

Technically, yes, but we would not recommend it.

To take a day trip to Machu Picchu would involve 8 hours of total travel time. Although exploring Machu Picchu itself only takes a few hours, the fastest possible transportation time from Cusco to Machu Picchu is about 4 hours by direct train (to Aguas Calientes).

As such, we’d recommend splitting the trip up over two days, staying one night in either Ollantaytambo or Aguas Calientes.

Other ways to get from Cusco to Machu Picchu

Besides navigating the logistics yourself, there are a few other ways to get from Cusco to Machu Picchu. You can visit as part of a guided day trip or you can embark on a multi-day guided trek through the mountainside to Machu Picchu.

1. Cusco to Machu Picchu with a guided tour

• Ticket cost | $310 per person
• Total time | full day
• Book your tickets here!

If reading about all the logistics needed to get from Cusco to Machu Picchu has you feeling overwhelmed, don’t fret! It’s also possible to book a tour that will pick you up from your hotel in Cusco and get you to Machu Picchu completely hassle-free.

In addition to the logistical ease and convenience that a tour group provides, the package also typically includes a guided tour of the Machu Picchu ruins, providing interesting context to the wonders you’ll see wandering through the lost city. 

However, the convenience will come at a higher cost, and squeezing the entire trip into one day may feel a bit rushed.

2. Multi-day trek to Machu Picchu

If you’re looking for the ultimate Machu Picchu experience, you can visit Machu Picchu via one of several multi-day treks through the stunning mountains around the Incan ruins. The famous Inca Trail is the most popular route and can only be trekked with a guide. 

There are several different multi-day treks that culminate at Machu Picchu, including:

• Inca Trail | The most popular route which departs from Ollantaytambo and traverses 38km to Machu Picchu, typically done over 4 or 5 days.
• Salkantay Trek | The most popular alternative to the Inca Trail, this route features stunning alpine scenery from alpine lakes like Laguna Humantay to snowy peaks, typically done over 5 days
• Choquequirao Trek | The longest and most challenging route to Machu Picchu, typically done over 7 to 9 days.
• Lares Trek | A less strenuous route that passes through several small villages and is typically completed in 3 days.

Other Peru resources

Looking for more to do while visiting Cusco? Check out the resources below for more inspiration!

Peru resources

• 10 Day Peru Itinerary

Cusco Resources

• 4 Day Cusco Itinerary
• Things to do in Cusco
• San Pedro Market Guide
• Things to do in San Blas

Hikes near Cusco

• Huayna Picchu Hike Guide
• Huchuy Qosqo Hike Guide
• Laguna Humantay Hike Guide

Cusco Day Trips

• Maras and Moray from Cusco
• Why you should visit Pisac
• Ollantaytambo Day Trip

Questions about how to get from Cusco to Machu Picchu? Drop us a comment below and we’ll do our best to help!

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