Machu Picchu, Peru’s most well-known attraction, draws travelers from all over the world. However, the journey to Machu Picchu can be a little challenging due to its unique location. So, we’ve included a guide here on how to get to Machu Picchu Peru.
How to travel to Machu Picchu Peru?
There are four ways to get to Machu Picchu Peru: train, bus, and hiking.
Option 1: Traveling from Cusco to Machu Picchu by train
Poroy Station in Cusco region lies about 18 kilometers from the city center. It is one of the stations from where you can catch a train to Machu Picchu Peru. You can take the train to Aguas Calientes. The trip takes about 3 hours and 50 minutes from Poroy Station to Aguas Calientes Station.
Most often though, trains depart from Ollantaytambo Train Station in the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Its is about two and a half hours drive from Cusco City.
Peru Rail and Inca Rail provide a variety of train alternatives, including premium cabins, economical cabins, and observation cabins with incredible views.
Choose between taking a bus or a hike from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu. It’s 9.5 kilometers long and will take about 2 hours and 50 minutes to hike. It will take the bus for around 25 to 30 minutes, and the ride is very absolutely gorgeous.
Option 2: Traveling from Cusco to Machu Picchu by bus
Traveling to Machu Picchu by Van is a popular option among budget travelers. Its much more cost effective than the former option of taking a train from Ollantaytambo or Poroy.
Machu Picchu by Van starts with a pickup from your hotel in Cusco and you will be driven for some four hours through high altitude roads to Hidro Electrica. You will be passing the famous Abra Malaga pass where the Inca Jungle Trek to Machu Picchu begins.
Once in Hidro Electrica, you will be hiking along the railway tracks for some three hours to reach Aguas Calientes, retracing the footsteps of Hiram Bingham III who rediscovered Machu Picchu. This is quite an experience on its own as the route offers incredible views of the tropical region.
Once in Aguas Calientes, you will be accommodated in a basic hotel room. On the second day, you will be hiking up the hill, early in the morning, for some two hours to reach the entrance of Machu Picchu citadel where you will be given a guided tour.
The experience culminates with a two hours hike back to Aguas Calientes town followed by a four hour drive back to Cusco city.
Option 3: Hiking to Machu Picchu
The Classic Inca Trail and the Lares Trek are two well-known trekking routes that will take you to Machu Picchu Peru. Each of the Inca trails offers stunning panoramic vistas and gets you through indigenous towns, and historical ruins as you pass on foot.
The Classic Inca Trail is by far the more well-known route to Machu Picchu, but it is also the busiest and more challenging of the two hikes, requiring three nights of camping.
Remember that your journey will start when the train stops at Kilometre 82, which is located between Ollantaytambo and Aguas Calientes if you’re hiking the Classic Inca Trail to Machu Picchu.
Compared to the Classic Inca Trail, the Lares Trek is a bit simpler and requires only two nights of camping. The remote town of Lares is the starting point of the Lares Trek, which ends in Ollantaytambo.
You will take a train from the trail’s end to Aguas Calientes, where you will spend the night. To get to Machu Picchu, take a bus from Aguas Calientes. Bus travel takes between 25 and 30 minutes from Aguas Calientes to the Machu Picchu ruins.
We hope you found our post on How to travel to Machu Picchu Peru? helpful.
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