Trekking to Machu Picchu

Classic Inca Trail

The most popular trek to Machu Picchu is the Classic Inca Trail, which is a 4D/3N hike from the Sacred Valley (Km 82) all the way to Inti Punku, the Sun Gate and sacred entrance to Machu Picchu. The trek follows original Inca trails that sojourn through incredible cloud forests and high alpine landscapes, and pass by a number of impressive Inca ruins.

Due to it’s popularity and archeological significance, the Inca Trail is highly regulated. Only Peruvian companies with specific trekking licenses can operate the trek and hiking permits are limited to 500 trekkers per day (300 of which are used by guides and porters). For this reason if you plan to trek to Machu Picchu via the Inca Trail you will need to book well in advance.

I recommend securing a trekking date at least 6 months before your departure from your home country, particularly if you plan to visit during the peak dry season of May-October.

To read about the Classic Inca Trail and it variants – the Short Inca Trail and Salkantay plus Inca Trail  – please check out our detailed route and itinerary guide here.

Alternative Treks to Machu Picchu

There are also a number of fantastic alternative treks to Machu Picchu, which are quieter than the Classic Inca Trail and do not require permits. Early booking is still recommended during the dry peak season (May-Oct).

For footloose backpackers it is possible to book an alternative trek to Machu Picchu from Cusco a few days in advance, but this may mean you need to take the long bus route back to Cusco after visiting Machu Picchu, as return train tickets may have sold out (more on this in the section Cusco-Santa Maria – Santa Teresa – Hidroelectrica below).

All the alternative treks end at Aguas Calientes, the town below Machu Picchu. Trekkers typically sleep the night in a hotel and rise early the next morning to catch a bus from Aguas Calientes up to Machu Picchu according the time of your MAchupicchu ticket and It is possible to hike up to Machu Picchu (be prepared for a 90 minute slog up 2,000 steps).

For detailed route and itinerary guides on the alternative treks to Machu Picchu I recommend you read my Machu Picchu Trails and Routes overview article here, or visit the individual trail guides: Salkantay Trek, Lares Trek, Choquequirao Trek, Vilcabamba Trek, Inca Jungle Trek and Huchuy Qosco Trek.

The table below might help you decide which trek is best for you.

Train to Machupicchu (Aguas calientes town)

There are two train companies that offer services to Machu Picchu – Peru Rail and Inca Rail. Below we have provided details on their various services. Key things to note:

  • Cusco Rail Station is in fact in Poroy, a nearby town. A taxi from the centre of  Cusco to Poroy takes about 20 minutes and costs a few dollars
  • It is important that you book your train tickets as early as possible (ideally book your train tickets before you book your flights) as securing a seat can be tricky. Do not arrive in Cusco with a plan to book your tickets there as you will most likely be very disappointed because in the peak season the train is really full!
  • Hotels, trekking companies and other third parties often block tickets in advance for their customers, and only need to confirm their bookings 11 days before departure, when they pay. Tickets that aren’t confirmed go back onto the market on a first come first serve basis
  • You need to make full payment and give your name and passport number to make a booking. Tickets are non-transferable and non-refundable, and you will need your passport to board the train (NB: you need your passport to enter Machu Picchu as well)
  • If tickets are sold out from Cusco you may still be able to get the train from Ollantaytambo Station in the Sacred Valley. It is easy to catch a taxi or minivan to Ollantaytambo from Cusco (or vice versa if your return train from Machu Picchu stops at Ollantaytambo). Taxis between Cusco-Ollantaytambo cost ~US$40 and take about 1.5 hours. Buses and minibuses are considerably cheaper but take a little longer it could be USD$5
  • Ollantaytambo is an interesting town with a number of Inca ruins situated nearby. I recommend spending a night here on your return or going to Machupicchu. If you want to get more Info Click here

Santa Maria – Santa Teresa – Hidroelectrica Station Route (Bus)

If you don’t manage to book a train ticket or if you are on a budget, don’t fret, you can still get to Machu Picchu using the Santa Maria – Santa Teresa – Hidroelectrica Station Route. This is a long and tiresome route, but is a lot cheaper and can be incorporated into a mini-expedition!

Santa Maria is a small town north of Machu Picchu that is connected to Cusco and Ollantaytambo by road (see trekking map below to get your bearings, Santa Maria is near Chaullay).

From Cusco the trip to Santa Maria takes 4 hours by minivan (US$10-US$15 pp) or 5 hours by bus (~$US5). From Santa Maria you can either trek to Santa Teresa, a 12km hike (6-7 hours hiking), or catch public transport, which takes about 1.5 hours.

Santa Maria and many areas around it, all the way north to Quillabamba, were severely impacted by landslides in 1998. This means that infrastructure in the area has been set back a lot.

Please Note: Landslides are an annual risk every year during the wet season (Nov-April), which can make this route inaccessible.

From Santa Teresa you can either continue by public transport to Hidroelectirca Station (~40minutes) or hike for 3 hours.

Hidroelectica Station is where the trains from Cusco / Ollantaytambo terminate. You can either catch a 45-minute train from Hidroelectrica to Aguas Calientes (~US$25) or trek a further 2.5 hours to the town.

I recommend overnighting in Aguas Calientes.

In short, if you leave Cusco at 07:00, you should arrive in Santa Maria by 11:00. Another private car to Hydroelectric will get you there by 14:00, and then you can trek the final route to arrive at Aguas Calientes by 17:00. A long day but one that will only set you back $US$30 one way.

Bus from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu

There are two ways to get to Machu Picchu from Aguas Calientes – either trek for 90 minutes up some steep steps or catch a bus. No prizes to guess which option most people choose.

Buses from Aguas Calientes run every 10-15 minutes from 05:30am, and during the peak trekking season queues can form as early as 05:00am and depending the time of your entrace ticket to Machupicchu. You catch the bus near Plazaa Principal in Aguas Calientes.

The bus trip takes 30 minutes up the switchback road ( Hiram Bingham Highway) to the official tourist entrance to Machu Picchu.

cerro-machu-picchu

Switchback road (Hiram Bingham highway) as seen from Huayna Picchu

A return ticket currently costs ~US$24 (~US$12 for a one way) and can be bought in Aguas Calientes or at Machu Picchu, if you just need a one way ticket back.

Queues of visitors returning from Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes start forming around lunchtime. Expect to queue for at least 45 minutes, so make sure you plan enough time to get back to Aguas Calientes for your train (45min queue + 30min bus ride)

machu-picchu-buses

Queues for buses at Machu Picchu start forming around lunchtime and waits can be as long as an hour on bad days

Tickets to Machu Picchu

Okay, so now that you know how to get to Machu Picchu, the final thing you need to prepare are your tickets to Machu Picchu.

You cannot arrive at Machu Picchu and expect to buy tickets at the entrance gate! You need to book your entrance tickets to Machu Picchu in advance.

You can book your Machu Picchu tickets through the government website – http://www.machupicchu.gob.pe/, or you can buy in cusco office (San juan de Dios street, near the main square of cusco)  or in aguas calientes town (main Plaza of the town)

Hotels, travel agents, hostels and other third parties also sell tickets but I recommend sticking to the first three official ticketing options.

Tickets cost ~US48 for entrance to Machu Picchu and are limited to 2,500 available tickets a day. Half price discounts are available to Peruvian nationals or students with a valid ISIC card. If you wish to climb Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain you will need to pay an additional ~US$15, and tickets are limited to 400 permits and two available climbing times (07:00 or 10:00). Find out more about these climbing options here.

Please note: you need to provide your passport number to secure an entrance ticket to Machu Picchu. Tickets are non-refundable and non-transferable.

You well need to have your passport on you to be granted entrance to the Citadel! DO NOT FORGET YOUR PASSPORT.

Tickets are only valid for one day, so if you would like to visit the ruins twice, you will need to purchase two tickets.

Along with your passport, please also remember to bring insect repellant, water, a rain jacket (you never know), and some spare soles (you have to pay to use the toilet).

You can book a guide outside the entrance gate or indeed in Aguas Calientes. I also recommend taking a guidebook. Proper information of what you are looking at will immeasurably heighten your experience.