Transportation to Machu Picchu

James Bustamante( Travel Writer )

James Bustamante is Native to New York but born to Peruvian parents. He has been traveling throughout Latin America since early 2003 and finally made his home in Peru. James has made his way by eating and traveling through almost every country in Central and South America.

www.journeymachupicchu.com

Last Updated on July 21, 2023 by James Bustamante

Transportation to Machu Picchu from the town of Aguas Calientes is usually a point of conversation with a few travelers. 

There are basically two very different ways to reach Machu Picchu in this particular situation. 

Ok, so you are in Aguas Calientes and want to get to Machu Picchu. What are your options?

Well, if you want to actually hike to Machu Picchu then you can begin your journey right in Aguas Calientes.

There is an option where we will let you hike all the way up the winding Aguas Calientes roads until you reach the entrance to the Inca citadel. 

Remember that neither option below applies to anyone taking the classic 4 day Inca trail to Machu Picchu.

The Inca Trail will have all travelers enter Machu Picchu on day four of the hike through Intipunku, otherwise known as the Sun-Gate into Machu Picchu.

Hike From Aguas Calientes

We would suggest this method to anyone that originally planned to take a multi-day trek to Machu Picchu (such as the classic Inca Trail or the Salkantay trek)  but was unable to book their hike on time.

If you are looking for a few hours of hiking then by all means take this beautiful path with one of our expert guides.

It is not permitted to take this hike on your own so make sure to let us know ahead of time so we can schedule a guide for you and your group.

This is not exactly “transportation to Machu Picchu” however it is one of the more challenging ways to get to the stone city.

Once you arrive you simply walk in through the main entrance and our guide will move on with the Machu Picchu tour. 

Travelers Tip: If you went ahead and organized the trip yourself, make sure you made the appropriate Machu Picchu reservations and picked up your permits at the ticket office in Aguas Calientes. If you booked this trip with us your permit will be provided by our staff.

The Upward Path to Machu Picchu

The road upward from Aguas Calientes is well set, so it’s not like you are going off marked paths.

This trek is undoubtedly a straight uphill hike that does pose a certain degree of difficulty.

The entire route can take upwards of 3 hours depending on how fast you or your group are walking.

The views are honestly spectacular, once you get high enough you can see the valley at the bottom while spotting  Machu Picchu as its stone construction peaks through the lush greenery.

The Inca city is still up top and quite far still so we’ll have some more trekking to do.

After a 3 hour excursion through the cloud forest, we reach this marvel of the Andes.  

The hike upwards and downwards is of course free as there is no ticket or permit requirement to actually hike it.

You will need a guide to do it though so in case you planned the trip on your own and want to do this hike, you’ll have to reserve a guide ahead of time.

If you booked the Machu Picchu travel package with us a guide will be scheduled for you.  

Travelers Tip: If you are taking this walk up to Machu Picchu from Aguas Calientes, make sure you bring bug spray and plenty of fluids along. Water is generally fine but we recommend something like Gatorade or Powerade during this 3-hour hike. We definitely do not recommend carbonated drinks at this moment.

The Bus to Machu Picchu

The more common route for transportation to Machu Picchu is of course the Consettur bus service.

The bus station is located in Aguas Calientes just on the edge of the road up to Machu Picchu.

We travel from the town of Aguas Calientes and drive across a winding, ascending path towards the city of Machu Picchu. 

The path has so many curves that there are Machu Picchu travelers that can get a bit sick from the bus ride, it doesn’t help that the path leads straight up and you go around in circles as you slowly ascend.

The ride takes about 20 minutes in total however, depending on the weather and road conditions it can take a bit longer at times.

If it’s been raining you’ll want the driver to take his/her time driving up the mountain.

After the ride has started and you look how high off the surrounding valley you actually are you will really want the driver to take his time.

Upon arrival, you’ll exit the bus and see the entrance gate to the Machu Picchu complex.  From here on you will commence your Machu Picchu guided tour of the city.

The bus ride both ways costs around 59-75 soles or $15-$20, if you want to take a ride upwards and hike downwards you can do that as well.  The price of course would behalf. 

Travelers Tip: If you plan on programming your own trip then please visit the Consettur website below to check on availability ahead of time. If you are booking your Machu Picchu visit through us then your bus ticket is already included. 

Consettur: https://comprar.consettur.com/

In Closing

Both methods of transportation to Machu Picchu have their benefits. The way you prefer to reach the Inca citadel is down to preference. As we mentioned during the opening of this article.

Most travelers that opt to take the hike from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu are usually people that wanted a multi-day hike starting in Cusco but were unable to secure permits. 

Most people will be more than happy by taking the bus service up to the citadel.

If you have any questions on Machu Picchu travel, multiday hikes to Machu Picchu, or fully customized Peru tour packages make sure to contact us today!

Frequently Asked Questions About Transportation to Machu Picchu