Ways To Get To Machu Picchu from Cusco

Quick answer: To get to Machu Picchu from Cusco on your own, you first need to reach Aguas Calientes, the closest town to the ruins, at least a day before your visit. You can get there cheaply by public transport or an agency minivan to Hidroelectrica followed by a walk or train, or more comfortably by train from Ollantaytambo or Cusco. From Aguas Calientes you take the bus or hike up to the site.

Machu Picchu, one of the seven wonders of the world, is known to some as The Lost City of the Incas, and it sits on almost every traveller’s bucket list. Although the icon of Incan civilisation can be visited on a guided tour, this is a complete guide to the ways to get to Machu Picchu from Cusco by yourself.

Ways to Get to Machu Picchu from Cusco at a Glance

Route	How	Approx. cost	Time
Cusco to Hidroelectrica	Public buses via Santa Maria and Santa Teresa	PEN 36	About 9 hours
Cusco to Hidroelectrica	Agency minivan	PEN 65–70	6–7 hours
Hidroelectrica to Aguas Calientes	Walk along the railway, or train	Free / USD 10	About 2 hours on foot
Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes	Train	USD 55–85 one way	Regular departures
Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu	Bus or hike	USD 10 one way / free	25 minutes by bus

Cusco to Hidroelectrica by Public Transport

Route: Cusco – Santa Maria – Santa Teresa – Hidroelectrica – Aguas Calientes – Machu Picchu.

This is the cheapest way to reach Machu Picchu from Cusco, but also the slowest. Total cost: 36 soles | Journey time: about 9 hours.

Cusco to Santa Maria

Buses to Quillabamba leave from Cusco’s Santiago bus depot, a small terminal mainly used by locals. A taxi from the centre should cost no more than PEN 5. The bus passes through Ollantaytambo, Urubamba and Santa Maria, takes 7 hours and costs PEN 20.

Alternatively, you can take a minibus that departs regularly from the stop next to the bus station. It takes 4 hours and costs PEN 30.

Santa Maria to Santa Teresa

Once in Santa Maria, take a bus to Santa Teresa. The ride takes 1.5 hours and costs PEN 6.

Santa Teresa to Hidroelectrica

From Santa Teresa you have two options to reach Hidroelectrica: take a bus for PEN 5 or walk for about 2 hours.

Cusco to Hidroelectrica by Private Vehicle

Route: Cusco – Hidroelectrica – Aguas Calientes – Machu Picchu.

The streets of Cusco are lined with travel agencies selling all kinds of Machu Picchu tours. You can walk into one of them and book transport straight to Hidroelectrica. Most agencies run a minivan on this route; it takes 6–7 hours and costs between PEN 65 and 70.

From Hidroelectrica to Aguas Calientes

From Hidroelectrica you can either walk to Aguas Calientes or take the train.

On Foot

The van terminates at the station next to the only restaurant in Hidroelectrica. From there, cross the bridge, turn left and continue until you see the railway track. Walk along the track for about 2 hours and you will arrive at Aguas Calientes train station.

By Train

Trains are operated by Peru Rail. If you haven’t booked a ticket in advance, you can buy one over the counter at Hidroelectrica station. It costs USD 10.

From Cusco to Aguas Calientes by Train

The most comfortable way to get to Machu Picchu from Cusco is by train. There are regular services from Ollantaytambo, a town known for its own Inca ruins, located about 1 hour 45 minutes’ drive from Cusco. Colectivos leave from Calle Pavitos in Cusco every 30 minutes. From Ollantaytambo station there are regular departures to Aguas Calientes, costing roughly USD 55–85 one way per person.

You can also take the train directly from Cusco. This option is more expensive, and the picturesque journey through the Sacred Valley also takes about an hour and 45 minutes.

It is best to buy tickets well in advance through Peru Rail’s website or from their office near Cusco’s main square, the Plaza de Armas.

Aguas Calientes: The Gateway to Machu Picchu

Aguas Calientes is a small town and the only access point to Machu Picchu. The town survives on tourism, so everything is expensive.

Where to Stay in Aguas Calientes

• Pirwa Machu Picchu Hostel offers shared dorms and private rooms. Prices normally include continental breakfast, Wi-Fi, hot water and luggage storage.
• Hostel Amaru has a café and bar, a billiard table and internet access downstairs. The staff are very friendly and helpful, it is great if you’re on a budget, and it is located just metres from the hot springs.
• Camping Municipal is ideal if you carry a tent. It is located next to the bridge on the road to Machu Picchu and costs PEN 15 per tent.

Where to Eat in Aguas Calientes

There are plenty of pizzerias in town. The menú del día (set lunch menu of the day) costs around PEN 10. For cheaper options, head to the town’s Central Market, a block from the main square, where lunch menus start from PEN 8 and there are plenty of juice stalls.

Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu

There are two ways to get from Aguas Calientes up to Machu Picchu.

By Bus

Buses leave from the bus station next to the main square every 10 minutes from 5:00 in the morning. It is better to buy your ticket over the counter in advance by presenting your passport and your Machu Picchu entrance ticket. The queue builds up early, but coffee and fast food stalls are open at that hour, so you can pick up snacks while you wait.

A one-way ticket costs USD 10, and the ride to the main entrance takes 25 minutes.

Hiking

You can also hike to Machu Picchu from Aguas Calientes. The gate to the bridge linking Aguas Calientes to the Machu Picchu trail opens at 5:00 AM, and the bridge is a 10–15 minute walk from the main square. The trail is steep, so carry enough water and a torch.

At Machu Picchu

Your Machu Picchu ticket lets you go in and out three times on the same day, as there are no toilets or restaurants inside the park. Food and drinks at the site are much more expensive than in Aguas Calientes.

At the entrance every visitor is searched and passports are checked against tickets. Food is prohibited inside the park, but you can carry some snacks and protein bars to keep you going while you explore this wonder of the world.

Getting Back to Cusco

If you plan to return to Cusco from Hidroelectrica by bus, be there before 2:30 PM, as buses leave by 3:00 PM.

Recommended Tour Companies

If you would rather not go it alone, these companies run Machu Picchu tours from Cusco:

1. Machu Picchu Tours
2. Encuentros Peru Adventure
3. Happy Gringo Tours
4. Machu Picchu Amazon Peru
5. Machu Picchu Peru Cusco
6. SAMEX Tours Peru

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the cheapest way to get to Machu Picchu from Cusco?

Public buses via Santa Maria and Santa Teresa to Hidroelectrica cost about 36 soles in total, followed by a 2-hour walk along the railway to Aguas Calientes.

How long does it take to get from Cusco to Aguas Calientes?

By public transport to Hidroelectrica it takes around 9 hours plus the walk; an agency minivan takes 6–7 hours. The train from Ollantaytambo or Cusco is the quickest and most comfortable option.

Can I walk from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu?

Yes. The bridge gate opens at 5:00 AM and the trail is steep, so bring water and a torch. Otherwise, buses run every 10 minutes from 5:00 AM.

Can I bring food into Machu Picchu?

Food is officially prohibited, but small snacks and protein bars are fine. Your ticket allows re-entry, as there are no toilets or restaurants inside.

Conclusion

Getting to Machu Picchu from Cusco independently is very doable: choose the budget Hidroelectrica route or the scenic train, spend a night in Aguas Calientes, and take the early bus or hike up to beat the crowds. Book train and entrance tickets ahead and you’ll have the Lost City of the Incas at your own pace.