Getting to Machu Picchu is a big puzzle, but hopefully, this blog will give you all the details you need to find the easiest way to get to this marvelous site.
Getting to Machu Picchu requires preparation. It was tough to find all of the info we needed in one place; therefore, we decided to share our experience. We hope that our recommendations can make your research a little easier.
Most people’s journey to Machu Picchu starts in Cusco, so this guide focuses on how to get there from Cusco. We will cover everything from buying your Machu Picchu entrance ticket to your train and bus tickets, so please keep reading.
“Most people’s journey to Machu Picchu starts in Cusco, so this guide focuses on how to get there from Cusco.”
Where to Buy Your Machu Picchu Entrance Ticket
We recommend getting your Machu Picchu entrance ticket as soon as you have a flight ticket to Peru as access can be limited, and you may not find the date and time you want.
We bought our ticket on https://www.boletomachupicchu.com/; the site shows how many tickets are available by date.
Also, please be sure to get the right ticket; if you buy a Machu Picchu ticket, it will not give you access to Huayna Picchu, the mountain behind the ruins, nor Machu Picchu mountain. If you plan to hike the mountains, you will need the combination tickets.
How to Get to Machu Picchu From Cusco
The first step to getting to Machu Picchu is getting to Cusco. Cusco’s altitude is over 3,3K meters or around 11K feet above sea level. We recommend taking it easy for a couple of days to acclimate to the altitude unless you’re coming from a higher altitude.
We took prescription altitude sickness medication, and it helped a lot. Although we still felt out of breath when we walked, we did not have headaches and nausea. The locals chew coca leaves, which you will find in every hotel, to lessen altitude sickness.
From Cusco, you will need to get to Machu Picchu Pueblo, also known as Aguas Calientes. The only ways to get there are by walking the Inca trail, which takes two to seven days, or by train, which takes about four hours.
Train to Machu Aguas Calientes
We took the train with Peru Rail. We recommend buying your train tickets in advance before you arrive there as the trains can fill up quickly in the high season.
Go to www.perurail.com, enter your destination, and choose the train for which you want to buy your ticket. A copy of your passport is needed to complete the purchase.
Two train stations go to Machu Picchu from Cusco: San Pedro, and Poroy. The closest one is San Pedro station or Estacion San Pedro, which is less than a ten-minute taxi ride from the center of Cusco.
Make sure you print all of your tickets, as they almost always ask for a printed copy in Peru.
If you are going during COVID, a face shield is required on top of your mask to board the trains; you can either buy it at the train station entrance from street vendors or find it in the everyday convenience or souvenir shops in Cusco.
Once you arrive at the station, you need to complete additional paperwork, so immediately go to the ticket counter for Machu Picchu.
Once you are checked in, you will wait in the waiting room to board. Boarding is easy, and there is plenty of room under your chair or in the baggage storage area to store your belongings. We left our big luggage with our hotel in Cusco, and only took carry-ons, which we recommend doing.
Most people wonder whether to get the Vistadome or the Expedition with Peru Rail. Honestly, the trains are pretty similar. Vistadome is a panoramic and immersive experience but a bit more expensive than the Expedition, which is equally scenic without the music and narration. You can either take the Vistadome on your way there and the Expedition on your way back as you will be tired, or just the Expedition both ways if you are budget-conscious.
The Train Experience
If you are going during COVID, you can’t eat or drink on the train, but the train will stop for about ten mins at the Ollantaytambo station, where you can quickly get some coffee and snacks.
The four-hour ride on the Vistadome is a pleasant experience. The ever-changing landscape, coupled with the music and narration, makes the journey very pleasant. The track follows the mighty Urubamba River to Machu Picchu Pueblo, and the whole experience with music and narration makes the trip seem shorter and more enjoyable.
Where to Get Your Bus Ticket in Aguas Calientes
We spent one night in Aguas Calientes, but many people go to Machu Picchu and go back to Cusco on the same day. Since we were there in December, which is the rainy season, we wanted to make sure that we had an extra day in case the weather was terrible.
Once in Aguas Calientes, you need to buy a bus ticket to Machu Picchu, the final leg of the trip.
The bus station is in the center of the town, right across from the bridge, on the opposite side of the shops. Once you cross the bridge, make a right on Av. Hermanos Ayar and a left on Calle Mayta Capac. Make sure you have your passport as you can’t buy a ticket without it. Most credit cards are accepted for payment.
How to Get to Machu Picchu
After you buy your ticket, you can line up at the bus station at least one hour before your entrance time on your Machu Picchu ticket.
It takes 30 mins to go up to the entrance, and once there, you will have to line up to check-in and use the only restrooms available there; make sure you have coins to use the toilets.
Having a guide is not mandatory to enter Machu Picchu, contrary to what you see and read online. We got an official English-speaking guide from the bus line, and it was worth it. He not only shared the history of the place, but also showed us the best ways to visit the site and where to take the best pictures.
The bus ride from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu is about 30 minutes. It’s a bit of an adventurous ride zigzagging on the mountain on barely paved roads. It can be scary at times as you go up in the clouds and see the steep drops, but the views are great, especially on a clear day.
General Tips
The bus will drop you at the entrance to check-in and use the only restrooms available in Machu Picchu.
Depending on the route you select, your visit can last from two to four hours, so we recommend using the restrooms before you get in. Make sure you have coins to access the bathrooms.
Remember that Machu Picchu is only one way. You can’t go back to see things you passed on your way, so make sure you take your time to take pictures and enjoy the view at every step.
Gimbals, drones, selfie sticks, and umbrellas are not allowed in Machu Picchu.
If you are sensitive to insects, we recommend wearing a repellant as you are technically in the jungle.
No food or drinks are allowed, so get a nice healthy meal before to have enough energy to hike and trek.
We hope this has been helpful to you. Let us know in the comments if you have any additional suggestions or questions.
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