How to get from Cusco to Machu Picchu – Easiest, Cheapest (2025)
To get from Cusco to Machu Picchu, you will follow a multi-step journey that involves transportation by train and bus. Check out my Ultimate Travel Guide to Visiting Machu Picchu for more information on how to get tickets and what to expect. Read Essential Machu Picchu Travel Tips for a complete list of everything you need to know before visiting this iconic site.
To get to Machu Picchu, you will ultimately need to get to a town called Aguas Calientes. This town serves as the gateway to the iconic site. There are restaurants, shops, and other tourist services in this town.
Here are your options on how to get from Cusco to Machu Picchu:
Table of Contents
- Option 1: Direct
- Option 2: Less direct but cheaper
- Option 3: Trekking to Machu Picchu
- The Easiest way to get from Cusco to Machu Picchu
- The Cheapest way to get from Cusco to Machu Picchu
- Can I visit Machu Picchu from Cusco in one day?
Option 1: Direct
Take a train directly from Cusco to Aguas Calientes.
PeruRail has trains departing from Cusco (San Pedro Station, Wánchaq Station, Poroy Station) and arriving in Aguas Calientes, stopping in Ollantaytambo along the way. This journey takes about 4 hours each way.
However, the departure times are limited and it is much more expensive ($125+ per person). Due to this, it is recommended to catch the train in Ollantaytambo because it offers more departure times, train services, and lower prices.
Once you arrive in Aguas Calientes, you can take a bus to the entrance of Machu Picchu, or walk 1.5 hours up the steep switchbacks (step 3 below).
Option 2: Less direct but cheaper
Step 1. Cusco to Ollantaytambo
From Cusco, you’ll need to get to Ollantaytambo, a town in the Sacred Valley. This can be done by taxi, bus, train, or public transit called a colectivo. The journey takes about 2 hours.
When you book your train tickets, there is an option for bimodal service. This combines a private bus transfer from Cusco to Ollantaytambo with a train ticket from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes. This is offered by both PeruRail and IncaRail.
Alternatively, you can take a bus or private taxi from Cusco to Ollantaytambo, but both of these will be more expensive than a colectivo. A taxi will cost $30–$50 USD. To book a bus ticket, you can go to any of the tour agencies in Cusco.
I personally prefer taking the colectivo. These are 12-passenger vans that act as public transit. They are really cheap (a few dollars) and surprisingly simple. You will go to the “station” where the vans depart (ask your hotel or host where the colectivos depart from).
At the colectivo station, ask the drivers which van goes to the Sacred Valley/ Ollantaytambo and hop in. The journey takes about 2 hours, but you drive through the entire Sacred Valley, which is stunning. You might have to change vans in Urubamba, but just ask the driver which van to get in and that’s it. So simple.
Step 2. Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes
In Ollantaytambo, you’ll catch a train to Aguas Calientes, the town located at the base of Machu Picchu. This town is the gateway to Machu Picchu and is where you will get a hotel. There are restaurants, shops, and other tourist services.
Train services are operated by PeruRail and Inca Rail. The train journey offers scenic views of the Andes and takes approximately 1.5 to 2 hours.
Step 3. Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu
From Aguas Calientes, you have two options to reach the entrance of Machu Picchu. First, you can take a 30 minute bus ride for a whopping $24 round trip.
Alternatively, you can walk for free. You will be climbing up a switchback staircase, which is known as the Incan Stairs. These are the steps that the Incans built to reach Machu Picchu. It’s really cool to follow in the footsteps of thousands of people many centuries ago. The 2-mile journey ascends about 1,700 feet of elevation gain- a wonderful morning workout. The journey takes about 2 hours depending on your fitness level.
Option 3: Trekking to Machu Picchu
Rather than taking a bus or colectivo to Ollantaytambo and then a train to Aguas Calientes and then a bus to the entrance (sheesh, that’s a lot…), you can opt to trek through the Andes mountains to the iconic site. Check out my Ultimate Travel Guide to Visiting Machu Picchu for more information on trekking.
Most groups/ companies operate out of Cusco, and the guide arranges all transportation and tickets, making this a streamlined and easy way to get to Machu Picchu. I used the company Machu Picchu Reservations and was impressed with the guide, food, and accommodations. We left Cusco very early in the morning and they took us to the start of the hike. Everything was arranged for us, including entrance tickets, a guide (on the hike and at Machu Picchu), food, campsites, and all transportation (including return train tickets).
This was ideal for me because it provided both an authentic and iconic experience, and it also made the journey really simple. I didn’t have to book my entrance tickets to Machu Picchu or the return train tickets. I just paid $260 and showed up. This is about how much it would have costed to book everything on my own, but with the added stress of managing the logistics, and without the amazing experience of trekking through the stunningly gorgeous mountains.
The Easiest way to get from Cusco to Machu Picchu
The easiest way to get from Cusco to Machu Picchu is to book a tour and guide with an agency in Cusco. They will pick you up from your hotel and handle all the logistics involved in getting you to and from the historic site. Working within your budget, they will book your tickets and provide you with a seamless experience.
The Cheapest way to get from Cusco to Machu Picchu
The cheapest way to get from Cusco to Machu Picchu is to either do a trek (such as the Salktantay) or combine public transit (colectivo) with good ol’ fashioned walking.
You can technically hike the Salkantay trek independently without a guide, which will reduce your costs. However, if you choose to go with a guide and group, they will take care of the logistics, including your entrance ticket to Machu Picchu and return journey by train or bus. I realize going with a guide/company is not cheap ($250+ USD), but the train tickets and entrance tickets to Machu Picchu will cost about the same (or a little less) for a round trip.
Unfortunately, visiting Machu Picchu is tricky to do on a low budget because of the remote location and high demand for entrance tickets.
The cheapest option would be to take a colectivo from Cusco to Ollantaytambo, and then walk to the Hidroelectrica train station. There are some restaurants here, so you could stop for lunch. From there, keep walking along the train tracks to Aguas Calientes. This takes several hours- plan for a whole day.
Once you arrive in Aguas Calientes, you will spend the night. The next day, you will ascend up the 2,000+ Incan stairs on foot to the entrance of Machu Picchu. This journey up steep switchbacks takes about 2 hours depending on your fitness level.
Can I visit Machu Picchu from Cusco in one day?
No. The travel time is a minimum of 4 hours each way. Plus, exploring Machu Picchu itself takes a few hours. Entrance tickets to Machu Picchu designate a specific entrance time, and if you do not show up at that time, your ticket is considered forfeited.
Taking into account the train departure times, plus your entrance time, trying to make it to Machu Picchu from Cusco and back in one day is highly unlikely, and would be a very stressful experience.
Therefore, I’d recommend splitting the trip up over two days, staying the night before you visit Machu Picchu in Aguas Calientes. That way, you can wake up in the morning ready to visit the site.
Check out my video on YouTube of my experience doing the Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu!
