How to get to Machu Picchu (All of the options!)

Last updated on December 12th, 2025

We’re sharing all of the options of how to get to Machu Picchu, including treks, tours, and going on your own!

Machu Picchu is a bucket list item for many visitors to Peru. But tucked into the jungle, with no roads to major towns, it is not the most straightforward pace to get to. Getting to Machu Picchu requires a journey that involves planes, trains, automobiles, and even your own leg power if you so choose.

But thankfully, as the most visited attraction in all of Peru, there is solid infrastructure to help you get there. And in this guide we’re sharing exactly how to get to Machu Picchu, plus some helpful tips to make the experience even more enjoyable.

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Where is Machu Picchu?

Machu Picchu is located in the Andes Mountains, about 4 hours from Cusco, right by the small town of Aguas Calientes. And what makes Aguas Calientes unique is that there are no roads to get there.

The closest road is about 9.6 km (6 miles) to the west, at Hidroeléctrica. From here, you can take the train into town or walk. This is typically how those hiking the Salkantay Trek arrive in Aguas Calientes.

But for the majority of visitors, the most common way to get to Aguas Calientes is by taking the train (and sometimes a bus) from Cusco or Ollantaytambo in the Sacred Valley.

And then once in Aguas Calientes, you still have to get to Machu Picchu itself, which also has multiple choices.

While this all may seem a bit complex and confusing, we’re here to help! For the rest of this guide we’re going to share the step by step process of how to get to Machu Picchu. Including all of the different options, like trekking, organized tours, or going on your own!

Looking for more information about visiting Machu Picchu? In this detailed guide we share everything to know, including how to buy tickets, what you can and cannot bring, and helpful tips!

Step 1: Arrive in Cusco

The first step to get to Machu Picchu is to get to Cusco, which you can do by bus or plane.

If coming from Lima or Arequipa, it’s a short 1-1.5 hour plane ride. Which is definitely the easiest and quickest way to get there. There are many options for flights, especially from Lima, and airfare within the country is affordable.

However, for those traveling on a tight budget, taking a bus is even cheaper. Although, what you will save in money you will lose in time. While the flights to Cusco are short, driving takes significantly longer, due to the windy and mountainous roads. From Lima, it’s a 20 hour ride, while from Arequipa it’s about 9 hours.

We personally would advise against taking a bus due to how long it takes, but if you opt to go for it anyways, Cruz del Sur is a good tourist bus option.

Once in Cusco, you will want to spend 2-3 days acclimatizing to the higher altitude. Cusco sits at 3,399 meters (11,152 feet) and while Machu Picchu is lower than this, at 2,430 meters (7,972 feet), if you plan to trek or do other day tours in the area, you will want to get used to this altitude to avoid altitude sickness. Thankfully there are tons of things to do in Cusco to keep you entertained!

Step 2: Cusco to Aguas Calientes

Once you arrive in Cusco, the next step is to get to Aguas Calientes. You can get here by train, trekking, or have a tour group coordinate the logistics for you. We’re breaking down all of the options below!

Option #1: Take the train

Since there are no roads to Aguas Calientes, the only way to arrive, unless you hike, is by train. There are two options: PeruRail and Inca Rail. Both trains offer multiple departures per day and a few different seating options for different budgets.

However, one very important thing to know about the train is that only PeruRail has a train that goes directly to and from Cusco. And there are only a couple departures that offer this direct service. All others (including all Inca Rail rides) are bimodal services, which means you will take a train for the bulk of the ride, but have to switch to a bus for a small portion close to Cusco. This bus is run by the train company, so it is very straightforward and safe.

During our visit to Machu Picchu, we trekked to Aguas Calientes (more on that in a second) and then took the train back. We went with PeruRail and took their Vistadome car, which has large windows both on the sides and ceiling, giving you amazing views along the way. On the way to Aguas Calientes, make sure to choose the left side of the train for the best views!

Option #2: Trek to Machu Picchu

The most epic way to get to Machu Picchu is to trek there! There are several trails to trek to get to Machu Picchu and the three most popular are the historic and famous Inca Trail, the popular Salkantay Trek, and the lesser known Lares Trek.

These treks all have different starting points, but if you go with a tour company, they will coordinate your transportation from Cusco to the start. They also have different ending points and only the Inca Trail actually ends IN Machu Picchu. The others will require taking a train or walking to Aguas Calientes and then the bus to Machu Picchu itself.

Here’s a rundown of each trek and what to expect!

Inca Trail

Distance: 42 km (26 miles)
Elevation Gain: 2,340 meters (9,317 feet)
Number of days: 4 days and 3 nights (there are shorter options too)
Guide required?: Yes! You are required to have a guide and there are limited spots everyday, so make sure to book in advance. This tour option with AB Expeditions is a great choice! We used AB Expeditions for multiple tours and loved them.

The Inca Trail is the most iconic and historic way to visit Machu Picchu. You will follow in the footsteps of the Inca as you traverse along a stone pathway through the Andes Mountains and past other interesting archeological sites along the way. And the trek concludes in the most magical way possible, with a walk through the Sun Gate into Machu Picchu.

Salkantay Trek

Distance: 69 km (43 miles)
Elevation Gain: 3,278 meters (10,755 feet)
Number of days: 5 days and 4 nights, including Machu Picchu. But it can be done in 4 days as well.
Guide required?: No. While most people go with a guided tour, it’s very easy to do it on your own. We share everything you need to know to hike the Salkantay Trek unguided in this guide! But if you do want to go with a guide, this 5 day tour with Salkantay Trekking would be our first choice, as the tour company is highly regarded and has the best lodging along the trek.

The Salkantay Trek is arguably the most breathtaking trek to Machu Picchu. Compared to the Inca Trail, the Salkantay Trek is longer, goes into higher altitude, and from what we hear, has a more diverse mix of scenery. Along the way you’ll hike past epic mountains with glaciers and a bright blue lake, down into a river valley, past coffee farms, and into the jungle. The views are very different every single day!

Trekking to Machu Picchu was on our bucket list for years and the Salkantay Trek is the route we decided to do. And we opted to do this trek without a guide, which not only saved us money, but also gave us the chance to hike at our own pace. It was an incredible experience (well, minus the infected bug bite Kathryn got)!

Lares Trek

Distance: 30 km (18.7 miles)
Elevation Gain: 1,704 meters (5,593 feet)
Number of days: 4 days and 3 nights, including Machu Picchu
Guide required?: Technically no. But we’d suggest one, as this route is the least popular and developed, so it may be tricky to go alone. Especially when communicating with locals, who speak only Quechua or Spanish. This tour with Alpaca Expeditions is a great option!

For those wanting more solitude and to take the trail less traveled, consider hiking the Lares Trek to Machu Picchu! While this is the shortest option, it’s loaded with breathtaking scenery. Along the way you’ll see mountains, lakes, waterfalls, a hot spring, and local villages, but without the crowds.

One thing that does make this hike different from the others is that you don’t technically hike to Machu Picchu (or Aguas Calientes like the Salkantay Trek). You instead end near Ollantaytambo and then take the train to Aguas Calientes.

We have a feeling this route will become extra popular in the next few years, so if you’re like us and love going more off the beaten path, we’d suggest doing it sooner rather than later.

Option #3: Book a tour

Another way to get to Machu Picchu is through a non-trekking tour. With these tours, your travel logistics, lodging, train and bus tickets, and some meals are taken care of. Plus, you’ll have a guide to give you all of the interesting facts about the area!

You can either do a one day tour, which is a great day trip from Cusco. But we would suggest doing a two day tour, which will include other sites in the Sacred Valley and feel less rushed.

Want to save some money on your Machu Picchu tour or multi-day trek? Book it on Tripadvisor and use our code APLUSK10 for 10% off!

Step 3: Getting from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu

Once in Aguas Calientes, you still have to get to Machu Picchu itself. Machu Picchu is located about 518 meters (1,700 feet) above Aguas Calientes. And the only two ways to get there is by bus or on foot.

Option #1: Bus from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu

Taking the bus is by far the most popular option to get to Machu Picchu from Aguas Calientes. The bus runs continuously from 5:30 AM to 3:30 PM and it takes about 30 minutes one way on a windy, steep road.

You can purchase your bus tickets in advance online or once arriving in Aguas Calientes. Both round trip ($24 USD) and one way tickets ($12 USD) are available.

The bus tickets are not for a specific time, but once arriving at the bus stop, you will line up under a sign that corresponds with your Machu Picchu entrance time. We recommend getting in line at least 30 minutes before your departure time, as the lines get long. It does move quickly though!

When you’re ready to leave Machu Picchu, you’ll get on the bus at the same area you got off, which is right in front of the entrance booths. However, the line can take a while. The first day we visited, the line was quick. But the second day, we waited in line for about an hour and there wasn’t much shade.

So if you’re taking the train back to Cusco right after visiting Machu Picchu, give yourself plenty of time to get back into town to not risk missing your train. Have extra time in Aguas Calientes? Check out the best things to do (and places to eat) in Aguas Calientes!

Option #2: Walk from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu

Another option to visit Machu Picchu is to walk from Aguas Calientes. You’ll start in town and walk along the dirt road to the beginning of the trail. Right at the river, you will come across a checkpoint where they will check your Machu Picchu entrance tickets and your passport.

The trail is 2.2 miles one way with over 1,700 feet of gain. It’s pretty steep, so you’ll be pretty sweaty and exhausted once you get up to Machu Picchu, but it is the cheapest option.

If you really want to walk and save some money, we’d recommend taking the bus up and walking down.

Step 4: How to return to Cusco

Regardless of how you go to Aguas Calientes and Machu Picchu, the only way to return to Cusco is by train.

You will catch the train at the Aguas Calientes train station, which services both Inca Rail and PeruRail. Just like we mentioned above, most trains to Cusco are a bimodal service, which means you will likely take a train most of the way and then a bus for the final stretch. So keep this in mind when booking your tickets!

Also, if you trekked to Machu Picchu and this is your first time taking the train, we suggest booking a mid-afternoon train ride back, so you can enjoy the views for most of the way. When we visited, it got dark around 6 PM, so we took a 3:20 PM train. The right side of the train is also the best side for scenery on the ride back!