If you’re planning a trip to Peru, chances are you are going to want to visit this country’s most popular attraction – which means you might be wondering how to get to Machu Picchu! Cusco is the most popular city to begin this adventure from, and most Machu Picchu tour options can be booked once you arrive in Cusco (even if it’s last minute). Keep reading to find out the 6 different ways you can take to get to Machu Picchu and knock one of the 7 wonders of the world off your bucket list!
Before heading up to Machu Picchu, it is recommended to spend at least a few days in Cusco to adjust to the altitude.
How to Get to Machu Picchu: The Basics
To get to Machu Picchu, you are typically going to start in Cusco and you will choose a route that will take you to Aguas Calientes, which is the town at the base of the mountain that Machu Picchu is on. You will usually stay overnight in Aguas Calientes, and then head up to Macchu Picchu suuuuper early in the morning the following day.
To get up the mountain to Machu Picchu from Aguas Calientes, you can either take a bus (around $12) or hike the steps to the top. For either of these options, you need to start lining up at the bus pick-up or the gateway of the hike around 4:30 AM to have a chance to be near the front.
It is an early start to the day, but it is so worth it to watch the sunrise at the top!
The Six Ways to Get to Machu Picchu (from Cusco to Aguas Calientes)
1. The Classic Inca Trail
The most popular option is to hike the 4-day/3 night Inca Trail up to Machu Picchu. Because this hike is so iconic, you have to book your hike well in advance, because only a certain number of people are allowed on the Inca Trail at a time.
The popularity of the hike also makes this a more expensive option!
- With this option, your entrance ticket into Machu Picchu is typically included in the price of your tour.
- Price: From my research, the Inca Trail runs from $690 USD – $938 USD per person with a guide.
- The blog Along Dusty Roads has a great blog post about the Inca Trail Trek if you’re interested in learning more about this route!
2. Salkantay Trail
The Salkantay Trail (5 day/5 night hike) is the most popular hiking alternative to the Inca Trail because of the lower price tag (but is still pretty pricey with a guide) and you don’t need to book as far in advance. I did meet some travelers who hiked the Salkantay without a guide, but they did say it is a lot more stressful and difficult without one!
- Your entrance ticket into Machu Picchu is typically included in the price of your tour.
- Price: From my research, the Salkantay Trek runs between $460 USD – $650 USD with a guide.
- The blog Laid Back Trip has great information about the Salkantay Trek if you’re interested in learning more about this route.
3. Lares Trail
The Lares Trail is another popular alternative to the Inca Trail and is typically a 4-day/3 night trek. This is another option that doesn’t require you to book far in advance, most travelers that I met doing this hike booked once they arrived in Cusco, and left for the hike 2 days later!
- With this option, your entrance ticket into Machu Picchu is typically included in the price of your tour.
- Price: From my research, the Lares Trek runs between $600 USD – $798 USD.
- Read this post from the blog Life Over Stuff to learn about her experience and see great photos on the Lares Trail.
4. Inca Jungle Trek to Machu Picchu
The Jungle Trek is definitely the cheapest multi-day tour option (and the most fun option) of these 6 ways to get to Machu Picchu. This route includes hiking, biking, ziplining, and white water rafting, and is the option I chose! I had a lot of fun on this journey, and would definitely choose it again. The Inca Jungle Trail can be done on a 3-day tour (less hiking) or a 4-day tour.
- Price: We paid around $200 CAD for our trip through Peru Andean Hop when we arrived in Cusco.
- Your entrance ticket into Machu Picchu is typically included in the price of your tour.
5. Bus Tour
An option if you’re short on time or don’t want to do a multi-day hike, is the option of a 2-day bus adventure. The hostel I stayed at offered us this option, which is to book a bus from Cusco to the town of Hidroelectrica and walk to Aguas Calientes. The next day you would then go up to Machu Picchu (hike or by bus as mentioned above), walk back to Hidroelectrica, and then take the bus back to Cusco.
- With this option, you will still need to pay for your entrance ticket to Machu Picchu.
6. Take the Train
The last option, which is the fastest option but can also be pricey, is to take the train from Cusco to the town of Aguas Calientes, and from there you can take the shuttle bus up to Machu Picchu, or hike up to the top!
- You can book your train through PeruRail or Inca Rail.
- With this option, you will still need to pay for your entrance ticket to Machu Picchu.
Machu Picchu is a must see if you’re in Peru!
Hopefully, these 6 suggestions on how to get to Machu Picchu help you plan your trip! Let me know if you’ve tried any of these Machu Picchu tours in the comments or on Instagram!
More on Peru:
- Peru Bucket List: The TOP 15 Things to do in Peru
- Taking PeruHop Around Peru: My Review
- Peru Itinerary: 3 Weeks to Explore!
* This is not a sponsored post, all opinions are my own! *
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Hey! I’m Kat. Based in Alberta, Canada I love to travel to the Rockies and explore new places around the world. Follow along on my adventures and find inspiration and tips for your own travels.
