Friday, April 19, 2024

How to get to Machu Picchu and book your tickets

Destination: South America, Peru, Machu Picchu

Season: May 2016

Theme: Backpacking | Culture | Hiking | Sceneries

To get to Machu Picchu, the easiest route is by train from either Cusco or Ollantaytambo to Machu Picchu town (Aguas Calientes). Than taking a 20 mint bus from Aguas Calientes town to the entrance of Machu Picchu site. There are different hike to Machu Picchu. Inca trail is the most famous one and you need to book it way in advance like months in advance. However you can do other hikes of Machu Picchu, which will take an alternative route to the traditional Inca route. For example you can do Machu Picchu Jungle Trek, which you can easily book from Cusco with short notice. The main different is that with the inca trail you will follow the traditional rote for pilgrimage to Machu Picchu used by the Inca (or Emperor) in the 15th century, and the other tours use different route.

Machu Picchu

Peru backpacking Itinerary
  • The Icon for the transfer method
  • The h for the number of hour of transportation time
  • am or pm is the time of departure from the city
  • The D for the number of days i spent in the city

Cusco
11am 1h→

Cusco
→

Ollantaytambo
4am 2h →

AguasCalientes
6am 1h →

Machu Picchu
5pm 1h →

AguasCalientes
7pm 2h →

Ollantaytambo
10am 1h →

Machu Picchu

My hotels

I only stayed at hostels

My tour agency

I booked my train tickets few weeks in advance online from Perurail
I booked my MP tickets few weeks in advance from machupicchu

You should

Book your tickets in advance



Booking.com

STEP BY STEP

Machu Picchu is a must do, and people normally use different route to get to Machu Picchu. Some travelers book 2 or 3 days hiking tour form cuscus or other surrounding area you can easily arrange for this from your hostel. However I took a taxi from Cusco to Ollantaytambo I spent the night in Ollantaytambo than I took the train at 5:00am from Ollantaytambo to Machu Picchu town(Aguas Calientes). Once arrive to Machu Picchu town(Aguas Calientes) I took a 20 minutes bus ride to the to the Machu Picchu entrance. I started by hiking to the top of Machu Picchu mountain which took about 5 hours, after that I want for a lunch break. Around 2:00 pm I started exploring the Machu Picchu city, then I left around 5:00pm back to the train station in Machu Picchu town(Aguas Calientes) to catch my train back to Ollantaytambo where I spent than night their.

Top things to do in Machu Picchu

  • Machu Picchu mountain
  • Huayna Picchu mountain
  • Machu Picchu city
  • Short walk in Aguas Calientes

Transport Machu Picchu town (Aguas Calientes) to Ollantaytambo

The main way to get in and out of Machu Picchu town(Aguas Calientes) is by train. The two company that provide this service is PeruRail and IncaRail. See my Machu Picchu blog for the full details

Transport Ollantaytambo to Cusco

You can easily book a taxi from Ollantaytambo to Cusco, the trip will take around two hours

Facts you need to know about Machu Picchu 

  • The main way to get to Machu Picchu town(Aguas Calientes) is by train. The two company that provide this service is PeruRail and IncaRail
  • The only way to book your Machu Picchu entrance ticket is through http://www.machupicchu.gob.pe/ or through arranged tour. Also their are three different types of tickets make sure you book the correct one.
  • Machu Picchu town(Aguas Calientes) is the town where the foams Machu Picchu is.
  • Once you get to Machu Picchu town(Aguas Calientes) you need to take a 20 minutes bus to the Machu Picchu site entireness. Some people walk to the top but it take about 2 hour. The queues for the bus is very long, It could take up to two hours. so be their the earliest you can.
  • Once you inside Machu Picchu site. You have Machu Picchu city itself to explore, and you can hike the mountain Machu Picchu mountain or Huayna Picchu. Also you can go the sun gate
  • It take about 5 hours to go up and down to Machu Picchu mountain depend on how fit you are.
  • It take about 3 hour to see Machu Picchu city

Tip for visiting Machu Picchu  

  • I pre booked my train tickets and Machu Picchu entrance ticket about 4 weeks in advance online.
  • Take water and snacks with you
  • Sleep well the night before

Useful links for your Machu Picchu trip  

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