In this guide, you will find everything you need to know to travel to Machu Picchu in your company. How to get there, how to get tickets, types of tickets, where to sleep nearby, what to do, where to eat healthy, and much more.

Machu Picchu, Perú

Solo travel to Machu Picchu, Perú

To go to Machu Picchu from Cusco you can choose different options. The most touristy is the train.

You can buy your ticket at PeruRail or IncaRail, the two companies that offer the service.

If you travel during high season (June to August), it is recommended that you buy tickets online a month in advance. If you travel outside of those months, you can buy them a few days before without problems.

In that case, for example, you can take advantage of your stopover at the Lima airport to go to the PeruRail stand and buy your train ticket.

In the low season (January to April) a “bimodal service” is offered, that is, bus + train.

The bus leaves from the Wanchaq station (15 min walk from Plaza de Armas) and goes to Ollantaytambo. There you take the train to Aguas Calientes or Machu Picchu Pueblo. The first part of the journey is the same for everyone. The second varies depending on the type of car you choose.

The cheapest option is the “semi-panoramic” train and the most expensive is the “panoramic” train. But you can do a combination of both. That's what I did. The first one going and the second one coming back. In total, it cost me 160 USD (tourist price like everything in MaPi). If you do semi-panoramic X2 it costs 120 USD and panoramic X2 180 USD.

The train is the same, so the schedules do not vary. On the way there I left Cusco very early on the bus (it takes two hours to Ollantaytambo) and mid-morning on the train (around an hour and a half). Upon returning, the train left at 3 in the afternoon and I arrived in Cusco around 7 in the afternoon.

What is the main difference between both wagons? In my experience, it is not worth going on the panoramic one. The semi is quieter, although the seats are less comfortable. 

In the panoramic, they give you a box with snacks and a drink (I ordered a muña tea) included in the price, there is a typical dance show and the seats are very comfortable. The second is more picturesque, of course, but I don't know if it is justified to pay 40 or 60 USD more for the service.

If you travel in high season (May to December) you can choose the direct train options, that is, without a bus, which departs from the Poroy station, on the outskirts of Cusco.

Explore the enchanting journey to Machu Picchu by train, departing from Poroy and arriving in Aguas Calientes. Poroy is conveniently located just a short 30-minute bus or taxi ride away from the heart of Cusco.

The train departs from Poroy station in the early morning, with the first departure at 6:40 am. For those seeking an extraordinary experience, the luxurious Belmond Hiram Bingham train offers departures at 9 am, providing a leisurely three and a half-hour journey to Machu Picchu Pueblo.

The Hiram Bingham train stands as the epitome of exclusivity and opulence for visitors to the Wonder of the World and Peru's iconic landmark.

Each aspect of this train is meticulously designed to ensure the utmost enjoyment and comfort for its passengers, from its plush wooden and bronze seating to its exquisite amenities.

Step back in time to the 1920s as you board this train, complete with charming dining cars, a well-stocked bar, and an observatory offering breathtaking vistas. 

Immerse yourself in the journey while savoring a Peruvian cocktail and enjoying live music played on traditional instruments. This train ride promises to transform your dream into a captivating reality.

2.Transportation in Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu Pueblo)

Within Aguas Calientes there is no transportation, only the train and the bus that takes you to Machu Picchu that passes along Avenida Hermanos Mayar. It is a very small, pedestrian town. 

To go to “the wonder” there are private bus services that cost 12 USD one way and the same return. The ticket is purchased on Mayta Capac Street, two blocks away from which the buses leave.

The system is quite organized, they let you get on the corresponding bus according to the time of your entry to Machu Picchu. Since I had the entrance at 9, even though I arrived at the “terminal” at 8, they did not let me get on until the one that leaves at 8:30. 

There are many buses that leave at that time, no one is left without reaching the wonder. The journey is approximately 25 minutes.

To return, the bus departs from the same place and also drops you off at the same place. 

Train to Machu Picchu - Ollantaytambo - Cusco | Peru Rail | Deals | PeruRail

A Voyage to the Heart of the Inca Empire | Hiram Bingham | Belmond

In my case I walked down the mountain. It took me about an hour. The descent is not that complicated although it has many stairs. But you are surrounded by trees and nature!

Although many people choose to stay only one day in Machu Picchu, you can also stay in Aguas Calientes on the day of your arrival and the night after visiting the wonder.

There are various accommodation options: hostels, 1 to 5-star hotels, Bed & Breakfast, Airbnb apartments, boutique hotels, etc.

As for credit and debit cards, most establishments accept them. Be careful because in some cases they do not allow you to choose the currency and they charge you in soles (then it is converted into USD and if your account is in another currency, it goes to the corresponding one in your statement).

Put a handful of leaves in a cup with hot water and let it rest. It is taken slowly, without sweetening. The taste is not entirely pleasant, but the effect is quite immediate. You can drink up to two cups a day and the last one before 4 in the afternoon (because it is energizing and may keep you awake).

I recommend staying two nights in Aguas Calientes to enjoy this beautiful town.

Since Aguas Calientes is pedestrian, everything is very close to the train station and the bus stop to Machu Picchu.

Keep in mind that some areas of the town are uphill, such as Pachacutec Avenue (where most of the restaurants are), which may not be a good idea after spending all day in Machu Picchu.

Another street "to avoid" if you are a light sleeper is Imperio de los Incas, since the train passes there very early. But the accommodations on that avenue have excellent mountain views!

In Aguas Calientes there is a small market to get fruit, vegetables, water and basic products. You can buy water and bring it to Machu Picchu (in the wonder there's no market, just a small restaurant, I will talk more about it below).

Price of a 2-liter water bottle in the market: 3 soles and red apples: 6 soles per kilo. Keep in mind that 1 USD is almost 4 soles (year 2023).

On the way to Machu Picchu on the train I had breakfast at the Ollantaytambo station. The coffee with soy milk cost me 11 soles. Later on the train I bought a quinoa cereal bar for 10 soles.

Once in the town, my first lunch was at a restaurant called “The Tree House” (it is not an exchange or advertising), which I reached after climbing an endless staircase. I ate a vegetable sandwich with sparkling water and paid 30 soles.

In the evening, I ate some nachos with guacamole at a bar/restaurant on Avenida Pachacutec (where there is a restaurant next to the other, with fast food or menus). I also ordered a passion fruit pisco. I spent about 40 soles.

On the second night, I had dinner in a modest restaurant in front of Plaza Manco Capac. There I ordered a menu that included vegetable soup and sautéed rice with vegetables plus lemonade for 25 soles.

The last lunch was at a restaurant on Avenida Pachacutec called Fabrizzios (it is not an exchange or advertising) where I ate the most delicious menu of my entire stay in Cusco and its surroundings. First a quinoa soup with vegetables and then sautéed vegetables with French fries and rice, finger-licking good. It also included a lemonade (very good). All for 15 soles.

The day I went to Machu Picchu I had lunch at the base restaurant (not the best option but you can't bring food). The veggie sandwich had cheese so I asked them not to add it. Together with a small beer, it cost me 40 soles.

Solo travel to Machu Picchu, Perú

Buy to unlock full guide