How to Get to Machu Picchu from Cusco
Car, train and bus: the whole journey, in one day or two
There is no road from Cusco to Machu Picchu. The trip has three legs: about two hours by road to Ollantaytambo, around an hour and a half by train through the Urubamba canyon to Aguas Calientes, and half an hour by bus up the switchback road to the citadel. All of it has to line up with an entrance ticket that has a fixed date, a fixed time and a daily cap. This guide explains how each leg fits together, how a one-day trip differs from a two-day one, and what to know before you book.
Tours to Machu Picchu
Operated by MachuPicchuCusco · Certified guides · Small groups · Book with confidence.
The three legs of the trip
Cusco to Ollantaytambo (about 2 hours). You leave before dawn by car or van through the Sacred Valley; on our tours we pick you up at your hotel. Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes (1 h 30 to 1 h 45). This is the only train that reaches the foot of Machu Picchu, and the scenery shifts from Andean valley to cloud forest along the way. Aguas Calientes to the citadel (about 30 minutes). An official bus climbs the Hiram Bingham road to the gate. You can walk up the stairs instead, but it is over an hour of steep climbing and it is better to save your energy for the visit.
One day or two?
In one day you leave Cusco before sunrise, take the guided visit around midday and are back in your Cusco hotel that night. It is a long day of about 17 hours, but you do not have to change hotels. In two days you reach Aguas Calientes in the afternoon, sleep at the foot of the mountain and go up in one of the first time slots next morning, when there are fewer people and the light is softer. If your schedule allows it, the two-day trip is far more enjoyable.
When to go
May to September is the dry season: clearer skies and the most visitors, especially in July and August. November to March is wetter, above all in January and February, but the landscape is green and there are fewer people. April and October sit in between and offer a good balance. Machu Picchu is lower than Cusco and usually warm at midday, although mornings can start misty.
What to bring on the day
Your original passport (it is checked with the ticket), water, sunscreen, a cap, insect repellent for Aguas Calientes and a light jacket or poncho in case of rain. Wear shoes with good grip: there are many stone steps. There are no toilets or food stalls inside the site, so use the toilets before you go in. Large backpacks, tripods and drones are not allowed.
