Trains, Buses and Tickets to Machu Picchu

We understand that visiting various informational websites can be very confusing, so here we present all the details you need to know for your trip to Machu Picchu.

TRAIN TO MACHU PICCHU

The two railway operators on the Cusco – Machu Picchu route are: PeruRail and Inca Rail. These operators offer services in different categories, from luxury trains to budget trains.

PeruRail offers the following services from the stations of Poroy, Ollantaytambo, and Urubamba:

• Expedition Train
• Vistadome Observatory Train
• Hiram Bingham Train 

IncaRail offers a similar range of services to its competitor:

• The Voyager
• The 360°
• The First Class
• The Private

Where to buy train tickets?

You can purchase train tickets on the website of each company:

• PERURAIL
• INCARAIL

You can also buy them in person at their offices located in Cusco:

• PERURAIL
  • Av. El Sol 409, Cusco 
  • Portal de Carnes 214, Plaza de Armas, Cusco
  • Plaza Regocijo 202, Plaza Regocijo, Cusco
• INCARAIL
  • Plaza de Armas, Portal de Panes 105, Cusco
  • Av. El Sol 843, Cusco

If you want to know more about trains, we recommend visiting: Trains to Machu Picchu, where you will find everything in more detail.

BUS TO MACHU PICCHU

You can also reach the lost city of the Incas by bus. The trip is on average 2 or 3 hours longer than the train journey, with the advantage that the cost is lower. However, you have to make several transfers in different vehicles.

The first part of this route involves taking a bus from Almudena in Cusco to the town of Santa Teresa. The journey takes approximately six hours and costs around S/ 50 (US$ 15).

In the second part, you need to take a shared taxi from the town of Santa Teresa to the so-called ‘Hydroelectric Plant,’ a trip that takes approximately 30 minutes by car. The cost for this journey is around S/ 10 (US$ 3). You can also opt to walk for about two to three hours to the mentioned plant at no cost.

The third and final part offers two alternatives:

• The first is to board the tourist class train to reach the town of Aguas Calientes after about 45 minutes.
• The second is to walk along the train tracks for about 3 hours at no cost to the town of Aguas Calientes.

BUS FROM AGUAS CALIENTES TO MACHU PICCHU

The concessionaire responsible for providing this service is CONSETTUR MACHUPICCHU S.A.C. The cost of bus tickets to Machu Picchu varies depending on nationality, age, and traveler's condition.

Where to buy bus tickets?

They can be purchased in two ways:

• The first is online through the CONSETTUR website, filling out a form with your personal information and then making the reservation payment with your credit or debit card.
• The second way is in person, presenting your national identity document (DNI) or your passport at the following locations:
  • Aguas Calientes: Av. Hermanos Ayar S/N, before the Ruinas Bridge.
    • Business hours: Monday to Sunday from 5:00 am to 9:00 pm
  • Cusco: Av. Infancia 370
    • Business hours: Monday to Friday from 8:00 am to 1:00 pm and from 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm.

These tickets do not need to be booked in advance and can be purchased on the same day you plan to visit the citadel.

If you want to know more about departure times, we recommend visiting: Buses to Machu Picchu, where you will find everything in more detail.

ENTRANCE TO MACHU PICCHU

The Inca citadel of Machu Picchu is located in the so-called “Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu,” and both the citadel and the Sanctuary are controlled and administered by the National Institute of Culture of Peru.

The cost of the ticket to enter Machu Picchu is around S/ 140 (US$ 45). The archaeological complex of Machu Picchu has 3 circuits divided into 10 types of entry tickets:

Circuit 1: Panoramic

• Route 1-A: Machu Picchu Mountain
• Route 1-B: Upper Terrace
• Route 1-C: Intipunku Gate
• Route 1-D: Inka Bridge

Circuit 2: Classic

• Route 2-A: Designed Classic
• Route 2-B: Lower Terrace

Circuit 3: Royalty

• Route 3-A: Wayna Picchu Mountain
• Route 3-B: Designed Royalty
• Route 3-C: Great Cavern
• Route 3-D: Huchuy Picchu

If you want to know more about entry tickets to Machu Picchu, we recommend visiting: Tourist Ticket to Machu Picchu, where you will find everything in more detail.