Ways to Get to Machu Picchu
There are a couple of main ways to travel from Cusco (around 11,152 ft / 3,399 m) to the famous ancient city.
1. Taking the Train
This is the simplest way and what most tourists do. Most trains leave from a town called Ollantaytambo (around 9,160 ft / 2,792 m). Getting to Ollantaytambo from Cusco takes about an hour by car or bus. If you’re trying to save money, you can take a bus all the way to a place called Hidroelectrica (around 5,900 ft / 1,800 m). From there, it’s about a three-hour walk along the train tracks to Aguas Calientes (around 6,693 ft / 2,040 m), which is the town right at the base of Machu Picchu (around 7,972 ft / 2,430 m). There’s also a train station closer to Cusco called Poroy, but trains don’t always run from there. The train ride itself is cool, going through different landscapes.
2. Hiking There
If you like adventure and want to see more along the way, hiking is a great option. The most famous hike is the Inca Trail. It’s about 24 miles (around 39 km) on foot and usually takes about 4 days. You start near Cusco, hike through parts of the Sacred Valley (which includes towns like Pisac, around 9,751 ft / 2,972 m, and Ollantaytambo), and on the last day, you get this amazing first view of Machu Picchu. Just a heads-up, make sure you spend at least two days in Cusco chilling and letting your body get used to the altitude before you start hiking. It’s important!
Tour Options to Machu Picchu by Train
Lots of tour companies offer packaged trips that use the train. Here are some types of tours you can find. Please note, specific prices aren’t included in this information, so you’ll need to check with tour providers for costs.
Machu Picchu Full Day Trip: This is a quick trip. You spend a whole day visiting Machu Picchu, traveling by train from the Andes mountains down into the cloud forest area. You get to see amazing views from the train.
2 Day Tour to Machu Picchu: This gives you a bit more time. You take the train from Cusco (or usually Ollantaytambo) enjoying the scenery. You stay the night in Aguas Calientes. This means you can go up to Machu Picchu early the next morning, sometimes beating the biggest crowds.
Best of Cusco, Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu 4 Days/3 Nights: If you have limited time but want to see the highlights, this tour packs a lot in. You explore the best spots in Cusco, visit the Sacred Valley, see Machu Picchu, and take a train back to Cusco, often a panoramic one with big windows. It’s a busy but good way to see the key places.
Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu 2 Days: This tour combines visiting places in the Sacred Valley with seeing Machu Picchu. In two days and one night, you might see Awanacancha (a weaving center), the market and Inca site at Pisac (around 9,751 ft / 2,972 m), and Ollantaytambo before heading to Aguas Calientes to visit Machu Picchu early the next day.
Maras Moray Machu Picchu 2 Days: This trip focuses on some unique Inca sites on the way to Machu Picchu. Over two days, you might visit Chinchero (around 12,343 ft / 3,762 m), Moray (around 11,500 ft / 3,500 m, known for its circular terraces), the Maras salt mines (around 10,000 ft / 3,000 m), and Ollantaytambo, before reaching Machu Picchu. It’s a way to see different ancient spots before the main event.