Everything to Know About Visiting Machu Picchu, Peru
If you’re curious about ancient civilizations or have a fascination with sophisticated archeological masterpieces, then Machu Picchu is likely on your bucket list. It’s the jewel of the Inca Empire and a dream destination for many travelers, but the path to experiencing it can often feel overwhelming and complex. At least that’s how we felt. We wanted to have the best experience possible, but there were so many factors to consider. Lucky for you that we’re sharing everything we learned.
What’s So Special About Machu Picchu?
Watch our full episode from Machu Picchu here
Nicknamed The Lost City of the Incas, Machu Picchu was built in the 1400s as a royal estate or religious retreat for the Incan emperor Pachuti. It’s a complex series of terraces, plazas, temples and royal residences that escaped discovery when the Spanish colonized Peru in the 1600s. While indigenous people knew about it, it was largely unknown until 1911 when American explorer Hiram Bingham “rediscovered” it. Machu Picchu is famous for its epic hikes, particularly the four-day Inca Trail from Ollantaytambo to Machu Picchu, and the advanced engineering and architectural skill of the Incans who built it hundreds of years ago.
It’s one piece of a vast network of Inca sites that are interconnected by an extensive system of roads and trails. Ollantaytambo, a significant agricultural and strategic hub in Sacred Valley, served as a base for pilgrims traveling to Machu Picchu. Sites like Sacsayhuamán in Cusco, which we’ll talk about during our Cusco video and related article, are linked historically and culturally, and even astronomically to Machu Picchu, demonstrating the sophisticated urban planning and reliance on an intricate web of communities and sacred places built by the Incas.
Key Information About Visiting Machu Picchu
Is a visa required? No.
What is the currency? Peruvian sol (PEN)
Water safety: Tap water is not safe to drink; drink bottled water
Language: Spanish
Health concerns: Altitude sickness may be a problem; check with your travel doctor
Tipping: There is an optional 10% cash tipping culture
Electric Plug Type: Type C
Seasons and Weather
Peru has two seasons, the rainy season and the dry season. Here’s what you need to know about each when visiting Machu Picchu:
Rainy season brings bright green grass and flowers, but sporadic showers
Rainy Season (January to April): Expect periodic cloud cover and occasional fog. The landscape is lush and green and flowers are in bloom. While the trails can be muddy and some paths may be slippery, we didn’t encounter these issues. You also will benefit from fewer crowds. Lines are reasonable and you won’t have to fight to get good photos. You also will have less competition for tickets. Get tickets for the noon–2pm time slots when skies tend to be clearest.
Dry Season (May to September): This is considered the peak tourist season at Machu Picchu. The ideal time to visit is early in the morning (6am–8am) to enjoy sunrise views. There will be more sunshine and less rainfall, but it will be more crowded, especially in July and August. There are a limited number of tickets each day and you’ll have to act more quickly to get the ones you want. There are some tickets that are only available in the dry season, so you will have a few more options than in the rainy season.
Shoulder season (October to December) can be relatively dry with fewer crowds, but the likelihood of rain starts to increase in November and December.
Best Time to Visit
The best chance for clear views and optimal weather is during the dry season (May to September). Late September and October will still have good views and fewer crowds.
Don’t immediately dismiss the rainy season, though. We visited in early February and while our first day was a bit overcast and foggy, the fog rolled on to reveal mostly clear skies, with just enough fog to add to the mystical quality that this sacred site brings with it. It sprinkled briefly three hours after I arrived in Machu Picchu, but then cleared up. You can stay at the main lookout point while you wait for the clouds and fog to roll past. No one is rushing you to move on, even though there is a suggested duration on your tickets. We’re told that you don’t have to deal with the fog during the dry season, but the ground is dry and brown, while we were able to enjoy colorful flowers scattered around and lush green grass. We didn’t have any mud or slipperiness to work around, either.
We visited two days in a row so that if the weather was poor on the first day, we could get lucky on the second day. And we did. The second day had clear blue skies and almost no fog.
What a difference a day can make!
Ticketing Process
Sample Circuit 2-A ticket
One of the most critical things to know is that in nearly all cases you will want to buy tickets well in advance of your visit. The government of Peru throttles the number of people allowed to be in each circuit in an effort to prevent overtourism.
Research the circuit you want to visit and know your ideal times because when tickets were initially released for sale, they sold out quickly. Circuit 2-A tickets are the most popular and they get scooped up more quickly. You should set up a visitor account ahead of time so that you don’t have to deal with the stress and delay of doing that when you are buying tickets. You’ll need your passport number and the passport numbers of everyone you are buying tickets for, so have that information handy. Here’s a link to the official Peru Ministry of Culture website. You’ll want to adjust your browser to translate to English. If you are looking for tickets that are farther out, it may show that nothing is available. You can check on the status of tickets here, and it will look like the image below. You can see the different circuits, the capacity of them, how many are available, and how many slots are sold. When I looked at availability to purchase any of these tickets online, they weren’t available, so you might have to try to book them when you’re in Aguas Calientes, but whether tickets will be available when you show up is a luck of the draw. Typically you can find next-day tickets for Circuit 1-B and 3-B since those are less popular.
Note: tickets aren’t refundable, changeable to another circuit, or transferrable to another person, so choose carefully.
Status of tickets for each of the circuits
Choosing the Right Circuit(s)
As part of the process of purchasing tickets, you have to choose a circuit or path you’ll be exploring. At one time you could purchase an entry ticket that allowed you to explore the entire complex. That’s not the way it works anymore. It can get confusing, but there are three main circuits to choose from and a few different sub-circuits. There are fewer options available during the rainy season, and your choices narrow if you don’t plan to climb mountains. Below are our recommendations:
Circuit 1 - Panoramic ➡️ Choose the Route 1-B Upper Terrace Option
Stairs to Circuit 1 terrace
Pro: You’ll have a higher viewpoint than the other two circuits.
Con: This circuit does not allow you to walk through any of the iconic constructions.
More Info: If you aren’t planning to climb any mountains, this is a very fast circuit because you really only climb up to a higher terrace to take the stereotypical photo of Machu Picchu. It’s basically a straight up, walk around a small bit on the terrace, and then come down the same way you went up. You’ll be able to see the iconic constructions from this vantage point, but you won’t be able to visit any of them. While it’s a higher climb, it’s not strenuous and there is time for you to catch your breath at various platform breaks. I worried that I might not be fit enough for this route, but it was well within my fitness level. If you’re interested in climbing mountains, this ticket gives you access to do that. There’s an offshoot of the route on the trail for this. Don’t worry; it’s clearly marked and you won’t accidentally be climbing a mountain you had no intention of hiking! You can see from the map below that you aren’t visiting any of the buildings that you see in the distance and the upward/downward zigzag is a climb (not strenuous). The walking you do numbered in section 2 is really just walking around the viewing terrace and you exit from the same set of stairs you climbed in the beginning.
Sun Gate option: Someone recently asked us about climbing up to the Sun Gate. That’s only an option in the dry season, although a guide at the terrace on Circuit 1-B offered to take us there. We declined because technically it’s closed for a reason during rainy season and we also weren’t sure if we had the fitness level for it. If you’re reasonably fit, it could take as short as 30-45 minutes, but it can take as long as 1.5 hours (or more). It’s moderately challenging and is about 4km out and back. It includes stone steps and dirt trails and the summit is 2,745 meters (9,000 ft) from sea level. If you’re interested in this trail, you’ll want to get a Circuit 1-C (Panoramic Route Portada Intipunko). You’ll also want to acclimate in Cusco versus Sacred Valley if you plan to take this route.
Price in 2025: 152 soles or $84.71. Mountain routes are 200 soles apiece.
Circuit 1-B is a very moderate climb up stone and wooden steps to get to a viewing terrace. It’s a very short route.
Circuit 2 - Classic ➡️ Choose the Route 2-A Route Classic Design Option
Circuit 2-A has a small upward climb and then routes around, but not into the iconic royalty structures
Pro: This is the most comprehensive route. You’ll be able to take the iconic Machu Picchu photo and be able to explore certain urban and religious sections of the buildings.
Con: You won’t be able to visit the main Inca temples and enclosures made for royalty.
Key Point: Do not leave the terrace if it’s cloudy or overcast because you can’t come back to it. Take all the time you need for the clouds to drift past or the fog to clear. There is no backtracking on this route.
More Info: This route is slightly lower than Circuit 1’s Panoramic route, but it’s much more comprehensive. It’s not strenuous. After a short flat walk, you’ll climb stone stairs and sometimes a sturdy wooden staircase. You can catch your breath if you need to, but you really aren’t climbing that much. Within 15 minutes or less you’ll reach the terrace to take the iconic overlook photo of Machu Picchu with Huayna Picchu Mountain in the background and the entire complex in front of you. The only climbing you do is to the terrace and then you’re going down to explore some of the buildings that are part of the complex. This Circuit 2 - Classic is the most comprehensive circuit, is good for nearly every fitness level, and gives you a great mix of views and close ups. Tickets sell out very quickly, so if you can’t get a ticket, you can approximate the experience through a combination of Circuit 1 Panoramic and Circuit 3 Royalty.
Price in 2025: 152 soles or $84.71
You can wander through some of the urban buildings in Circuit 2-A (Classic Route)
Circuit 3 - Royalty ➡️ Choose the Route 3-B Route Designed Royalty Option
Circuit 3-B is in yellow; there’s no panoramic shot of the whole complex, but you get to go into the various iconic royalty sites like the Temple of the Sun, the House of the Inca, and the Temple of the Condor
Pro: This is the only circuit that allows you to visit the Temple of the Sun, the House of the Inca, and the Temple of the Condor, which can only be viewed but not accessed from the other circuits. It also doesn’t have stairs, so this is a good route for people with mobility issues.
Con: You will not see the iconic overview of the entire complex from this circuit. This can be a huge disappointment if you were hoping to get the iconic photo of Machu Picchu. You’ll want to combine tickets with Circuit 1 (B) - Panoramic to do that (if you don’t have mobility issues and can climb stairs).
More Info: The Royalty Circuit is on a lower terrace. Circuit 3 also has options for climbing mountains and accessing certain higher routes that are only available during the dry season, but they are their own tickets and need to be booked separately. The biggest perk of the Royalty Circuit is that there tend to always be tickets available. In fact, you can frequently book tickets in person the day before you need them. You can see in advance whether tickets are available. You can buy in-person tickets either in Cusco at the Ministry of Culture on Calle Garcilaso or the base camp for Machu Picchu, Aguas Calientes, at the cultural center. Circuit 3-B has no climbing and is not strenuous. There are other options in Circuit 3 that involving climbing, but 3-B is an easy lift.
Price in 2025: 152 soles or $84.71. Mountain routes are 200 soles apiece.
You can view these royal areas from Circuit 2, but you can actually access these areas from Circuit 3
How Much Time Does Each Circuit Take?
Your biggest barrier to how long you can stay visiting each circuit is your bladder. You will want to use the restroom when you first arrive. It cost 2 soles in 2025 and there’s a ticket person at the entrance that will help you make change. They only accept cash. There are no other restrooms except at the entrance and you can’t leave the trail to go to the restroom and then return back to the trail.
Circuit 2-A path allows you to wander through some urban areas
While each trail has its own time span, there wasn’t anyone monitoring your time or moving people forward. While tickets have a timed entry, you are allowed to arrive up to 59 minutes past your entry time and still be allowed to enter, so there’s no one one actually knows how much time you’ve been enjoying the complex. You can be denied entry if you arrive at the circuit trail an hour past your ticket time. There wasn’t anybody monitoring Circuit 1 entries, but there definitely were people looking at entry tickets to Circuit 2, probably because those tickets are in the highest demand.
Much of the time you’re given is to allow you to wait for clouds to roll past, for everyone to have ample time to take photos, for you to sit and chill and immerse yourself in the spirituality of Machu Picchu should you wish to do so. If you’re not hiking mountains, the amount of time you’re given doesn’t matter all that much and we never saw anyone being told to move along. If you are hiking mountains, your fitness will play a big part in how much time it will take.
For the Most Comprehensive Experience
If you have the time or want the best experience, consider combining tickets either by booking one circuit very early in the morning and another circuit later in the day or planning a visit on two consecutive days. We opted to book two consecutive days because we were visiting during the rainy season and it gave us a second chance at the iconic view. We chose Circuit 2A-Classic for day 1 and Circuit 1B-Panoramic for day 2. If you were to visit during dry season and didn’t have to worry about weather issues obscuring views, then Circuit 2A or even Circuit 1B would be a nice complement to Circuit 3B and will give you the most comprehensive experience. You will want to space out the timing of them because they each are longer walks with more to see.
Combine Circuit 2-A or Circuit 1-B with Circuit 3-B for the most comprehensive experience
Do I Need a Guide and How to Get One
Would you know this is the Temple of the Sun if a guide hadn’t pointed it out?
English-speaking guides are available in Aguas Calientes and also as soon as you arrive in Machu Picchu before heading onto your particular circuit. You can hire a private guide or ask for a group tour. Although guides who you hire in Aguas Calientes will ride the shuttle bus with you and will give you information as you make your way there, we didn’t think that was necessary and there is plenty of time once you’re on the circuit to get all the information you’ll need.
The guides I approached when I arrived in Machu Picchu all requested $80 for a private tour. I was able to negotiate down to $70 plus a tip at the end for Circuit 2-A. If you’re willing to do a group tour, the cost should be closer to $50 or $60. If you have tickets for Circuit 1, I don’t think you need a guide at all. As I mentioned previously, that route is really and up and down without a lot to see.
If you are doing Circuit 2 (Classic) A or B or Circuit 3-B (Royalty), we think you will benefit greatly from a guide. During my Circuit 2 tour, someone came up to us when we were nearing the end of the trail and wanted to know where they could see the Temple of the Sun. Our guide had the disappointing job of telling the person that the site was an hour back from where they were standing and there’s no way to backtrack. There was a lot of history and information I learned from having a guide and points of interest I would have missed without someone by my side sharing that information with me.
A guide also will do an excellent job of taking epic photos of you alongside iconic landmarks.
What to Know About Altitude and Acclimation
To reach Machu Picchu, you need to fly into Cusco, which is situated at a high altitude of about 3,399 meters (11,152 feet). It’s essential to give your body time to adjust to avoid altitude sickness.
What is Altitude Sickness?
Altitude sickness can occur at elevations above 2,500 meters (8,200 feet). As you go higher, the risk increases, and symptoms may include headaches, nausea, dizziness, and fatigue. To reduce these effects, it's important not to overexert yourself. If symptoms persist, consider descending to a lower altitude.
How and Where to Acclimate
We received mixed advice about acclimating. Some travelers suggested staying in Cusco for a few days, while others recommended going straight to the Sacred Valley, which is about 600 meters lower (2,800 meters or 9,186 feet). Since Machu Picchu is even lower at 2,430 meters (7,970 feet), acclimating in the Sacred Valley can be beneficial. The only time you really should acclimate in Cusco is if you will be climbing mountains; otherwise, there’s no need to deal with the higher altitude as part of acclimating. But we do think you should give yourself some time in Cusco; we just recommend doing it after Machu Picchu.
When we traveled, we spent three days in Cusco, then three days in the Sacred Valley, followed by two days in Aguas Calientes and another week back in Cusco. In hindsight, this was more than necessary; we recommend spending fewer days in Cusco initially.
Chewing on coca leaves can help with altitude sickness and are more effective than candy coca
Here’s what we suggest: Fly into Cusco (of course), but then immediately head to Ollantaytambo in Sacred Valley and spend a few days there. We have an article coming soon that will give you information about all the cool things to see and do while you’re there. In addition to it being an important place to understand more about Inca culture and will give you some useful points of reference when you visit Machu Picchu, it’s a more interesting place to spend time than Aguas Calientes, the base camp for Machu Picchu, which is more expensive and touristy.
Unless money is absolutely no object, you aren’t going straight from Cusco to Machu Picchu. The ONLY hotel in Machu Picchu is the Belmond Sanctuary Lodge, and it costs A LOT. By that I mean upwards of $1,500 per night. You can roll out of bed and be at the doorstep of Machu Picchu and start your circuit right out of the gate. For everyone else, Aguas Calientes is the gateway to Machu Picchu. If you are acclimating in Sacred Valley, it takes about 1.5 hours by train from Ollantaytambo.
How to Avoid Altitude Sickness
Talk to your travel doctor in advance of your trip if you’re worried about altitude sickness because there are preventive medicines such as Acetazolamide (Diamox) that require a prescription that you may be able to take to make acclimatization easier. There are several drugs that this medication can interact with as well, so be sure to discuss with your doctor all the medications you currently are taking. We opted against taking this after understanding some of the risks, and surprisingly I did better than expected and Kevin did slightly worse (slightly out of breath, body tingling, and a little dizziness, all which went away after the first day, except getting fatigued a bit more easily). While popping a pill might seem an easy way to potentially avoid having issues, sometimes the side effects of altitude medicine can be dangerous in their own right, so be sure to ask questions and understand the risks, especially since you may not really need it. Serious side effects can include severe skin reactions, including Stevens-Johnson Syndrome (SJS) and Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN), which can be fatal. Milder reactions are the same side effects that you'd incur from altitude sickness: headache, nausea, vomiting, and fatigue.
Drink plenty of water or electrolyte drinks to help you stay hydrated
Avoid heavy meals and too much protein, which is harder to digest and worsens symptoms of altitude sickness. Better to eat complex carbs.
Avoid alcohol, which is dehydrating
Chew some dried coca leaves, tear off the bits of stem, roll them up, chew a bit and then move the wad to the inside of your cheek and your teeth (like you would tobacco) and suck on it. While you could make a tea from the leaves or buy coca candy, the effects won’t be as helpful as sucking the leaves directly.
Limit physical activity. Wait until you’re more acclimated before you begin doing strenuous activities.
If you end up having issues, some hotels have portable oxygen and you can also buy tanks from some of the nearby markets.
Listen to Your Body: Be aware of the signs of altitude sickness, which can include headache, nausea, dizziness, and fatigue. If you start feeling unwell, it’s crucial to rest. If symptoms persist, consider descending to a lower altitude.
You’ll often see three perfect coca leaves left as an offering to the Apu Mountain (spirit) but they also are ideal to chew to help with altitude sickness
Transportation Options to Aguas Calientes (base of Machu Picchu)
Elevations along to the route to Machu Picchu
In order to talk about transportation, it’s important to understand where you need to go and how much time you have for your visit. We have a couple of draft itineraries below that we recommend if you have a bit of time, but you can speed through your trip if time is not on your side. Regardless of the method you choose, everyone has to start in Cusco.
You can choose to spend time in Sacred Valley acclimating or head directly from Cusco to Aguas Calientes, which is the base of Machu Picchu. It’s also referred to as Machu Picchu Pueblo Station. From there, you can buy a shuttle bus ticket and head to Machu Picchu for your circuit. The shuttle buses are nearly always green, so they often are referred to as green buses. You also can arrive in Sacred Valley and hike the Inca Trail, which is a four-day strenuous hike from Ollantaytambo to Machu Picchu. It’s the only route that bypasses Aguas Calientes, but you need to be in excellent shape and the law requires that you travel with a licensed guide.
Depending on the time of year you are visiting, trains and buses from Cusco to Machu Picchu begin running as early as 3:20am. Zero dark early. But it means you can still take advantage of mid-morning circuit tickets if you’re short on time.
Rainy season: Catch a Peru Rail (or Inca Rail) bimodal service, which is a BUS from Cusco (Wanchaq Station) to Ollantaytambo (Sacred Valley) and then transfer to a TRAIN from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu Station). Then you have to buy SHUTTLE BUS tickets in person from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu, unless you choose to walk.
How Do Peru Rail and Inca Rail Compare?
Peru Rail’s bimodal service from Aguas Calientes to Cusco
There are two train systems that will take you from Cusco to Aguas Calientes (and back). They even share the same train tracks! We ended up taking Peru Rail in both directions. During the rainy season (when we visited) we had to use a bimodal service because trains don’t operate between Cusco and Sacred Valley. There’s a bus that will take you to Sacred Valley and a train that operates from Sacred Valley to Aguas Calientes. We hired a bus service to take us to Sacred Valley where we spent a few days sightseeing and then we took Peru Rail’s budget-friendly Expedition train. On our return from Aguas Calientes, we splurged on Peru Rail’s Vistadome Observatory Train. The fashion show with option to buy baby alpaca garments is only available on this return journey.
But if you’re interested in knowing the differences for each train operator and the options, here they are below. Note that during peak season, tickets can sell out, so buy them early so you’re not disappointed. Each operator runs sales and there are discount coupons on their website, depending on your day of travel and time of year.
Inca Rail
Inca Rail has guided tours you can book, but they primarily function as train services. They offer several options, and a comparison of each is available on Inca Rail’s website. If you’re interested in the premium carriages, note that they have only certain days and times where they operate. Here’s a brief summary:
The Voyager. Economy class. Carriage with large windows, snacks and beverages available for purchase, onboard Ollantay show (one way) and ambient music, no priority boarding. (sample pricing: $66-$81 per person, one way)
The 360°. Silver premium economy type service. Carriages have panoramic windows, there’s an open-air observatory car, complimentary snacks, entertainment platform and live music, and priority boarding. (sample pricing: $97-$108 per person, one way)
The Premium & Lounge. Gold premium economy, access to the dining car and lounge bar/car, balcony access, complimentary snacks and free pisco sour tasting (only on the return from Aguas Calientes), live music, and priority boarding. Note: only available on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays (sample pricing: $108 per person, one way)
The First Class. Premium service with dining car and lounge/bar car. You get a three-course gourmet menu with wine pairing, a wine ceremony with saxophone and violin, access to a balcony, and priority boarding. Note: only available on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays. (sample pricing: $310 per person, one way)
Peru Rail operates multiple carriage classes on one train, which gives you more opportunities to be in the carriage of your choice
Peru Rail
Entertainment on Vistadome Observatory carriage
Peru Rail operates some extra routes, including from Titicaca and an Andean Explorer. if you are going to Arequipa or Puno. You also can arrange for group travel and potentially get your own carriage.
Expedition. Background music during the journey, sale of food and drinks on board. (sample pricing: $66-$81 per person, one way)
Vistadome. Panoramic views, seats with built-in tables, complimentary snacks and drinks, live cultural performances (only on journeys from Machu Picchu to Cusco), fashion show with option to buy baby alpaca garments, audio with tourist information and background music. (sample pricing: $86-$96 per person, one way)
Vistadome Observatory. Observatory car, open-air balcony with a view of the landscape, bar car for on-board beverage services, spacious eating with built-in tables, cultural show and live music, complimentary snacks and drinks, fashion show with option to buy baby alpaca garments (only on journeys from Machu Piccu to Cusco), audio with tourist information and background music. (sample pricing: $130-$140 per person, one way)
Hiram Bingham, A Belmond Train. This is the most exclusive train in the fleet. Welcome cultural show in the VIP lounge, observatory car, an open-air balcony with a view of the landscape, bar car for on-board beverage services, restaurant car, gourmet lunch on routes to Machu Picchu, gourmet dinner on routes from Machu Picchu, live music show, entrance ticket to Machu Picchu on journey to Machu Picchu, tour guide in English and Spanish for 2.5 hours in Machu Picchu, cocktail in the mountains at the Belmond Sanctuary Lodge Hotel. Note: The train to Machu Picchu sells out and should be booked 45 days in advance. (sample pricing: $570 per person, one way)
Our Opinion About Peru Rail’s Vistadome Observatory Class
We liked the roomier seats, the built-in table for snacking, and the more accessible restrooms compared to the Expedition class where the bathroom was connected to the cart prep room, where the cart is loaded up with snacks and drinks for sale, which wasn’t ideal. We especially liked the open balcony area that allowed us to take photos without worrying about the glare or tinted glass, even though we only had access to it while the cultural show was in progress. I might have been able to do without it, but Kevin really liked it, so you need to decide whether the perks are worth the extra cost. It was fun to experience once, especially as part of a bucket list trip to Machu Picchu.
Getting from Aguas Calientes (Green Buses) to Machu Picchu
Green shuttle bus line and queue to head to Machu Picchu
Transportation from Cusco or Sacred Valley ends in Aguas Calientes, which is the base of Machu Picchu. You may also hear to it referred to as Machu Picchu Town. To get to the circuits or start of the trail that you booked, you need to either hike or take one of the usually green shuttle buses from Aguas Calientes to the start of the circuits in Machu Picchu. There are no taxis or Ubers in Aguas Calientes and no public transportation other than buses.
Hiking. You need to have a good fitness level to hike to the beginning of the Machu Picchu circuits from Aguas Calientes. It takes about an hour and forty minutes to hike the 8 kilometer path and it’s all a steep uphill climb. The first portion of the route involves walking alongside buses and their fumes. Bring plenty of fluids to keep you hydrated. If you want to push your fitness levels, consider taking a bus up and hike down from Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes instead.
Shuttle bus. The green shuttle buses traverse the route up to Machu Picchu in only about twenty minutes and they run continuously.
Pro Tip: Sit by the window on the right-hand side of the bus for the best views (in either direction). The route is a series of switchbacks and as you climb higher, you’ll be seeing some beautiful unobstructed views of the mountains. The left side of the bus has to compete with passing buses flanking it.
How to Buy Shuttle Bus Tickets
You must buy them in person.
You can pay by credit card or cash. They cost 89.16 soles in 2025 for a round trip ticket per person (approximately $12 US each way).
You must present your passport and your Machu Picchu circuit tickets. They will not sell you tickets without these items.
Tickets can be purchased for today or tomorrow, but no farther in advance
Unless you’re planning to hike in one or the other direction, go ahead and get round trip tickets to save yourself time. You can buy return bus tickets from Machu Picchu if necessary, but why deal with another line unless it’s absolutely necessary.
The tickets don’t have times on them, so you can take the shuttle at any point during the day to or from Machu Picchu.
Go to the ticket office any day between 5am and 9pm. You can find it by going three blocks past where the buses line up. (Av. Hermanos Ayar S/N, before the Puente Ruinas. This is the main bus and train stop in Aguas Calientes. It’s also referred to as Machu Picchu Pueblo Station). If you arrive in Machu Picchu Town (Aguas Calientes) a day early, get your tickets when you arrive so you don’t have to mess with acquiring them on the day you are heading to Machu Picchu. Fortunately, there are a few people taking orders and the line was never long. But this way you can go straight into the bus queue and not have to waste time buying bus tickets and then be farther back in line.
Departing By Shuttle Bus for Machu Picchu
Shuttle bus personnel will either stamp your Machu Picchu circuit ticket or else visually check it; here the bus line is long, but it moves quickly
In the morning the buses leave every five minutes and take about 20 minutes to get to the dropoff point in Machu Picchu. As you might expect, the bus lines are much shorter in the early morning hours and get longer as the day progresses, so give yourself plenty of time if you have an afternoon Machu Picchu tickets. It wasn’t crowded for 6am, but there was a very long line in the afternoon when we were passing by.
Make sure you have your passport and your circuit tickets. Both will be checked multiple times before boarding the bus and before you enter your circuit, particularly if you are doing Circuit 2. They didn’t do a circuit check for us on the day we visited Circuit 1, but it’s a less in-demand route.
The bus queue is broken up by entry time and buses stack up behind one another so that as soon as one is full, the next in line can move forward and start filling up. We were pretty impressed at how efficient the process worked. It helps that this town is primarily a depot for people getting to and from Machu Picchu!
You have up to an hour after your ticket time to arrive at the circuit entrance, but if you arrive at 7am for a 6am ticket, they won’t let you in, so manage your time carefully
Amenities at Machu Picchu
There are very basic amenities here. There is a restaurant, but it wasn’t opened when I arrived around 6:30am. There’s a water/snack machine, and there’s a restroom that requires 2 soles (2025) in order to enter. They only accept cash and they will make change for you. There are no ATMs on site, so get cash when you are in Aguas Calientes. Machu Picchu proper has only one hotel, the extremely pricey Belmond Sanctuary Lodge, which costs upwards of $1500 per night. It’s much easier to get everything you need from Aguas Calientes, take the shuttle bus to Machu Picchu for your circuit, and then go back down to Aguas Calientes for everything else unless you really want to splurge.
Proposed Itinerary 1
Maras salt mines have been in families for generations
Day 1: Arrive in Cusco and head straight to Ollantaytambo by bus during the rainy season or by train in the dry season
Day 2: Half-day private tour with Come See Peru Tours: Moray ruins, Maras Salt Mines, Chicha, salt, and chocolate tasting (not sponsored!)
Day 3: Half-day tour private tour with Come See Peru Tours: Pisac ruins and Pisac market (optional: request to stop and taste authentically prepared cuy from the Lamay district of Calca). We think that seeing Pisac is a must-do while you’re here, but this is a longer day of driving since Pisac is closer to Cusco than Ollantaytambo. Itinerary 2 provides a workaround.
Day 4: Take Peru Rail’s Expedition train to Aguas Calientes, check into your hotel (we recommend Gringo Bill’s), walk around the town, pick up round-trip bus tickets to Machu Picchu so you don’t have to scramble in the morning
Day 5: Machu Picchu Circuit 2-A in the early morning. If you’re short on time, add Circuit 3-B around 1pm or 2pm
Day 6: Morning trip to Machu Picchu Circuit 3-B for comprehensive coverage of the site (or Circuit 1-B if you are visiting in the rainy season and are worried that the weather on your first visit won’t be up to snuff). If you’re able to splurge, take an early afternoon Vistadome Observatory train to Cusco. In the rainy season, there will be a bimodal service (combination of train and bus) because trains don’t operate between Sacred Valley and Cusco. Otherwise, save money and take the Expedition train.
Days 7–10: Spend at least three or four days in Cusco. Check out our article about things to see and do in Cusco. Coming soon!
Proposed Itinerary 2
Day 1: Arrive in Lima and spend the night. There are great restaurants here and you won’t have to worry about altitude. While you could spend the night in Cusco, then you have to worry about acclimating here, and there’s no great reason to do that when you can visit Cusco at the end of your trip.
Try eating cuy in this authentic restaurant in Lamay, Calca
Day 2: Catch an early morning flight to Cusco and head to Sacred Valley via a tour of Pisac ruins, Pisac market, tour an alpaca farm and taste cuy if you’re an adventurous eater. This will allow you to tour the Sacred Valley without having to pay for transportation there. Check into a Sacred Valley hotel. We liked Hotel Samanapaq. We took this Come See Peru tour that we think you will like. If for any reason your flight is delayed, Come See Peru tours will put you on an afternoon tour. They’ve been incredible to work with and we think you’ll enjoy them, too.
Day 3: Half-day private tour with Come See Peru Tours: Moray ruins, Maras Salt Mines, Chicha, salt, and chocolate tasting (not sponsored!)
Day 4: Take Peru Rail’s Expedition train to Aguas Calientes, check into your hotel (we recommend Gringo Bill’s Boutique Hotel), walk around the town, pick up round-trip bus tickets to Machu Picchu so you don’t have to scramble in the morning. Eat a meal at Ponchos MachuPicchu Restaurante
Day 5: Machu Picchu Circuit 2-A in the early morning. If you’re short on time, add Circuit 3-B around 1pm or 2pm
Day 6: Morning trip to Machu Picchu Circuit 3-B for comprehensive coverage of the site (or Circuit 1-B if you are visiting in the rainy season and are worried that the weather on your first visit won’t be up to snuff). If you’re able to splurge, take an early afternoon Vistadome Observatory train to Cusco. In the rainy season, there will be a bimodal service (combination of train and bus) because trains don’t operate between Sacred Valley and Cusco. Otherwise, save money and take the Expedition train.
Day 7–10: Spend at least three or four days in Cusco. Check out our article about things to see and do in Cusco. Coming soon!
What To Wear and Bring
Leave No Trace principles
Depending on whether you are doing any climbing or just touring, what you wear will be different.
Dress in layers since you may work up a sweat, but it may be chilly in the early morning hours or when the sun gets covered by clouds/fog
Trail runners with good grip or hiking shoes
Rain jacket
Sunscreen, even for overcast days
Bug spray (we didn’t see a lot of bugs when we visited during the rainy season)
Day pack for essentials so your hands are free for photos or to steady yourself when going up rock stairs
Bottle of water per person
Camera or small video camera or phone for capturing this epic site
Spare battery for your camera or video camera
Change for restrooms (currently 2 soles)
Your passport, bus ticket, and Machu Picchu tickets
Unless you are hiking up a mountain, taking a more strenuous path, or exploring two circuits on the same day, you probably don’t need to bring snacks. But if you bring them, make sure you pack out everything you brought in. Practice the principles of leave no trace.
Note that selfie sticks and tripods are not allowed on the trail
Circuit 1-B. Dress in layers, bring a daypack, and expect to see llamas!
Where to Stay Overnight in Aguas Calientes?
We had a great two nights at Gringo Bill’s Boutique Hotel. The bed was HUGE!
We liked the buzz and energy of Aguas Calientes, but there’s no doubt that it primarily serves as a hub for people going to and from Machu Picchu. It has a few attractions such as hot springs, local markets, and additional hiking of the surrounding areas. It’s super touristy and more expensive than Sacred Valley.
We chose to stay two nights at Gringo Bill’s Boutique Hotel (not to be confused with a hostel of a similar name). The location couldn’t be anymore central or perfect.
Where to Eat in Aguas Calientes
A lot of restaurants here are overpriced and average. However, we throughly enjoyed Ponchos MachuPicchu Restaurante, where we ate before boarding our train back to Cusco. We appreciated the traditional and modern flavors, and the waitstaff all were on point! Kevin had sautéed prawns with mushrooms dressed with a yellow chili sauce on papardelle pasta. I had a traditional and nourishing quinoa soup with vegetables and chicken. For dessert our server suggested this off-menu suspiro de limeña (Sigh of the lady from Lima, because of how soft and sweet it was, similar to the sigh of a woman)!
📍Address: Imperio de los Incas 503, Aguas Calientes 08680; reservations recommended during peak season
