Machu Picchu can be visited in three ways: on foot along the 4-day Inca Trail, on the alternative route via Hidroeléctrica, and by train. The latter is the way most visitors choose to visit the Inca city because it is the fastest, most comfortable, and safest. The train ride takes tourists to the town of Aguas Calientes. From there, they take a bus to the Inca city. Given the high demand from visitors, a cable car is planned to be built in the area. Learn more about this project!

• How to get to the Inca city of Machu Picchu?
• The train and bus trip to Machu Picchu
• Are there plans to build a cable car in Machu Picchu?
• What are the advantages of building a cable car in Machu Picchu?
• How will the cable car improve environmental protection in Machu Picchu?
• How much would it cost to take the cable car to Machu Picchu?
• Questions and Answers: Ways to Get to Machu Picchu

Panoramic view of the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu

The Inca Trail, the most arduous and adventurous way to get to Machu Picchu
The Inca Trail is the most adventurous and arduous way to get to Machu Picchu, as it covers 39 kilometers in 4 days and 3 nights of camping. Its name comes from the fact that it crosses the Inca roads, called qhapac ñan. Due to the historical importance of these roads, the route is protected by the Peruvian State. Because of this, to do the Inca Trail you need to book an all-inclusive tour through a travel agency in Cusco. This route is considered one of the best hikes in the world.

How to get to the Inca city of Machu Picchu?

There are up to three ways to get to Machu Picchu:

The train and bus trip to Machu Picchu

• Travelling by train is the way most people get to Machu Picchu from the city of Cusco or the Sacred Valley of the Incas.
• The train will take you in total comfort to the town of Aguas Calientes, also known as Machu Picchu town. From there you must take the final bus that in 30 minutes will leave the visitor at the entrance of the Inca archaeological site.
• For a well-organized visit, you should keep in mind the following: you must book your tickets for Machu Picchu in advance, as availability is limited. If you take the early morning flight from Lima to Cusco, drink a coca tea before leaving, as in Cusco you may be affected by the altitude (the city is located at 3,399 meters above sea level).
• Also, if you decide to stay in Cusco, you must properly organize the time to take the bus from Cusco to Ollantaytambo and from there, the train to Machu Picchu. To do this, it is necessary to have already reserved the train seats.
• Once in Aguas Calientes you may have to speed up your pace to catch the first buses to the Inca city of Machu Picchu.
• These leave every 15 minutes. After 12 hairpin turns and a half-hour drive, you’ll feel the excitement of being so close to Machu Picchu and possibly a little nervous if you look down.

Vistadome Observatory Train Ride

Are there plans to build a cable car in Machu Picchu?

• It is possible that not all the secrets of Machu Picchu will be discovered, due to the ingratitude of history.
• But, that perfectly built city in that inaccessible location among the mountains can be considered one of the most impressive architectural masterpieces in the world.
• The landscapes you can see from many points in the city and its mountains, throughout the different hours of the day, are simply unmatched.
• These are one of the reasons why it is at the top of people’s bucket lists around the world and why it is considered one of the most extraordinary places in existence.
• Thousands of people visit Machu Picchu every day and it seems that this is far from changing, so the question arose: why not improve the conditions in which one can visit Machu Picchu?
• Every so often, new access routes to Machu Picchu are planned. One of the best alternatives to improve the quality of the visit is the construction of a cable car in Machu Picchu.

Cable car operating in a landscape similar to where Machu Picchu is located

What are the advantages of building a cable car in Machu Picchu?

• If the construction of a cable car in Machu Picchu is approved, the time spent in the Inca city could be extended since the half-hour journey time on buses to Machu Picchu would be reduced (a 30-minute route).
• A cable car in Machu Picchu would save you from being tied to the bus schedules to Machu Picchu, and you would also be able to see, as you go up, the incredible labyrinth of mountains that surrounds the Inca city, a beautiful geography.

How will the cable car improve environmental protection in Machu Picchu?

• On the other hand, the energy to be used for the cable car route would be clean energy (electric).
• This seems like a very good idea in a green place like Machu Picchu, considered a Cultural and Natural Heritage of Humanity. This would contribute to the care of wildlife in one of the most incredible places on the planet.
• A cable car does not emit gases that affect the health of people or animals nearby; it is also a silent means of transport, making your visit even more awe-inspiring.
• The number of vehicles allowed to circulate in Aguas Calientes would also be reduced.
• Many people may not find it very rational to build a cable car in a place like Machu Picchu, where the city was built in such a way as not to alter the impressive natural landscape that surrounds it.
• However, the environmental impact study issued by Dames & Moore (one of the most important firms in the field worldwide) indicates that there could be moderate negative impacts, but they are perfectly correctable.
• Given the climatic conditions of the site, the pre-existing vegetation would be reestablished in less than a year.

View of the incredible Inca city of Machu Picchu

How much would it cost to take the cable car to Machu Picchu?

• The price would be higher than the current bus fares to Machu Picchu (12 dollars on average). The cable car would have as its main objective the visit to one of the most important places of humanity. And it is about giving quality to the tourist route allied to the conservation of the Inca city.
• The cable car ride would be organised by the Peruvian Ministry of Culture, which would mean an improvement in the budget and in the research and beautification works at Machu Picchu.

Questions and Answers: Ways to Get to Machu Picchu

• 1) What are the ways to get to Machu Picchu?

  The three ways to get to Machu Picchu are: a) with the 4-day Inca Trail, b) with the train route passing through Ollantaytambo and c) with the Hidroeléctrica route passing through the town of Santa Teresa in the province of La Convención.

• 2) How long does it take to do the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu?

  The Inca Trail covers 39 kilometers in 4 days of hiking and 3 nights of camping up to Machu Picchu through the Intipunku, the Gate of the Sun.

• 3) How long does it take to get to Machu Picchu by train?

  The train route is the preferred route for tourists visiting Machu Picchu. The first leg is by bus from the city of Cusco to the Ollantaytambo station (route time 1 hour 40 minutes). The train ride from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes takes 1 hour 45 minutes. Finally, the bus ride from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu takes 30 minutes.

• 4) How long does it take to get to Machu Picchu via the Hydroelectric route?

  The route via Hidroeléctrica takes 8 hours on average. The first leg is by bus from Cusco to the Hidroeléctrica station (5 hours). Then there is a 2-hour walk to the town of Aguas Calientes. Finally, the bus trip from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu takes 30 minutes.

• 5) Can I get to Machu Picchu by cable car?

  Currently, a cable car is planned to be built from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu for a great experience.

• 6) How long does it take to go to Machu Picchu with the Salkantay trek 5 days?

  This hiking route lasts 5 days and covers an average of 70 kilometers. The last part is via the Hidroeléctrica route to the town of Aguas Calientes and finally by bus or on foot to Machu Picchu.

• 7) How long does it take to walk to Machu Picchu from Aguas Calientes?

  Most tourists take a bus from Aguas Calientes to the entrance of Machu Picchu in 30 minutes. However, they can also go on foot on a free route that lasts 2 hours or a little longer, depending on the physical condition of the visitor.

• 8) How much does it cost to go to Machu Picchu with the Inca Trail for 4 days?

  The 4-day Inca Trail tour to Machu Picchu costs $600 per visitor on average. This route can only be done with a tour, it cannot be done on your own.

• 9) How much does the bus to Machu Picchu cost from Aguas Calientes?

  The bus ticket from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu costs 12 dollars for foreign adults. The round trip costs 24 dollars. There are also discounts for Peruvians and students.

• 10) How much does the train ride to Machu Picchu cost?

  The train ticket to Machu Picchu offers various costs depending on the type of train. The costs of the tourist trains vary from 30 dollars to 500 dollars for luxury services such as the Hiram Bingham train.

Advice from people who have been there

Machu Picchu

By: Daniela U.

“A true wonder“

“Machu Picchu is wonderful and overwhelming, it starts with the train adventure in Ollantaytambo and continues with the bus on a hellish road to the main gate to Machu Picchu. But it is worth any effort, queue and money you pay to reach this wonder.“

By Ticket Machu Picchu – Last updated, December 16, 2024