There are few places in the world that can match the spectacle that is Machu Picchu; rated as one of the 7 wonders of the world. The Inca citadel does not disappoint any of its visitors, who take long excursions to reach the archaeological site. To do this, it is necessary to: reserve the entrance to Machupicchu, reserve the train ticket, buy the bus ticket and request a tour guide at the door of the place.

• How to take an excursion to Machu Picchu?
• Which entry ticket to choose?
• What type of train to choose?
• The bus ticket to Machu Picchu?
• The tour guide service in Machu Picchu?
• Questions and answers about the excursion to Machu Picchu

Can I get tickets to Machu Picchu in the town of Aguas Calientes?
Entrance tickets to Machu Picchu are sold online. Due to the high demand for tickets, they sell out 2 or 3 months in advance. Therefore, it is recommended to purchase in advance. Given this, the sale of tickets was arranged in the town of Aguas Calientes. However, tickets sell out quickly so it is recommended to purchase one day before visiting Machu Picchu.

Surreal landscape of the Inca city of Machu Picchu

How to take an excursion to Machu Picchu?

• To take an excursion to Machu Picchu you can hire an all-inclusive tour or purchase each of the necessary tickets on your own. These are the tickets necessary to visit Machu Picchu.
  • Entrance ticket to Machu Picchu (essential).
  • Train ticket to Machu Picchu.
  • Bus ticket to Machu Picchu.
  • Tourist guide service in Machupicchu.
• In addition, it is necessary to book plane tickets from your city to Cusco (flights with connection in the city of Lima, the capital of Peru).
• The most important tickets for the excursion to Machu Picchu are: the entrance to Machupicchu and the train ticket. Both have limited availability and it is best to reserve them in advance. Proper planning can be 3 months in advance.
• Next, you must make a reservation for the other services: hotel in Cusco, bus tickets, tour guide service or other activities such as: the Cusco City Tour, the tour of the Sacred Valley of the Incas, tour to Mountain 7 Colors and more.

Which entry ticket to choose?

There are 5 types of entrance tickets to Machu Picchu and an optional one to the on-site museum. Each one of them with a totally different experience:

Entrance to Machu Picchu Only:

• This ticket is the most recommended for visiting Machupicchu as it allows you to do any of the four available circuits: circuit 1, circuit 2, circuit 3 and circuit 4. The most recommended circuit is number 2.
• It is recommended to purchase this ticket approximately 3 months in advance.
• The times to choose are: entry at 6 am, 7 am, 8 am, 9 am, 10 am, 11 am, 12 pm, 1 pm and 2 pm.
• The ticket allows the classic postcard photo in the Inca city of Machu Picchu as well as the tour of its main Inca constructions.

Machupicchu + Huaynapicchu entrance:

• This ticket is one of the most popular because, in addition to the visit to Machu Picchu, it allows you to visit the Huayna Picchu mountain.
• The circuit available in Machu Picchu is number 4, which allows you to tour Inca constructions such as: the House of the Inca, the Temple of the Sun, the Sacred Rock and more. It does not allow the classic photo in Machupicchu, but it does allow a beautiful photo from the lower part of the Inca citadel.
• It is recommended to purchase this ticket approximately 2 months in advance.
• The times to choose are: entry from 6 to 7 am, from 7 to 8 am, from 8 am to 9 am and from 9 am to 10 am.
• Entry to Huayna Picchu mountain is suitable only for tourists over 12 years of age.

Machupicchu + Mountain Entrance:

• This ticket offers two important excursions: to the Machupicchu mountain and a short tour of Machupicchu with the opportunity to get the classic postcard photo of the Inca city.
• The circuit available in Machu Picchu is number 3, which allows you to tour Inca constructions such as: the House of the Inca, the Temple of the Sun, the Temple of the Condor and more. The hike up Machupicchu Mountain is the most difficult in the Inca city: it takes approximately 2 hours to reach the top.
• It is recommended to buy this ticket approximately 2 months in advance.
• The times to choose are: entry from 6 to 7 am and from 7 to 8 am.
• The entrance to the mountain is suitable for tourists of all ages.

Machupicchu + Huchuypicchu entrance:

• This ticket offers two important excursions: to the Machupicchu mountain and a short tour of Machupicchu with the opportunity to get the classic postcard photo of the Inca city.
• The circuit available in Machu Picchu is number 3, which allows you to tour Inca constructions such as: the House of the Inca, the Temple of the Sun, the Temple of the Condor and more. The hike up Machupicchu Mountain is the most difficult in the Inca city: it takes approximately 2 hours to reach the top.
• It is recommended to buy this ticket approximately 1 month in advance.
• The times to choose are: entry from 6 to 7 am and from 7 to 8 am.
• The entrance to the mountain is suitable for tourists of all ages.

Machupicchu Entrance + Inca Bridge:

• This ticket, after the ‘Machu Picchu Solo’ entrance, is the most requested by tourists since it allows you to choose between two of the most recommended circuits in the Inca citadel: circuit 1 and circuit 2. The latter is the one that attracts the most visitors. preferred because it includes the classic photo and the most complete tour of the archaeological site.
• In addition, it allows you to take a short and easy walk to the Inca Bridge, on one of the limits of Machu Picchu..
• It is recommended to purchase this ticket approximately 3 months in advance.
• The times to choose are: entry from 6 to 7 am, from 7 to 8 am, from 8 am to 9 am and from 9 am to 10 am.
• The entrance to the Inca Bridge is suitable for tourists of all ages.

What type of train to choose?

• To make a proper excursion to Machu Picchu, getting the train ticket in advance is important (approximately 1 month).
• There are only two train companies that make the trip to Machupicchu: Peru Rail and Inca Rail.
• Peru Rail offers up to four types of trains: Expedition service, Vistadome service, Vistadome Observatory service and Hiram Bingham luxury service.
• Inca Rail offers four types of trains: The Voyager service, The 360 service, The First Class service and The Private service.
• Only Peruvians can access the local tourist train, the cost of which is only 12 Peruvian soles. The cost of tourist train tickets, whether from Peru Rail or Inca Rail, is approximately $50.
• You can book train tickets on the official Peru Rail or Inca Rail website.

The bus ticket to Machu Picchu?

• The bus ticket to Machu Picchu covers the Aguas Calientes – Machupicchu route. The town of Aguas Calientes is reached after a train trip from Cusco.
• The route is optional since you can also climb the 10 kilometers that cover the route from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu on foot. However, due to the difficulty of this walk (1 hour 30 minutes or 2 hours along stone stairs); The most advisable thing is to take the bus.
• The bus ticket can be purchased online. However, availability is wide so tourists can purchase their bus ticket in the town of Aguas Calientes with complete peace of mind.
• The bus ticket costs approximately $12.
• You can reserve your ticket on the official website of the Consettur Machu Picchu company.

The tour guide service in Machu Picchu?

• The tour guide service in Machu Picchu is not mandatory. However, it is highly recommended as it allows you to better understand the historical importance of the Inca citadel.
• The tourist guide service in Machu Picchu can be hired online through a tourism agency or at the entrance gate of Machu Picchu.
• There are two types of services: the group service route or the private service route. The first is with different tourists up to 10 people maximum. The second is only for the tourist and their personal group of friends, partner, family, etc.
• The tour guide service in Machu Picchu lasts approximately 2 hours 30 minutes.

Questions and answers about the excursion to Machu Picchu

• 1) How to do the excursion to Machu Picchu from Cusco?

  To take the excursion to Machu Picchu from Cusco it is necessary to buy the entrance to Machu Picchu and the train ticket. Then you can make other recommended purchases such as: the bus ticket, the tour guide service or the hotel service.

• 2) How to do the excursion to Machu Picchu along the Hydroelectric route?

  To take the excursion to Machu Picchu from Hidroeléctrica, it is also necessary to purchase the entrance to Machu Picchu. Instead of the train trip, an alternative route is taken through the jungle of Cusco (5-hour bus trip and 2-hour walking trip). You can hire a bus that makes this route in the city of Cusco itself.

• 3) How to do the excursion to Machu Picchu along the Inca Trail?

  The Inca Trail excursion (hiking route of 4 days and 3 nights) must be booked online through a tourism agency 4 or 5 months in advance. Availability of this excursion is limited.

• 4) How to book the train ticket to Machu Picchu?

  You can book the train ticket to Machu Picchu through the official Peru Rail or Inca Rail website. Another option is to do it through a tourism agency. It is also possible (although not recommended due to limited availability) to do it in the city of Cusco itself.

• 5) How to book the bus ticket to Machu Picchu?

  You can book the bus ticket to Machu Picchu (Aguas Calientes – Machupicchu – Aguas Calientes route) in the town of Aguas Calientes itself. This ticket has wide availability.

• 6) How to get a guide in Machu Picchu?

  You can get a guide in Machu Picchu in two ways: through a tourism agency (or with an all-inclusive tour) or by hiring one at the entrance to Machu Picchu.

• 7) How to buy entry to the Huayna Picchu mountain?

  The Machu Picchu + Huayna Picchu ticket can be purchased in person in Cusco or through the official online sales site. This last option is the most recommended since availability is limited. It is recommended to do it 2 or 3 months in advance.

• 8) What is the excursion to Machu Picchu on the Salkantay trek like?

  The excursion to Machu Picchu through the Salkantay trek (5-day, 4-night hiking route) is highly recommended due to the tourist attractions it includes: Humantay lagoon, Salkantay open, Cusco jungle, Aguas Calientes and Machu Picchu. Although you can also do it on your own, it is recommended to hire an all-inclusive tour through a tourism agency.

• 9) How to get entry to Machu Picchu at the last minute?

  No, the entrance to Machu Picchu must be purchased online in advance. Otherwise you will not be able to make your visit. The other option is to buy a ticket at the last minute in the town of Aguas Calientes. However, this option always has the risk of not finding available tickets.

• 10) What is the excursion to Machu Picchu from Urubamba like?

  To take the excursion from Urubamba to Machu Picchu you must buy a train ticket that departs from Ollantaytambo station. On the day of the visit you must take public or private transportation from Urubamba to Ollantaytambo (19 kilometers). The train ride continues to Aguas Calientes and, from there, finally a short bus ride to Machu Picchu.

Advice from people who have been there

Machu Picchu

By: Lisbeth G

“Simply wonderful“

“If you have an opportunity to be in Machu Picchu, you cannot miss it. Machu Picchu is simply beautiful, it is truly a great wonder. Machu Picchu“

By Ticket Machu Picchu – Last updated, August 15, 2024