How to travel to Machu Picchu

How to get to Machu Picchu

Travel to Machu Picchu

On his first trip to Machu Picchu Inca City Hiram Bingham walked for six days from Cusco. Today many choose to follow in his footsteps by hiking to the ruins on the legendary Inca Trail. It’s an experience like no other, but one no longer necessary.

Daily train services from Cusco or Sacred Valley of the Incas. The ride from the city of Cusco to Machu Picchu Town takes around 3.5 hours. Machu Picchu Town not has roads, no cars or buses, has no airport.

To get to Machu Picchu you must first arrive to Cusco city, where the path starts to Machu Picchu.

Machu Picchu Town (also know as Aguas Calientes) is located at 112 Km. (70 miles) from Cusco city, in the Urubamba Valley in the lowest part of the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Machu Picchu Town is 6 kilometers (3.7 mi) away, about 1.5 hours walking to archaeological area.

All travelers to and from Machu Picchu Inca City must pass through here.


How to get Cusco City

Cusco is easily accessible by air; commercial flights leave daily from Lima, Arequipa, Juliaca (Puno - Titicaca Lake) or Puerto Maldonado (Tambopata); by train from Puno, or bus transportation from Lima and the main cities of south of Peru.

How to arrive to Machu Picchu Town by Train

The traditional and most frequent is by train from Cusco city, or from Sacred Valley of the Incas, to the station of Machu Picchu Town.

Daily train service from Cusco and Ollantaytambo (Sacred Valley of the Incas).

The PeruRail train service offer 3 categories:


Bus Services

From Machu Picchu Town to Machu Picchu Inca City frequent mini-bus service; depart from ticket office (5:30 am - 2:30 pm) and last return 5:45 pm.

Inca Trail to Machu Picchu

Alternative is the Inca Trail, the trekking route. The most popular route starts at Km 82 on the Cusco - Machu Picchu railway line (40 Km from Machu Picchu Inca City). A less strenuous alternative is the Camino Sagrado (Sacred Path), which starts at Km 104 on the same railway line.

Tourist Services in Machu Picchu Town

There are banks offices and ATM machines, Machu Picchu ticket office, police station, iPeru office, post office, drug stores, small medical center (Centro de Salud), restaurants, cybercafés, public telephones, souvenir and gift stores and Indian market close to train station.

Hotels in Machu Picchu

Distances from Machu Picchu Town

  • From Cusco: 70 miles (112 Km.)

  • From Lima: 794 miles (1,277 Km)

  • Cheap Flight Tickets to Cuzco

    Cheap Flight Tickets to Cusco

  • Train to Machu Picchu

    Train to Machu Picchu - © PeruRail

  • Train to Machu Picchu

    Train to Machu Picchu - © PeruRail