No road reaches Machu Picchu, and that makes “how to get there” the first decision of the trip. There are five real ways: the train from Ollantaytambo, the train from Cusco, the Inca Trail in its four- or two-day version, the Salkantay trek and the route via Hidroeléctrica. They differ in time, price, effort and lead time. This guide compares them with figures and ends with a clear recommendation for each type of traveller.
The short answer: from Cusco you drive to Ollantaytambo (1 h 45), take the train to Aguas Calientes (1 h 30 to 2 h) and from there a bus climbs to the citadel in 25 minutes. Nine out of ten visitors use this route, and it can be done in a day.
The five routes in one table
| Route | Duration | Effort | Lead time | Who it is for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Train from Ollantaytambo | 1 h 30 – 2 h each way | None | Weeks | Most people. First visit, families, little time. |
| Train from Cusco (Poroy / San Pedro) | 3 h 30 each way | None | Weeks | Anyone skipping the valley. In the rains, bimodal bus + train. |
| Classic Inca Trail | 4 days / 3 nights, 43 km | High, pass at 4,215 m | 4 to 6 months; closed in February | Fit hikers who want to enter through Intipunku. |
| Short Inca Trail | 2 days / 1 night, 12 km | Medium | 2 to 3 months | Anyone who wants to arrive on foot without four days of trekking. |
| Salkantay | 5 days / 4 nights, about 70 km | High, pass at 4,630 m | Weeks; no permits | Mountain trekking without the Inca Trail quota. |
| Hidroeléctrica | 6 – 7 h by van + 2 h 30 on foot | Medium (10 km along the tracks) | Days | Tight budget and time to spare. |
Train from Ollantaytambo: the standard route
This is what nine out of ten visitors use. From Cusco you reach Ollantaytambo station in an hour and three quarters by road, crossing the Sacred Valley; the train then descends the Urubamba gorge to Aguas Calientes in an hour and a half to two hours, depending on the service. Two companies operate, PeruRail and Inca Rail, with services ranging from standard to the luxury train with meals and bar; the price depends on the service, the date and the time. Which company and which service to choose is in our Machu Picchu train guide. In Aguas Calientes a 25-minute bus climbs to the citadel gate; the return ticket costs about 24 dollars and is bought there or in Cusco.
The big advantage is that it combines with the Sacred Valley: you do the valley one day, sleep in Ollantaytambo or take the afternoon train, and visit Machu Picchu the next day. Here we explain Ollantaytambo and its station.
Train from Cusco: longer, no changes
Trains leave from Poroy, twenty minutes from Cusco, or from San Pedro station in the centre, and take about three and a half hours. Between January and April, because of the rains, the Cusco–Ollantaytambo stretch is done by bus and you board the train at Ollantaytambo. It makes sense if you are not visiting the valley or prefer no transfers; otherwise the train from Ollantaytambo is shorter and cheaper.
Inca Trail: four days or two
The classic is 43 kilometres over four days on original Inca paths, with the Warmiwañusca pass at 4,215 metres, several archaeological sites seen only on foot and entry to Machu Picchu through the Sun Gate at dawn on the fourth day. Only 500 people enter per day including porters and guides, permits sell out four to six months ahead and the trail closes in February for maintenance. The short version starts at kilometre 104 of the railway, passes Wiñay Wayna and reaches Intipunku the same afternoon; you sleep in Aguas Calientes and visit the citadel the next day.
Salkantay: the trek without a quota
Five days from Mollepata, crossing the Salkantay pass at 4,630 metres beneath the snow peak, descending through cloud forest to Santa Teresa and reaching Aguas Calientes via Hidroeléctrica. It needs no permits, allows date changes and is physically more demanding than the Inca Trail because of the pass altitude. A shorter four-day version exists for those with less time.
Hidroeléctrica: the budget route
A van from Cusco via Santa María and Santa Teresa to the Hidroeléctrica power station, six or seven hours on a winding mountain road, then two and a half hours on foot along the railway, about ten flat kilometres, to Aguas Calientes. You sleep there and go up to Machu Picchu the next day. It is the cheapest option and the longest; in the rains the road can close after landslides. We do not recommend it with children or large luggage.
Our recommendation
- First visit, little time or family: train from Ollantaytambo. If it is a day trip from Cusco, our Machu Picchu Full Day organises everything, with transfers, train, bus and guide.
- Three days available: Sacred Valley, a night in Ollantaytambo or Aguas Calientes, Machu Picchu first thing.
- Hiker with months of notice: the four-day Inca Trail.
- Hiker without a permit: Salkantay.
- Minimum budget: Hidroeléctrica, knowing what it involves.
Frequently asked questions
Can you drive to Machu Picchu?
No. The closest a road gets is Hidroeléctrica, ten kilometres on foot from Aguas Calientes.
How long does it take in total from Cusco?
Via Ollantaytambo, about four and a half hours door to door to the citadel gate, counting vehicle, train and bus. As a full return day trip, about sixteen hours.
Do I need to book the train in advance?
Yes. The most convenient times, early morning and mid-afternoon, sell out weeks ahead in high season. With a tour everything is booked together.
Can you walk up from Aguas Calientes instead of taking the bus?
Yes, by a stepped trail of about 90 minutes uphill. It is an option to save money or warm up before the visit; most people go up by bus and walk down.
Book
- Private Machu Picchu Full Day, by train from Ollantaytambo.
- Complete guide to visiting Machu Picchu: tickets, circuits and rules.
- All our Machu Picchu tours.
