How to Visit Machu Picchu
The Best Way to Visit Machu Picchu?
What is the Best Way to Visit Machu Picchu?
What is the best way to visit Machu Picchu? That was the question I found myself asking prior to my visit. I also wondered if I could visit Machu Picchu without a guide.
Let’s start with the best way to visit Machu Picchu. The easiest way to get to Machu Picchu is to take the bus from Cusco to the train station in Ollantaytambo. Once arriving in Ollantaytambo, tourists can board a train to Aguas Calientes, which serves as the gateway to Machu Picchu. Finally, to get to entrance to Machu Picchu, visitors must take a bus from the town to the entrance of the park.
Is a Guide Needed to Visit Machu Picchu?
The next question I had was, “Do I need a guide to visit Machu Picchu?” The official answer is yes; a guide is required to enter Machu Picchu, although this requirement may not always be enforced. Through my research, I learned that it was easy to find a tour guide even once arriving at Aguas Calientes.
Next, I had to decide if I wanted take a tour of Machu Picchu or hire a guide when I got to Aguas Calientes. It appeared the biggest advantage of booking a Machu Picchu tour was that they would pre-book all of the tickets and assist with the transportation. I also wanted to see the Sacred Valley of the Incas, which was on the way to Ollantaytambo.
How I Decided to Visit Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley
I decided to book a two-day tour with an overnight stay in Aguas Calientes. The package I chose allowed me to see the Sacred Valley of the Incas, the Inca Ruins of Pisac, and the Inca Ruins of Ollantaytambo.
The cost of my tour was expensive, coming out to just under $500. Still, I thought it was worth the added cost to not have to worry about booking transportation and to have a guide the entire time.
How to Visit Machu Picchu - Table of Contents
- Should I take a Tour of Machu Picchu
- How to Get to Machu Picchu Without a Tour
- Taking the Train from Ollantaytambo to Machu Picchu
- How to Get to Machu Picchu from Aguas Calientes
- Touring the Inca Ruins of Machu Picchu
- Machu Picchu in 60 Seconds – Video Highlights of My Visit
- Machu Picchu Tours and Packages
- Support Buzzin’ Around the World – Visit Our Affiliates
- Earning Points and Rewards
- Related Content
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How to Get to Machu Picchu on Your Own
Can you visit Machu Picchu without a guide? That was the question I asked myself when I was planning my trip. From my research, the answer is that a guide is required to visit Machu Picchu. Tourists can easily get to Machu Picchu without booking a tour or package. But once at the entrance to Machu Picchu, I believe visitors are required to hire one of the many available guides. Hiring a guide became requirement in 2018, but my research told me it is not always enforced.
How Much Does it Cost to Visit Machu Picchu
Here are the costs associated with visiting Machu Picchu without a guide. First, you must purchase a ticket to enter Machu Picchu. As of September 2023, the entrance fee to Machu Picchu for a non-citizen is S/. 152 $ 45). If you want to climb Huayna Picchu, the cost is S/. 200 ($53). Please note that as of this article, Huayna Picchu is limited to 400 climbers daily.
This cost does not include a guide. Hiring a guide at the entrance to Machu Picchu will cost between $70 and $140.
To get to Aguas Calientes by train from Ollantaytambo Station, passengers must book a round-trip train ticket. It is recommended to prebook this trip as the trains often sell out. The average cost of the round-trip train ticket from Ollantaytambo Station to Machu Picchu is S/. 459 ($122). This service is called the “Voyager Train Service.”
Once in Aguas Calientes, visitors will need to have a bus ticket to get to Machu Picchu. The bus ticket should also be purchased in advance and costs around S/. 78 ($ 22).
If you are staying in Cusco, you will also need a bus ticket to Ollantaytambo. The bus ticket from Cusco to Ollantaytambo will cost around S/. 15 ($4) each way.
By the time you add up all the costs, I don’t think you come out too far behind by booking a package to visit Machu Picchu.
If you’d like to purchase everything on your own, I have linked some options below. Please note that as an affiliate of Viator, I will receive a small commission if you book using one of my links. This commission is at no additional cost to you.
Machu Picchu Transportation Options
 Official Ticket- Machu Picchu Lost Citadel - $72.00 The Sanctuary of Machu Picchu, with more than 32,000 hectares, houses many incomparable natural and archaeological attractions, roads, bridges, mountains, waterfalls, flora and fauna, own eyebrow of the jungle and more and more places are still discovered in Machu Picchu. |
 Bus ticket - Aguas Calientes - Machu Picchu - $20.52 avoid the queu to buy the bus ticket, this is an easy way to buy it ans to save your time while you are in Cusco. |
 Bus to the entrance of Machu Picchu - $47.56 Take a comfortable 20-minute bus ride from the town of Machu Picchu Pueblo (also known as the town of Aguas Calientes) through a road that zig zags from the foot of a mountain all the way up to the entrance of the Machu Picchu Historic Sanctuary. The bus is air-conditioned, eco-friendly and the only authorized method of transportation from the nearest town of Machu Picchu Pueblo to the entrance of the Machu Picchu ruins. |
 Machu Picchu Entrance Ticket and Bus to Entrance Combo - $123.08 Explore the Inca ruins of Machu Picchu at your own pace and your own schedule. Avoid long lines at Machu Picchu by booking your bus and entrance tickets in advance. |
 PeruRail Expedition Train to Machu Picchu - $55.00 If you are looking for an adventure on your way to Machu Picchu at an unbeatable price, on a train with all the onboard comfort, the PeruRail Expedition train has just what you need. |
Taking the Voyager Train from Ollantaytambo to Machu Picchu
After a day of touring the Sacred Valley of the Incas, Alberto, my guide and driver, dropped me about a block from the train station and showed me the exact route to take to get to the station’s entrance. It is easy to take the train from Ollantaytambo Station to Machu Picchu. It is recommended that tourists arrive at the station 30 minutes before their train.
In order to enter Ollantaytambo Station, I had to show my ticket and my COVID-19 vaccination records. Electronic vaccination records were perfectly acceptable for taking the train to Machu Picchu.
Boarding the Voyager Train
The train to Machu Picchu consisted of five cars that were labeled with the letters A, B, C, D, and E. I was seated in car E, seat 25. On the train to Machu Picchu, the even-numbered seats are window seats, and the odd-numbered seats are aisle seats. Most of the seats are in sets of four with a table in between them.
Onboard the Voyager Train to Machu Picchu
Unfortunately for me, I was seated with a group of tourists who decided to talk extremely loud for the entire 1 hour 40 minute journey. Even after putting on my noise-canceling headphones, I could still hear them.
Here is an official travel tip for taking the train to Machu Picchu. DON’T TALK LOUDLY AND OBNOXIOUSLY THE ENTIRE TIME. Some people want to enjoy the scenery in peace and quiet.
Just under two hours later, I arrived at Machu Picchu’s train station. A representative from the hotel Tereza de Luna was waiting for me with a sign that had my name on it. From the station, it was about a ten-minute walk to my hotel.
How to Get to Machu Picchu from Aguas Calientes
There are two ways to get to Machu Picchu from Aguas Calientes. Visitors can either take the bus, which costs S/. 78 or walk up the mountain road to the park’s entrance. I would estimate that 99% of the tourists took the bus as I only counted maybe 20 people total walking up the switchback-lined road.
The Bus Ride from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu
Now on to the highlight of my two-day tour of the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu, the actual tour of Machu Picchu. I met Richard, my tour guide, at the Plaza de Armas at 7:10 am. He quickly located the rest of our group and led us to the bus depot. We waited in line for around 20 minutes as bus after bus loaded up with eager passengers headed to Machu Picchu.
The ride from the bus depot to Machu Picchu was unpleasant. To get to the top of the mountain, the bus must make its way through a series of switchbacks on a gravel road. Thankfully, the ride only took twenty minutes, and I felt much better upon arriving at Machu Picchu.
Taking a Tour of the Inca Ruins of Machu Picchu
Entering Machu Picchu
The process for entering consisted of two long lines of people. It is absolutely necessary to have your passport when visiting Machu Picchu. When I got to the front of the line to enter Machu Picchu, in addition to showing my entrance ticket, I was asked to show my vaccination status and my passport.
Machu Picchu's Famous Viewpoint
Richard led us on a fairly strenuous walk to the main viewing point of Machu Picchu. The walk was much more difficult due to the high elevation of Machu Picchu. A few of our tour group members were disappointed as the ruins of Machu Picchu were covered by clouds.
Richard explained that the clouds would eventually clear and that we had time to wait for up to one hour for this to occur. As we waited, he began delighted when he was sparrows flying around. Richard explained that seeing the sparrows meant that the clouds were going to clear. While we were waiting, he explained that Machu Picchu served as the royal estate to the Inca ruler Pachacutec. During its time as the royal estate, it is estimated that around 750 people lived in Machu Picchu. Many of them are permeant support staff for Pachacutec.
About fifteen minutes later, the clouds began to clear. Below are three different photos that were taken within that fifteen-minute time frame. These photos show that the clouds obstructing the view of Machu Picchu did eventually clear, and I was able to get the famous photograph.
Huayna Picchu
Huayna Picchu is the taller of the two mountains in my photos. Visitors to Machu Picchu can climb Huayna Picchu for an additional fee. As of the posting of this page, Huayna Picchu is limited to 400 climbers per day. Richard explained that it takes between two and three hours round trip to climb Huayna Picchu.
You can see in the photo below a group of climbers that are getting close to the summit of Huayna Picchu. I did not climb Huayna Picchu as it was not included in my two-day tour of the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu.
Walking Through the Inca Ruins of Machu Picchu
The next stop on our tour of Machu Picchu was to head down into the ruins. As we walked down a few sets of stone steps, I took the opportunity to take a few additional photos. I thought the best way to photograph the famous view was about one-third of the way down the steps. Below, you can see that photograph.
Eventually, we made it to the door of Machu Picchu. This door was the only entrance to the entire estate.
Once inside, Richard explained that most of the rocks needed for the construction of Machu Picchu were already there. He demonstrated how the Incas would use the fissures that were already in the rocks to split them.
The Main Temple of Machu Picchu and Perfect Stone Work
One of the first stops on the tour of the interior of Machu Picchu was the Main Temple. The Main Temple was constructed without the use of mortar. Even 600+ years later, the walls of the temple still stand. The temple was constructed using this method so it could withstand earthquakes.
Richard really appreciated the stonework of Machu Picchu and spent some time showing us how every rock fit perfectly with its neighbor.
Just past the Main Temple is the area of Machu Picchu that Richard said had the best stonework. While I didn’t catch its name at the time, I believe this might be the Room of the Three Windows. You can clearly see how hard the Incas worked to make the stones fit perfectly.
The Machu Picchu Sundial
Known as the Intihuatana Stone, the sundial was extremely important in helping the Incas know what season it was. Since the Incas were largely vegetarians, they relied on knowing the season to assist with their farming. Richard explained that the stone is perfectly situated, so at midday on November 11 and January 30, the stone casts no shadow. On June 21 and December 21, the stone casts a shadow only on one side.
Farming at Machu Picchu
The next stop on our tour of the interior of Machu Picchu was the farming area. First, we walked past an area with a herd of alpacas. Alpacas were used by the Incas for their pelts and meat.
The Incas were mostly vegetarian, living on a diet that consisted of potatoes and corn. To get protein, they ate quinoa and occasionally ate alpaca, llama, chinchilla, and guinea pig.
After viewing the alpacas from a distance, we walked past one of the main farming areas. Like the other Inca villages that I’d visited, Machu Picchu was farmed by using terrace farms.
Machu Picchu's Sacred Rock
One of the coolest areas on our tour was a giant rock that Richard referred to as the Sacred Rock. Richard claimed that this rock had been carved to look like the mountains as the mountains were seen as the source of life for the Incas. Next to the Sacred Rock were two buildings that used for ceremonies which including singing and dancing.
The Residences of Machu Picchu
As we were nearing the end of our tour of Machu Picchu, we visited some of the residences. Richard explained that the people who lived in these residences were “support staff,” and they were here to entertain and support the Inca elite.
Incas who lived in these residences would have considered them dormitories with multiple families sharing one residence.
The Temple of the Condor
The Temple of the Condor contained an altar stone where the Incas typically sacrificed animals. Although some people believe that the Incas sacrificed humans, Richard claimed that it was extremely rare, if ever done.
It was ironic that the only animal I saw during the entire tour was a chinchilla that was resting near the Temple of Condor. The reason I see the irony is because the chinchilla was in the exact place where it could have been sacrificed.
Exiting Machu Picchu
The final part of our journey walked through some additional residences and past a water fountain. Water was redirected from rivers and springs to flow through Machu Picchu.
Before exiting Machu Picchu, the path took us on one of the terraces. It was a great photo opportunity to photograph the sheer size of the terraces and look up at the viewpoint where we began our tour.
As I exited Machu Picchu, I stopped to take one last photo to remember this amazing experience. Machu Picchu is one of the most extraordinary places I’ve ever visited, and I feel privileged to be able to have walked around the Inca Ruins of Machu Picchu.
Machu Picchu in 60 Seconds - Video Highlights of My Visit
Machu Picchu Tours and Packages
Below are some tours and packages for visiting the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu. I tried to pick tours of all levels, from the two-week trek on the Inca Trail to a cheaper one-day visit to Machu Picchu.
Please note that as an affiliate of Viator, I will receive a small commission if you book using one of the links below. This commission is at no additional cost to you. Viator works with various tour agencies, and booking one of these packages does not ensure that you will be booked with Crossover Peru.
Prices are accurate as of November 2023.
 Ultimate Machu Picchu: Trek the Salkantay trail to Machu Picchu - $1,950.00 ULTIMATE MACHU PICCHU |
 4 day Inca Jungle trek to Machu Picchu - Cycling, Water Rafting, Zipline - $897.44 Explore and experience the best of the Inca Jungle on your way to Machu Picchu with this exclusive 4-day adventure trip that combines Trekking, Mountain Biking, Rafting and Zipline before reaching Machu Picchu, the highlight of the trip. This tour is considered by some as even better than the Inca Trail because of all the additional activities you will do along the way as you hike through beautiful landscapes and cross rivers. |
 2-Day Trip Machu Picchu and Huayna Picchu by Train - $1000.00 Machu Picchu and Huayna Picchu by train 2 days 1 night, is an perfect itinerary highly recommended, Avoid spending the whole day rushing around. This 2 day tour will let you climb Huayna Picchu Mountain and enjoy Machu Picchu. Begins and finishes at your hotel in Cuzco. |
 Day Tour To Machu Picchu From Cusco - $349.67 -We pick up from all the hotels in Cusco and Sacred Valley |
 Machu Picchu By Car (2 Days) - $173.08 We offer a unique and authentic experience. We a fully locally owned tour operating company with years of experience. We are determined to make our customer's experience a memorable one. |
 2 Days Direct Train to Machu Picchu via Ollantaytambo - $418.67 This 2 Days Direct Train to Machu Picchu allows you to get a direct connection to Aguas Calientes from Cusco. You will have a three hour relaxing train ride with a no rush departure option from Cusco. You may choose a late morning pickup, noon or early afternoon. Your final destination is Aguas Calientes where you will spend your first and only night before visiting Machu Picchu the following day. Be one of the first to visit the spectacular Machu Picchu citadel and take in the spectacular views. |
 2 Days - Sacred Valley + Machu Picchu (PRIVATE TOUR) - $427.00 The Sacred Valley of the Incas is the most popular route in Peru. Since it was a crucial area for the Inca empire and that functioned as an agricultural, spiritual and political center. During the tour we will appreciate beautiful landscapes and Inca and Pre-Inca archaeological sites, in the afternoon we will take the train from ollantaytambo to aguas calientes. Note: if you are already in the city of Cusco it is recommended to make this tour of the Sacred Valley of the Incas to contribute to its acclimatization since it is at a lower altitude. VISITS: Pisaq, Ollantaytambo, Urubamba Machu Picchu AVAILABILITY: Every day TOUR DURATION: 8:30 am to 6:30 pm. FREQUENCY: All year |
 Machu Picchu By Train From Poroy (1 Day) - $400.00 For many visitors to Peru and even South America, a visit to the Inca city of Machu Picchu is the long-anticipated highpoint of their trip. In a spectacular location, it’s the best-known archaeological site on the continent. This awe-inspiring ancient city was never revealed to the conquering Spaniards and was virtually forgotten until the early part of the 20th century. |
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