Machu Picchu - the legendary Incan city that's become many travelers' ultimate dream destination.
This guide contains everything essential you need to know about Machu Picchu, ensuring no questions about "what and how" remain unanswered.
Quick Navigation:
— Getting to Machu Picchu
— Lima to Cusco
— Cusco to Machu Picchu
— The Railway Journey
— Arriving in Machu Picchu Pueblo
— Tickets and Entry Costs
— What to Bring
— Essential Facts About Machu Picchu
— When to Visit
— Safety Tips
Getting to Machu Picchu
Machu Picchu is located in Peru. Many international travelers find Lima to be one of the more affordable entry points into South America compared to Santiago or Rio de Janeiro, though prices are still significantly higher than flights to Europe. A reasonably good deal for international flights to Lima typically starts around $800-1000 round trip, depending on your departure city.
While you'll fly into the capital, Machu Picchu itself is quite far from Lima - the nearest major hub is Cusco. There's no way to visit the Incan sanctuary without passing through Cusco or its airport.
You can search for flights to Lima and from Lima to Cusco on platforms like Skyscanner or Google Flights.
Lima to Cusco
Flying is hands-down the best way to get from Lima to Cusco, with several local airlines offering reasonable fares. While land travel by bus is possible, there aren't any long-distance train options (unlike what you might expect in Europe or Asia), and the bus journey takes over 24 hours with multiple changes.
Cusco to Machu Picchu
Even after reaching Cusco, you're not quite there yet. Machu Picchu sits high up on a mountain, with a tourist town called Machu Picchu Pueblo (formerly known as Aguas Calientes) at its base. This town exists purely to serve visitors, which I'll detail more below.
Here's the crucial bit: there's only one way to get there - by train through the jungle. There are NO paved roads to Machu Picchu! You can't take a taxi or bus because there's literally just the railway track. While you might see various "ways to get there" online, they're really just variations of which train station you depart from and what class of service you choose. EVERYONE travels on the same tracks because that's all there is.
The Railway Journey
Two operators run tourist trains to MP: PeruRail and IncaRail. The difference between them is minimal - think United vs American Airlines. They use the same tracks, so your choice really comes down to price and schedule preference.
The railway has just three stations - Cusco, a stop in the tongue-twisting town of Ollantaytambo (or "Ollanta" for short), and the terminus at Machu Picchu Pueblo.
Train tickets are personal and tied to your passport for a specific date. Current prices range from $50-180 one-way depending on the class. While premium classes offer better views and meals, the basic service is perfectly fine. Pro tip: book seats on the left side heading to MP for the best views. The scenery is INCREDIBLE.
In the photo - a view from the window of the Urubamba River that accompanies you throughout your train journey.
Now, you might read online about people walking along the tracks to save money. Yes, it's possible, but it's a TERRIBLE idea. It's at least 4 hours walking on narrow tracks through the jungle, and if it rains (which it often does), you'll arrive completely soaked and exhausted. Save your energy for exploring - take the train!
Here's an alternative route that's worth considering - instead of catching the train at Cusco station (25 minutes), you can head to Ollantaytambo station (1.5 hours) and board there. You've got options: take the train from Cusco to Ollantaytambo first, or make your own way there by taxi or colectivo (shared van) and catch the same Cusco train at that point. By the way, Ollantaytambo itself is an absolutely incredible little town that's kept so much of its Incan character - you could easily spend a day exploring there, and trust me, there's plenty to see.
Once you're past Ollantaytambo, there's really no choice in the matter - you're in the jungle now, and everyone, and I mean everyone, has to take the train.
One important thing about the train tickets - they're strictly personal, meaning they check your passport and they're for specific dates only. Here's an interesting bit: this system is actually set up for tourists because there's a regular, super cheap local train service running the same route. But unless you've got a Peruvian passport, there's absolutely no way to get on that one.
Arriving in Machu Picchu Pueblo
The town offers accommodations for every budget, from basic hostels ($20-30/night) to luxury hotels with panoramic views ($300+/night). Be prepared: many budget hotels can be quite cold because you're in the mountains and heating isn't common. Even with the provided space heater, you might end up sleeping under double blankets.
There are loads of restaurants and cafes serving all kinds of cuisine, but prices here are noticeably higher - well, the town does have an abnormally high demand. For reference, a typical meal costs $15-25, compared to $8-15 in Cusco.
While alpaca is served pretty much everywhere in town - and I know it might tug at your heartstrings when you see these adorable animals around - it's actually a traditional local delicacy that's been part of Peruvian highland cuisine for centuries. The locals have raised alpacas for both their wool and meat since Inca times, and you'll find it featured prominently on most restaurant menus. Yes, they're cute, but they're also an important part of the local food culture.
Getting Up to Machu Picchu
The final step to your dream - the bus up the mountain. It costs about $25 round-trip, and I STRONGLY recommend taking it. Watching people hiking up was genuinely painful - it's a 1.5-hour steep climb up a narrow road where buses constantly pass. Such a climb will drain all your energy before you even start exploring - don't try to save money here!
Buses start running at 5 AM, but even at that hour, you'll find a huge queue. In low season, despite the intimidating line, it only took 2-3 buses (they rotate quickly) to get everyone up.
The bus stop is just 3 minutes from the town's main square - it sounds vague, but once you're there, you'll easily spot it. Just follow the crowd!
If you're worried, locate the ticket booth beforehand - the boarding point is right next to it.
A useful tip: many hotels offer 5 AM breakfast and luggage storage. HIGHLY recommended! You can have breakfast, leave your bags, check out, explore Machu Picchu, return around 1 PM, maybe even shower (some hotels offer this), grab your stuff, and head back to Cusco.
Tickets and Entry Costs
Before planning anything, secure your Machu Picchu tickets. They're not cheap - adult entry costs $70 for just Machu Picchu itself. Tickets are personal, date-specific, and time-slot specific (morning 6 AM-12 PM or afternoon 12 PM-5:30 PM).
You can purchase tickets through official agents authorized by Peru's Ministry of Tourism. For an additional $25, you can add access to one of the mountains (like Huayna Picchu, the large peak behind MP in all those panoramic photos). Whether you need it or not - that's up to you. I bought the extra climb ticket, but thanks to a sudden crazy downpour that made it impossible, my ticket went to waste.
Quick hack: If you forget to print your ticket (like I did but had it on your phone), you might bypass the entrance queue by asking staff to print it for you. Worked for me, but no guarantees! Still, better to have a printed ticket just in case.
What to Bring
Your brain! 😄 Definitely bring a one-liter water bottle - you'll get thirsty, and there's nowhere to buy drinks up there (though this might change, better safe than sorry). Pack some snacks (I loaded up on energy bars and pastries from a nearby shop the evening before), because you'll burn energy and need to refuel. During rainy season - ABSOLUTELY buy a rain poncho from any local shop beforehand. They're cheap but can save your entire trip!
And your passport - no entry without it, period.
Essential Facts About Machu Picchu
Here's something interesting: Machu Picchu has no connection to the Spanish conquest. It wasn't a last stronghold, wasn't under siege, and the Spanish didn't even know about it. There's zero mention of Machu Picchu in conquistador diaries. All origin theories are just educated guesses. The world only discovered Machu Picchu centuries after the Spanish conquest.
Whether to hire a guide or go solo is your choice. I went alone on the earliest buses and enjoyed the incredible atmosphere and emptiness until about 8 AM. Wandering through an empty, misty Machu Picchu is pure MAGIC! I didn't need guides, but that's just my preference.
Around 8 AM, the crowds become MASSIVE, making it hard to move around.
When to Visit
Peru has "reversed" seasons compared to the Northern Hemisphere, with summer during December-February. However, in the mountains, temperature doesn't vary as dramatically as humidity does. The rainy season at Machu Picchu is genuinely WET. If you're terrified of rain ruining your dream visit, plan for dry season, but be aware this means more crowds and higher prices.
Machu Picchu Pueblo's mountain location means mountain weather. It can be quite cool, and if it rains, it feels genuinely cold even in a jacket. Or the sun might come out, making it freezing at night/morning but blazing hot by late morning. That's mountain life for you!
Dry season runs May through October - also high season, meaning significantly more tourists.
Fun fact: Machu Picchu in the rain is an absolutely incredible sight!
Safety
Lima felt safe to me, though opinions vary - it really depends on which district you're in. I stayed in Miraflores - everything there was impeccable. Cusco is safe. As for Machu Picchu Pueblo, it's completely safe. However, follow the golden rule of Latin American safety - avoid wandering alone through unfamiliar streets and alleys after dark. Main streets are usually full of people and police, making them quite safe.
In summary: Fly to Lima, fly to Cusco, take the train (3h, from $50), overnight in Machu Picchu Pueblo, bus up ($24), and you're living your dream!
Machu Picchu is absolutely incredible and worth every effort to visit!