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If you’re planning to go to Machu Picchu (no need to remind you it’s a must-see in Peru if you don’t already know it, and that the trip is very easy to do from Cusco), keep in mind that when you buy your tickets, the transport up to the citadel isn’t included. That adds extra costs if you want to take the bus. But you also have the option of walking up if you feel brave enough. We’ll go through all of it below.
Here I’ll explain how to get your bus tickets from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu (online or on site), along with practical info like prices and schedules. Let’s go!
Oh, and apologies in advance — the photos are dreadful 😀 I tried to take loads of them during the ride, but very harsh light above a thick layer of clouds, plus some bad settings, made it tricky 😀
Buying your bus ticket for Machu Picchu
How much do the bus tickets cost?
At the physical office, the tickets cost, for foreigners:
- $24 round-trip
- $12 one-way (up or down)
- half price for children
- and much cheaper for Peruvians!
Where to buy the bus ticket: the office
The classic option is to buy your bus tickets at the Consettur office, which sits right in the heart of Aguas Calientes, on Avenida Hermanos Ayar. Between the Puente Enafer and the Sinchi Roca bridge.
The office is open from 5am to 9pm. There’s very often a crowd, so if you can get there earlier, that’s a good idea.
Otherwise, there are two options in Cusco:
- Avenida Enfance 433 – (Wanchaq station) (8am to 1pm and 3pm to 6pm)
- Avenida El Sol 380, in the Banco Interbank office (9am to 6pm)
Buying the bus ticket online
To save time, you can buy your bus ticket (dated, one-way / round-trip) online. It costs a little more but it saves you queuing.
For that I recommend Getyourguide, which lets you book in advance or for the same day, to save time.
It costs €36 round-trip.
When to buy the bus ticket
You don’t necessarily need to do it ages in advance. What I mean is, it’s not compulsory. That said, if you’re buying everything at once (tickets and bus), why not! But you can do it the day before.
Generally, the day before there’s a queue at the office. So it’s doable but it takes a little while. The same day, I wouldn’t risk it, unless you arrive in the morning from Cusco and don’t really have a choice.
Taking the bus to Machu Picchu
What time should you turn up for the bus?
You can catch the bus within the following times:
- first bus going up: 5:30am
- last bus going up: 3:30pm
- they run every 5 minutes, then every 10 minutes
I’d recommend arriving early and taking the first buses to catch the sunrise (you never know, just in case you don’t have clouds, against all odds), but above all to get there ahead of the groups.
On top of that, if you’re doing Machu Picchu Mountain or Huayna Picchu, then you really need to arrive early because they close late morning.
There’ll always be a crowd to get on the buses, but honestly it’s quick.
What the ride is like
Well, getting on the bus happens quickly. There’s a bus every 5 minutes (early in the morning) to every 10 minutes, so it moves fast.
I’d suggest sitting by the window, ideally on the right-hand side (though both sides work) for the view, which is superb.
The ride up takes 25/30 minutes, isn’t dangerous at all, and the buses are pretty comfortable.
📍 Aguas Calientes · 400 m walk from the station, right in the centre
A large, upscale apartment right in the heart of Aguas Calientes: bedroom, living room and balcony. Spacious and well equipped to settle in as a family.
- Spacious place: bedroom, living room and 2 large flat-screen TVs
- Balcony overlooking the street, free Wi-Fi
- 400 m from the Machu Picchu train station
Free cancellation
From 85 € / night
📍 Aguas Calientes · 350 m from the station, up on the heights
A small eco-B&B tucked into the greenery on the heights of Aguas Calientes, with a garden. A simple, nature-filled spot a stone's throw from the station.
- Garden, airport shuttle and room service
- 350 m from the station, 200 m from the bus stop
- 24-hour reception, free Wi-Fi, breakfast
Free cancellation
From 81 € / night
📍 Aguas Calientes · facing the Urubamba river, 250 m from the station
An elegant boutique hotel facing the Urubamba, with wood decor and rooms with balconies. Some have their own spa bath: a nice step up in comfort in Aguas Calientes.
- Location rated 9.4/10, staff 9.0/10
- Some rooms with balcony and private spa bath
- Toto House restaurant, buffet breakfast, shuttle
Free cancellation
From 180 € / night
📍 Aguas Calientes · 5 min walk from the station
A comfortable hotel with rooms looking out over the mountain or the river, five minutes from the station. A good base for visiting without breaking the bank.
- Staff rated 9.2/10, included breakfast praised
- Rooms with flat-screen TV and private bathroom
- Restaurant, shared lounge and luggage storage on site
Free cancellation
From 109 € / night
Walking up to Machu Picchu
I’ll admit I didn’t have the courage. But quite a few people do it! And not just for the price.
Walking up from Aguas Calientes will easily take 2 hours. 2 hours of stone steps, through the forest. The setting is cool, but it climbs! Because over those 2 hours, you’ll gain 400 m of elevation. You start at 2,000 m, so you won’t really feel the effects of the altitude, but still, it burns the calves!
The start of the climb is at the Hiram Bingham road; you can spot it under the name “Camino peatonal a Machu Picchu” on Google Maps.
📍 Cusco · Peru Andes Top (12 h)
The full turnkey option: bus, Vistadome train, shuttle and certified guide all chained together from start to finish. 2 hours inside the Inca citadel, back in Cusco the same evening.
- Panoramic train Ollantaytambo ↔ Aguas Calientes
- Entry + 2 h guided tour included
- Pick-up in Cusco historic centre
From 277 € / person
📍 Machu Picchu · Treppid Travels (2-7 h)
The smart move when you want a specific circuit (1A to 3B) and you're handling the logistics yourself. Ticket sent by WhatsApp the day before — ideal if you're already staying on site or adjusting at the last minute.
- Choose between all the official circuits on the site
- Optional audio guide (EN/ES/PT)
- Book up to 48 h in advance
From 78 € / person
📍 Aguas Calientes · TripScape Travel (3-4 h)
The turnkey option if you're already staying in Aguas Calientes: pick-up at your hotel or the station, official Consettur bus up to the entrance, and 2.5 hours of guided tour on the classic circuit 2 route.
- Circuit 2 (the most complete route on the site)
- Round-trip Consettur bus included
- Specialist guide (EN/ES/PT)
From 155 € / person
📍 Cusco · Fly Cusco Peru (2 days)
The combo so you don't miss a thing: Day 1 Chinchero, Moray, Maras and Ollantaytambo before the train to Aguas Calientes; Day 2 guided tour of Machu Picchu then back to Cusco. Hotel and Day 1 lunch included.
- Sacred Valley + Machu Picchu in 2 days
- Small group, 10 max · hotel in Aguas Calientes included
- Train + hotel transfers + Day 1 lunch included
From 430 € / person
How to get to Aguas Calientes
I’ll write you a dedicated article about it. The easiest way is to come by train (with Perurail) with a choice of the Expedition or Vistadome trains. Both are good, both have large windows, but the Vistadome is more comfortable and has much bigger windows; the Expedition is a bit cheaper.
The scenery on the train ride is truly wild, so I recommend it.
We’re looking at:
- €120 round-trip with the Expedition
- from €180 round-trip with the Vistadome
You can also do it in a day. You can easily buy your round-trip here in that case.
Planning your trip to Peru properly
Here are some other articles to help you plan your stay in Peru as well as possible
- The essential information for visiting Machu Picchu
- Here I tell you how to buy your entry ticket for Machu Picchu, on site or in advance
- And also whether it’s worth sleeping in Aguas Calientes
- Doing the round trip from Cusco to visit Machu Picchu in 1 day
- Discover the most beautiful Inca sites to see around Cusco
- And all of this in a Google Maps map of Cusco and Machu Picchu
- The Sacred Valley of the Incas will take you to sites like Moray, Maras and plenty of other must-sees
- For unique landscapes, go and see the 7-colour mountain of Vinicunca
- Another rainbow mountain at Palcoyo
- Discover the sarcophagi of Karajia in Chachapoyas!
- Discover what to do in Arequipa, the country’s second most beautiful city, as well as watching the condors fly at the Colca Canyon
- Here’s what you must see at Lake Titicaca, and in particular the Uros, Titino and Taquile islands.
- A discovery of Lima, with the Museo Larco and the historic centre. You also have the best guided tours of the city.
- I explain everything for getting to Lima from the airport
- South of Lima, you have to discover the Paracas reserve and the Ballestas islands
- And a little further south you have the surprising Huacachina Oasis, which is one of the must-see places around Ica
- Finally, in this article I share the essential information for your trip to Peru.
- Here’s some help working out how much a 2-week trip to Peru costs
- And here, find the most beautiful sites in Peru!
