What are the ways to get Inca trail to Machu?

Machu Picchu - the most important sight of Peru

The Inca fortress Machu Picchu remained hidden for centuries, because Machu Picchu was only rediscovered by the American explorer Bingham in 1911, because the fortress is very hidden in the mountain cloud forests of the east. The fortress was built under the command of Pachacuteq in the 15th century.

The Inca reached Machu Picchu from Cusco via the Inca trail. This path is the most traveled route in South America today. At the time of the Spanish conquest, the Incas destroyed all roads to Machu Picchu, so this wonderful site remained hidden from the eyes of the Spaniards and, fortunately, can still be admired.

Of course, you should also get to know Machu Picchu during your trip through Peru. But how do you best get there and how much does it cost? First of all, there are certain things you need to know in advance...

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Machu Picchu - Costs and Ways: What You Need to Know Before

1.       the maximum number of visitors is limited to 2,500 visitors / day, so you should not book the ticket on the last day

2.       the next town from Machu Picchu is called Aguas Calientes

3.       Aguas Calientes can only be reached by train or on foot

4.       There are two train connections to Aguas Calientes: 1) Cusco / Poroy - Aguas Calientes and 2) Ollantaytambo - Aguas Calientes

5.       If you take part in a trek, the ticket is usually included in the price (you can also book a trek IN CUSCO)

What does Machu Picchu cost? What does the price for Machu Picchu depend on?

Due to the closed and hidden location, the village of Aguas Calientes below Machu Picchu can only be reached by rail or on foot.

The price of your trip to Machu Picchu is therefore dependent on two factors:

1.       How do you want to get to Aguas Calientes?

2.       Where do you book the ticket? You can opt for a comfortable or more complicated AND more economical variant here.

Paths to Aguas Calientes / Machu Picchu

Ok, then I come to 1). There are the following ways to get to Aguas Calientes / Machu Picchu:

1.       You take the train (the most comfortable and relatively expensive option), there are two options: 1) Poroy / at Cusco - Aguas Calientes and 2) Ollantaytambo - Aguas Calientes

2.       You take part in a trek (and can hike wonderful landscapes): the price depends on which trek you take part in and how skillfully you negotiate.

3.       you drive by bus / taxi to Ollantaytambo or Hydroelectrica and hike from there via the railroad tracks to Machu Picchu (the cheapest but also most unspectacular variant)

Machu Picchu costs: where is the best place to book the ticket?

The convenient option:

You can book various tours for Machu Picchu from Get your guide. The following options are available:

1.       Book the ticket for Machu Picchu alone (alternatively also with ascent to Huayna Picchu or to Cerro Machu Picchu)

2.       Book the ticket for Machu Picchu with the accompanying train journey

3.       you book a trek to Machu Picchu including the ticket, food and guide (Spanish or English)

With this variant, I would recommend booking at least 2-3 months in advance. The disadvantage, of course, is that the flexibility is slightly lost during the trip. The advantage is that you don't have to worry about anything after booking, and sometimes there is also a guide etc. included in the price. Of course, with this variant the costs are higher than if you organize everything on site in Cusco or regulate it separately.

Related Post: Train for the Inca Trail In Peru

The more complicated and cheaper option:

Here you book the ticket and train journey OR trek separately (see below). You can order the ticket, for example, via Machu Picchu tickets.

With the exception of the Inca Trail, you do not necessarily have to book the trek beforehand; you can also clarify this on site (see below).

By train:

You can book the Cusco-Aguas Calientes or Ollantaytambo-Aguas Calientes train journey with Inca rail  or Peru rail . Again, you should make the booking at least 2 months in advance.

Trekking:

You can book a trek to Machu Picchu in Cusco from many providers . The advantage of this variant is that you can compare different offers on site and also trade them down. Furthermore, you can act freely according to your own plans and ideas, since you did not have to order the ticket months in advance.

The Inca Trail is an exception, as the demand is very high here. The train ride from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo is usually included in the price. This way you could get to know the sites in the Sacred Valley of the Incas.

By train to Aguas Calientes / Machu Picchu

Poroy / Cusco - Aguas Calientes connection

In 1913 construction began on the narrow-gauge railway to Aguas Calientes, the valley station of Machu Picchu. The train ride starts in Poroy west of Cusco and takes ~ 4h.

It is the most convenient and probably also the most expensive option to get to Machu Picchu. A ticket can be booked through Peru rail or Inca rail . It is advisable to book the train ticket months in advance. The train ride through the spectacular landscapes of the Sacred Valley on the Río Urubamba, framed by the peaks of the Andes, is definitely a wonderful experience.

The journey from Cusco to Poroy takes around 20 minutes, a taxi would cost ~ 20 soles. You can also take a bus from the terminal in Avenida Grau in Cusco to Urubamba, Poroy is on the way. However, the Aguas Calientes train usually starts very early in the morning, so a taxi could be a better choice.

Connection Ollantaytambo - Aguas Calientes

The advantage of this variant is that you can combine your plans with a visit to the sites of Pisaq and Ollantaytambo in the Sacred Valley of the Incas of the Urubamba River. You can visit all of these sites with the Boleto Turístico (see Cusco ). You can also visit the Chinchero market, which is very colorful and takes place every Sunday.

These locations are also easily accessible by public transport from Cusco :

1.       Buses to Chinchero, Urubamba and Ollantaytambo leave from Terminal de Buses on Avenida Grau (follow Av. Grau opposite the Qoricancha temple, the terminal is just before the Av. Grau / Av. Del Ejército intersection).

2.       Buses and shared taxis (Colectivos) to Pisaq leave from Calle Puputi (near Av. Recoleta). In Pisaq drive on the corner of Hospital / Av. Amazon buses to Urubamba. From here you can take a Colectivo to Ollantaytambo.

Trek to Machu Picchu

After Machu Picchu, numerous treks are also offered. It is recommended to acclimatize in Cusco at least 1-2 days beforehand due to the altitude.

During the trek, temperatures can drop to <0 ° C at night, so be sure to have warm clothes with you. A sunscreen with sun protection factor 50 should also be in your luggage. The best months for a hike to Machu Picchu are April-October. A trek often includes the ticket to Mach Picchu. If you also want to climb the Huaynapicchu, you can also book this.

The prices are relatively different, depending on the provider. However, it is worthwhile to deal with the agencies concerned. It is quite possible to trade the price down from $ 350 to $ 270-280.

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The Inca Trail

On this path you walk in the footsteps of the Inca history. It was not until 1942 that the former supply and replenishment route was rediscovered; today it is the most traveled route in South America. The Inca Trail is by far the most popular trek from Cusco to Machu Picchu, along this path you will see most of the ancient Inca ruins.

The prices include the transport, the ticket to Machu Picchu (without Huayna Picchu), the costs for guide, cook, tent, equipment and meals. The path can be walked by a maximum of 500 people daily, so you should book this tour months in advance. Travel flexibility is often lost. Sometimes the Inca Trail is overcrowded (they all run together), so the Salkantay Trek is a recommendation.

The Salkantay trek

This trek takes 5 days (90km) with the last day being Machu Picchu. Here you don't have to make the booking months in advance, you can also pay for the tour 2-3 days earlier in Cusco.

This trek also usually includes the ticket to Machu Picchu and the train ticket from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo. Pick-up from the hotel usually takes place around 5 a.m., starting point for the trek is Mollepata at 2,900 m (2h drive).

The landscapes are breathtaking, the path also leads over the 4,650 m high pass "Abra-Salkantay". This pass is the highlight of the tour. Here you have a spectacular view of the 6,264 m high Salkantay.

This trek is very demanding and exhausting, covering 80 km in 4 days.

The wonderful landscapes during the Salkantay trek

The Lares trek 4 days

This trek lasts 4 days (3 nights) and starts at 2,800 m at the hot springs of Lares. The last day is scheduled for Machu Picchu. The Lares Trek is optionally offered as an alternative to the Inca Trail. You encounter the untouched, natural beauty of the Andes and meet idyllic villages. Usually the ticket for Machu Picchu (without Huaynapicchu) and the train journey from Aguas Calientes to Cusco or Ollantaytambo are included in the price.

You can also book this trek a few days before visiting Machu Picchu in Cusco. The Lares Trek also includes visiting hot spas. You can find a very nice report about the Lares Trek at Sun & Clouds .

Related Post: Inca Trail Adventure Tour by Andean Path Travel

 The Inca Jungle Trek

This trek lasts 4 days (3 nights) and is ideal for adventurers and adrenaline junkies . The trek combines cycling, hiking, white water rafting, zip lining and a visit to thermal springs (Santa Teresa).

When you book this trek, you have to ask exactly which of the activities are included in the price and for which you have to pay an extra charge.

 

 Hike over the railroad tracks (bargain hunters)

Many backpackers are put off by the Inca Trail: it is overcrowded, expensive and a guide is required. For the train journey to Machu Picchu you would pay at least 70 US $, but in Peru you could easily get lunch with soup, main course and drink for 2-3 weeks.

For these reasons, I mention two extremely inexpensive ways to get to Machu Picchu.

Conclusion

There are many ways to get to Machu Picchu. The famous short Inca trail 2 days is not necessarily the best option, especially the alternative treks such as the Salkantay Trek or the Lares Trek are no less beautiful from the landscapes and they are also less crowded.

In relation, the three-hour train ride to Machu Picchu from Cusco is the most convenient and also the most expensive option.

The cheapest way to get to Machu Picchu is by foot from Ollantaytambo or Hidroelectrica, but this is not nearly as spectacular as the Salkantay Trek.

Incidentally, there have been new rules for visiting times etc. in Machu Picchu since 2017. You can find specific information about this in an article at Meyouandtheworld .

You can find more articles about Peru on this overview page . General information for your trip can be found in my article Backpacking in Peru.

Related Post:  Inca Trail: What you need to know about the hike to Machu Picchu