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How are Cusco and Machu Picchu connected?

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How are Cusco and Machu Picchu connected?

Machu Picchu is more than 100 kilometers away from the city of Cusco. To go from Cusco to Machu Picchu you must board the train at one of the 3 stations: Poroy, Valle Sagrado or Ollantaytambo. The latter is the busiest because it has the largest number of daily departures.

 

4 steps to get to Machu Picchu from Cusco

Step 1: buy the entrance tickets to Machu Picchu

The first thing you should do is reserve the entrance to Machu Picchu weeks in advance.

You can make the purchase online or directly in the city of Cusco. However, to find availability it is recommended to do it online from anywhere in the world.

Remember that the entrance to Huayna Picchu must be purchased online two or three months in advance.

These are the types of entrance tickets to Machu Picchu and their respective schedules:

 

Machu Picchu Solo Entrance:

  • Group 1: Entrance from 6 in the morning.
  • Group 2: Entrance from 7 in the morning.
  • Group 3: Entrance from 8 in the morning.
  • Group 4: Entrance from 9 in the morning.
  • Group 5: Entrance from 10 in the morning.
  • Group 6: Entrance from 11 in the morning.
  • Group 7: Entrance from 12 p.m.
  • Group 8: Entrance from 1 p.m.
  • Group 9: Entrance from 2 p.m.

Machu Picchu + Huayna Picchu Entrance:

 

Group 1:

Machu Picchu schedule: from 6 in the morning.

Entrance to Huayna Picchu: between 7 a.m. and 8 a.m.

 

Group 2:

Machu Picchu schedule: from 7 a.m.

Entrance to Huayna Picchu: between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m.

 

Group 3:

Machu Picchu schedule: from 8 a.m.

Entrance to Huayna Picchu: between 9 a.m. and 10 a.m.

 

Group 4:

Machu Picchu schedule: from 9 a.m.

Entrance to Huayna Picchu: between 10 a.m. and 11 a.m.

 

Machu Picchu + Mountain entrance:

 

Group 1:

Machu Picchu schedule: from 6 a.m.

Entrance to the Mountain: between 7 a.m. and 8 a.m.

 

Group 2:

Machu Picchu schedule: from 7 a.m.

Entrance to the Mountain: between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m.

 

Entrance to Machu Picchu + Huchuy Picchu:

 

Group 1:

Machu Picchu schedule: from 6 a.m.

Entrance to the Mountain: between 7 a.m. and 8 a.m.

 

Group 2:

Machu Picchu schedule: from 7 a.m.

Entrance to the Mountain: between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m.

 

Group 3:

Machu Picchu schedule: from 8 a.m.

Entrance to the Mountain: between 9 a.m. and 10 a.m.

 

Group 4:

Machu Picchu schedule: from 9 a.m.

Entrance to the Mountain: between 10 a.m. and 11 a.m.

 

Group 5:

Machu Picchu schedule: from 10 a.m.

Mountain entrance: between 11 a.m. and 12 p.m.

 

Group 6:

Machu Picchu schedule: from 11 a.m.

Mountain entrance: between 12 p.m. and 1 p.m.

 

Group 7:

Machu Picchu schedule: from noon.

Mountain entrance: between 1 p.m. and 2 p.m.

 

Group 8:

Machu Picchu schedule: from 1 p.m.

Mountain entrance: between 2 p.m. and 3 p.m.

 

Step 2: Book Ollantaytambo – Machu Picchu train tickets

Buying the train tickets is the second thing you need to do to get to Machu Picchu. It is recommended to buy train tickets immediately after knowing the date and time of entry on your Machu Picchu ticket. Remember that train tickets are also limited and can be purchased online.

 

The train service follows the route: Ollantaytambo – Aguas Calientes. The trip takes approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes.

Booking train tickets in advance allows you to choose the service you want. These are the types of train services:

 

Peru Rail trains:

  • Expedition Train.
  • Vistadome Train.
  • Vistadome Observatory Train.
  • Hiram Bingham Train.

Inca Rail Trains:

  • Voyager Train.
  • 360º Train.
  • First Class Train.
  • The Private Train.

Step 3: Traveling the Cusco – Ollantaytambo – Aguas Calientes route

Once in Cusco (with the Machu Picchu tickets and train tickets already purchased) you will need to get to Ollantaytambo.

You can get to Ollantaytambo in 2 ways: on your own by taking public transportation or by hiring transfer services with a travel agency.

 

If you are traveling on your own, you can board one of the cars, buses or minivans that leave from Pavitos Street in the Historic Center of Cusco.

 

The trip from Cusco to Ollantaytambo on public transportation costs 10 soles and takes approximately 2 hours.

 

Once at the Ollantaytambo station, you have to board your train to Machu Picchu. For this you will need to have previously reserved train tickets in your possession.

 

The train route to Machu Picchu is considered one of the most amazing short routes in the world. It runs through the Sacred Valley of the Incas until arriving at the final station in Aguas Calientes.

 

Step 4: Travel from Aguas Calientes to the entrance gate to Machu Picchu

Once you arrive in the town of Aguas Calientes, you still have one more thing to do: you will need to buy bus tickets to Machu Picchu.

 

The ticket office is located just one block from the train station. This is where you board the buses to the Wonder of the World.

 

In most cases, tourists will have to wait in line to board the buses. During the mornings of the high tourist season (April to October), these lines can take up to 30 minutes.

 

The buses to Machu Picchu take around 30 minutes to ascend from Aguas Calientes to the entrance gate to the Inca City.

The first bus to Machu Picchu leaves at 5:30 a.m.

 

Once in Machu Picchu!

Once in Machu Picchu, we only need to present our previously purchased and printed entrance ticket. We must enter Machu Picchu at the time indicated on the entrance ticket (example: from 8 a.m.).

From the moment of entry, each tourist can stay a maximum of 4 hours in the Inca City.

The tour accompanied by a tour guide is mandatory. Therefore, you must obtain one in advance online or get one at the gate of Machu Picchu just before your visit.

After visiting Machu Picchu, the tourist must return the same way he arrived: with a bus and train trip to the city of Cusco.

 

Other ways to get to and visit Machu Picchu

In addition to traveling to Machu Picchu on your own (via the train route from Ollantaytambo) there are other ways to get to and visit the Inca City:

 

Travel with an organized tour – Tours to Machu Picchu include transportation from Cusco (by bus and train) as well as the entrance ticket to the Inca City. The costs are higher than traveling on your own but the tourist avoids the hassle of organizing the trip.

 

Travel by the ‘Hydroelectric’ route – This is the cheapest way to get to Machu Picchu. However, it takes much longer compared to the train trip from Ollantaytambo. The route starts from Cusco to the Hydroelectric power station (6 hours by bus). From there you take a train (30 minutes) or walk to the town of Aguas Calientes (2 hours).

 

Inca Trail to Machu Picchu – This is the hiking route that the Incas took to get to Machu Picchu. It lasts 4 days, 3 nights and covers approximately 39 kilometers. On the last day you reach the Inca City through the ‘Puerta del Sol’. It is considered one of the best hiking routes in the world.

 

Salkantay Hike – This is an extreme hiking route because it crosses high altitude landscapes such as the ‘abra Salkantay (4,650 m.a.s.l.). It lasts 5 days, 4 nights and covers approximately 65 kilometers. On the last day you reach Machu Picchu by bus from the town of Aguas Calientes.

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