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Do you have to hike Machu Picchu? Not necessarily, and I’ll give you all the details on how to reach Machu Picchu without hiking in this article!
Machu Picchu, a marvel of ancient architecture and a UNESCO World Heritage site, is also counted among the seven wonders of the world - it’s the world wonder that I’ve personally enjoyed the most.
It’s an iconic site that absolutely lives up to the hype, captivating visitors from around the globe.
Usually, when people think of Machu Picchu, they picture adventurers hiking along the Inca Trail.
My brother-in-law completed this challenging hike, and it took him five days!
But what if you’re not so adventurous or don’t want to hike for days?
In this guide, I’ll share my firsthand experience of visiting Machu Picchu without tackling those long trails.
Follow along for a step-by-step plan to reach Machu Picchu without hiking, and the cost to visit Machu Picchu.
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Your journey begins in beautiful Lima, where you can explore the city’s attractions before heading to Machu Picchu.
We spent two days exploring Lima before catching a short one-hour-long flight to Cusco.
We flew with JetSmart which only allows one handbag per passenger without additional fees.
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Our flight was $28 USD per person. But your flight ticket can quickly become more expensive if you have oversized or overweight baggage.
This is where packing light to avoid baggage fees comes in handy.
If you have plans to fly back to your home country from Lima, it may be worth it to pack a smaller bag just for Cusco and store your bigger bags at an accommodation in Lima, which tends to be cheap.
For instance, we stayed in a spacious two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment in Miraflores for $26 USD per night.
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You could rent an even smaller space in Lima, and keep your bags there while you explore Cusco before returning to Lima if your bags will end up hiking up your flight prices.
Consider the real-time price difference.
When heading to Cusco, be cautious of the high altitude and take necessary precautions to prevent altitude sickness. Cusco is 11,152 feet (3,399 meters) above sea level.
When you’re up this high, the air is thinner and you can experience symptoms of lightheadedness, headaches, shortness of breath, dizziness, and nausea.
This is especially true if you don’t give yourself time to get acclimated to the higher elevation and lower oxygen levels.
This is why it’s not recommended to do too much when you first arrive in Cusco.
Take the time to rest, take it easy, and take some preventative remedies.
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Step 2: How to Get from Cusco to Aguas Calientes
Aguas Calientes, also known as Machu Picchu town, is your gateway to the ancient site.
To reach Aguas Calientes from Cusco, we took the Inca Rail, which includes a bus ride to Ollantaytambo and then a train ride to Aguas Calientes for $86 USD per person roundtrip.
The cost varies depending on the time of day and which company you ride with.
This took a total of about three hours.
Alternatively, you can take this journey with Peru Rail.
Whichever company you choose, book at least 30 days in advance.
Ollantaytambo can also be a base for exploration, with various affordable accommodations available.
We’d highly recommend doing an Ollantaytambo Maras Moray tour and experiencing the Sacred Valley and its surroundings either on your way to or from Aguas Calientes.
We explored Maras and Moray with Willka Travel after returning to Cusco from Machu Picchu.
Whether you check out the Sacred Valley sooner or later in your journey is up to you, but it is a must-visit.
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Step 3: Bus from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu
Now that you’ve made the journey from Lima to Cusco to Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes, it’s time to (finally) check out the world wonder of Machu Picchu.
You’ll need to purchase your bus tickets in Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu Town) to access Machu Picchu.
Make sure to have your passport, as it’s required for ticket purchase.
You can pay with credit cards or cash. The bus ticket cost $24 USD per person roundtrip when we went in July 2023.
Buses operate regularly, allowing you to board the next available bus without much of a wait.
There is no set time on your bus ticket. You simply stand in line and wait to board the next available bus.
Pay attention to bus attendants directing boarding procedures.
It was just me and my husband traveling together, and the bus attendants would commonly call out smaller pairs of people to board the bus sooner.
So we waited much less time in line for the bus than we originally anticipated since it was just the two of us.
The bus ride is about 30 minutes long and takes you up a scenic switchback road to the mountainside where Machu Picchu is situated.
Alternatively, you could take on the 5-mile Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu hike instead.
But this guide is all about how to reach Machu Picchu without hiking so be sure to hop on that bus!
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Step 4: Explore the Machu Picchu Circuits
This is the moment we’ve all been waiting for. You’ve stepped off the bus, and are now heading towards the entrance to Machu Picchu.
But first things first, you should definitely make a pit stop at the restrooms.
Once you enter the ruins, there are no restrooms and there is no turning back.
Now you’ll need to make the oh-so-important decision of whether you would like to explore Machu Picchu with or without a guide.
There are guides outside the entrance that you can hire upon arrival.
We seriously lucked out and met one of the most informative guides in Machu Picchu who gave us an incredibly fair price.
His name is Miguel and we found our experience to be much more valuable with him as our tour guide.
Side note: If you’d like to enhance your Machu Picchu tour experience with Miguel, his booking info is included in our “Explore Peru Travel Guide.”
Now it’s time to enter Machu Picchu and present your ticket which should be pre-booked way in advance. We booked our Machu Picchu ticket in February for July entry.
The entrance into Machu Picchu is $41 USD per person.
The ticket you book will have a very specific entry time. Our entry time was 10:00 a.m. We arrived at 9:50 a.m., and were not allowed inside until 10:00 a.m. on the dot!
But it’s also important to note that from the time your time slot begins, you only have one hour to enter Machu Picchu and begin on your selected circuit.
There are four different circuits in Machu Picchu. The Machu Picchu tickets that we booked gave us the option to decide on our circuit when we arrived. It listed “circuit 1, 2, 3, or 4” on our ticket.
However, we met others whose circuit was pre-determined at the time of booking their tickets. Be sure to pay attention to the circuit.
Circuit 2 is commonly thought of as the best option as it includes the famous postcard views of Machu Picchu from above.
It’s actually the circuit that we chose! You can see our experience below.
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Circuit 1 is similar to Circuit 2, but it is shorter.
Circuit 3 is another great option that explores the lower areas of Machu Picchu.
We unexpectedly ran into our friends Evelyn and Nick from The Road Let’s Travel at Machu Picchu (yes, the world is really that small!) and they were taking on Circuit 3.
You can check out their experience below which includes climbing Machu Picchu mountain (Montana Machu Picchu).
Just be sure to like, comment, and subscribe to their channel for more travel inspiration!
Finally, Circuit 4 is similar to Circuit 3 but it is longer.
If you plan to hike Huayna Picchu, you would need to have Circuit 4 tickets.
Machu Picchu does have many stairs and a steep mountainside path, but you can opt not to climb to certain areas.
Practice self care while traveling and take on Machu Picchu at your own pace.
We spent a total of three hours exploring the Machu Picchu Incan ruins with our guide at our own pace.
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Step 5: Bus Back to Aguas Calientes from Machu Picchu
After taking your time exploring Machu Picchu, get in line for the bus back to Aguas Calientes.
You could hike about five miles down to Aguas Calientes, but this article is all about the no-hiking approach.
After walking around Machu Picchu for a few hours, your legs will thank you for having purchased a round trip bus ticket back to Aguas Calientes. Trust me.
When you arrive back in Aguas Calientes, you can buy some souvenirs, or try some of the restaurants around town before catching your train.
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Step 6: Train Back to Ollantaytambo from Aguas Calientes
Return to Ollantaytambo via train for a comfortable journey back to the base town.
The train ride with Inca Rail or Peru Rail can be incredibly scenic.
However, if you purchase an evening ticket, you won’t be seeing anything out of those windows.
We purchased an evening ticket because it turned out to be the cheaper option.
I’d recommend purchasing a ticket with great views at least on your way to Aguas Calientes, and perhaps going the cheaper evening route on your way back after you’ve experienced Machu Picchu.
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Step 7: Bus from Ollantaytambo to Cusco
Conclude your trip by taking a bus from Ollantaytambo back to Cusco.
The bus ticket will be included in your bimodal ticket through Inca Rail or Peru Rail.
We were initially a bit confused because we thought we purchased a roundtrip bus and train ticket with Inca Rail.
However, our return train tickets did not show any bus information on it, unlike our original train tickets which had a bus time and a train time included.
It turned out that when we boarded our train back to Ollantaytambo, they assigned which bus we would get on immediately after getting off the train in Ollantaytambo.
The bus was not written on our train ticket because the time could vary.
Ultimately, we got off the train at Ollantaytambo and boarded the bus that dropped us off back in Cusco.
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More Tips for Your Visit to Machu Picchu
Machu Picchu is one of the seven wonders of the world, and it’s not hard to see why.
The journey is long but well worth it to get to Machu Picchu.
There are a few more tips that you should keep in mind for your journey.
Cusco is much higher in elevation than Machu Picchu. If you experience altitude sickness in Cusco, chances are, you will feel better in Machu Picchu.
Machu Picchu is 7,972 feet (2,430 meters) above sea level. The symptoms of altitude sickness typically begin to kick in at 8,000 feet (2,438 meters) above sea level.
You should still take it easy as you explore Machu Picchu, as this is probably a higher elevation than you are typically used to anyway.
Cusco is much colder than Aguas Calientes. Machu Picchu has its own microclimate that is even more humid than Aguas Calientes.
Wearing easy-to-remove layers is key.
You should be sure to apply sunscreen, stay hydrated, and have a meal before your visit.
Be sure to capture plenty of photos to preserve your memories along the way. The route is one-way, so there is no turning back for any reason in Machu Picchu.
The sunrise at Machu Picchu is considered one of the best times to visit.
If you want to catch the Machu Picchu sunrise, you’ll need to stay in Aguas Calientes the night before in order to get in line for the bus to Machu Picchu by 4:00 a.m.
Some of the best spots to witness the sunrise at Machu Picchu are the Temple of the Sun and Machu Picchu Mountain.
It is also a good idea to visit Machu Picchu during the dry season from April to October with a higher likelihood of sunnier days.
Let’s say you’re short on time and would like to visit Machu Picchu in one day, that’s possible, too.
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Tip for Visiting Machu Picchu in One Day:
- Purchase an early bus and train ticket, remembering the journey is about 3 hours from Cusco
- Purchase a bus ticket in Aguas Calientes as soon as you arrive and get in line to board the bus to Machu Picchu, remembering the bus ride is about 30 minutes. Budget 30 minutes for waiting in line to buy the ticket and boarding the bus. This, of course, can vary.
- Expect to spend between 1.5 to 2.5 hours exploring Machu Picchu, depending on the circuit you select. The route is one-way, so you can’t turn back once you begin your circuit. The only way out is forward.
- Once you’ve made it through the Incan ruins of Machu Picchu, immediately get in line to board the bus back to Aguas Calientes. The ride is another 30 minutes to the main town.
- Head to the train station to catch your evening train to Ollantaytambo and sleep on the bus ride to Cusco. This train and bus part of the trip is another 3 hours, so you’ll likely be tired after this incredibly long day.
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Final Thoughts on How to Reach Machu Picchu Without Hiking
Experiencing Machu Picchu without hiking is entirely possible, offering a unique perspective on this iconic wonder of the world.
By following this step-by-step guide, you can enjoy the magnificence of Machu Picchu without the physical demands of trekking all the way there.
While the traditional Inca Trail and other hiking routes certainly have their allure, the alternative options we’ve explored in this guide open up a world of possibilities for travelers of different fitness levels.
You’ll still be met with the inspiring beauty, rich history, and indescribable atmosphere that has made Machu Picchu a world wonder.
So whether you’re seeking a more accessible way to explore these ancient Incan ruins or simply want to enjoy every moment of your visit without a long hike, rest assured that Machu Picchu has something extraordinary to offer.
By following these recommendations you can head on a journey that combines comfort with wonder, ensuring that your experience at Machu Picchu is nothing short of unforgettable.
So go ahead, plan your trip, and prepare for an incredible time at Machu Picchu, regardless of how you choose to arrive.
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Machu Picchu FAQs
Yes, you can reach Machu Picchu without hiking by using buses and trains as described in this guide.
The easiest way to get to Machu Picchu is to fly from Lima to Cusco, then take buses and trains to Aguas Calientes and Machu Picchu.
While there is a lot of walking required at Machu Picchu, you can choose your own pace and select a shorter circuit to explore.
No, private vehicles are not allowed at Machu Picchu. Buses are the main mode of transportation to the site unless you hike.
Certain items like drones, selfie sticks, tripos, walking sticks, food, and umbrellas are not allowed at Machu Picchu.
Yes, you can visit Machu Picchu in one day, as described in this guide, but plan your time accordingly.
Yes. You can hike through Machu Picchu without a tour guide, but an entrance ticket booked in advance is required.
On average, travelers spend about three hours at Machu Picchu. This could be more or less depending on the circuit you choose.