If you do not want to trek 4 days to Machu Picchu, travel by train with us to explore the incredible site of Machu Picchu.
Machu Picchu is located on a mountainside near the town of Aguas Calientes. Aguas Calientes gets its name from the nearby hot springs and is located in a valley beside the Vilcanota River. The altitude in Aguas Calientes is 2.020 meters above sea level which is approximately 1,300 meters below Cusco. From Aguas Calientes, you can take a 20 minute bus ride up to Machu Picchu on a steep and winding dirt road.
The one day excursion from Cusco to Machu Picchu includes all transportation (transfer from your hotel, round trip train tickets, bus to Machu Picchu, and bus from Ollantaytambo to Cusco), entrance tickets, and a professional English speaking guide to lead you through the ruins. You will have approximately 9 hours to spend in Machu Picchu. Machu Picchu opens at 6 am and stays open until 6pm. You can take small bags into the ruins but anything larger than 20 liters must be left at the luggage storage near the entrance for US$2 per bag.
Day 1: Cusco – Machu Picchu by train
Taking a train from Cusco is the easiest way to get to Aguas Calientes, trains can depart from either Poroy or Ollantaytambo. We highly recommend that you book your tour far in advance because during the high season (May to September) train tickets can be sold out several weeks in advance.
An extra night
If you want to stay longer at the ruins or want to see Machu Picchu at sunrise, you can stay overnight in one of the many accommodations in Aguas Calientes. There are plenty of hotels and restaurants in the town and its main attraction are the thermal springs which give Aguas (water) Calientes (hot) its name. The outdoor springs are a 15 minutes walk from the town center. At the hot springs there are facilities to change and shower. Since there are many tourists that visit Aguas Calientes, the prices here are a bit more expensive than most other cities in Peru. For example, an average dinner is approximately s/ 30 (however, you can find cheaper options if you look).
