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Ok, so we are really doing this? You're going for it!? Let's dive into some details!

Getting to Cusco

The first step of your journey is getting to Cusco. Assuming you are travelling from Lima, flying is by far the most convenient option. There are frequent flights from Lima with LATAM and budget airlines. The flight takes approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes, with one-way fares typically ranging from $50 to $100. If you come from Arequipa, a bus journey of around 10 hours is also a budget-friendly option. And for anyone wondering: flying to Cusco is much like taking any regular short-haul flight within Europe — no small and scary propeller planes involved!

Cusco itself is well worth a visit, and because the city sits at around 3,400 metres above sea level, we recommend spending at least a couple of days taking it easy and acclimatising after you arrive. This is particularly important if you are planning to hike to Machu Picchu. Fortunately, taking things slowly in Cusco is hardly a sacrifice — there is plenty to see, eat and explore while your body adjusts to the altitude.

Now there are two ways to go from Cusco to Machu Picchu, the quick and easy way with bus and train, and the adventurous way of using your own feet. Let's look at your options.

The Journey to Machu Picchu

Cusco to Machu Picchu with train

Option 1: Book it yourself

There's two things you need in advance: Train tickets and entry tickets to Machu Picchu. Both can be booked online, there are two railway companies, PeruRail and Inca Rail(⁠perurail.com), and your entry tickets for the ruins are booked via the official government site.

When booking the ticket from Cusco to Machu Picchu, you'll notice some of them include a bus/shuttle ticket from Cusco to a train station outside the city, since not all trains depart from the city itself. You can pick between different train and tickets types, from simple budget seats to fancy "vistadome" carts.

Daytrip vs. staying in Aguas Calientes

It is perfectly possible to visit Machu Picchu as a day trip from Cusco, but be prepared for a very long day. If you want to reach Machu Picchu in the morning, the journey typically starts in the middle of the night or very early in the morning. For example, PeruRail’s current bimodal service has a 3:20 a.m. departure from Cusco, that srtats with a bus from Cusco to Ollantaytambo followed by the train to Aguas Calientes, arriving at around 7:40 a.m.

From there, you walk or take the shuttle bus up the mountain to Machu Picchu. After exploring the site, you make the same journey in reverse: walk or bus back down to Aguas Calientes, train towards Cusco, and, with a bimodal ticket, the connecting bus for the final part of the journey. Depending on the train you choose, you may not be back in Cusco until 8–10 p.m., making this a potentially 16–19 hour day.

If you have the time, our recommendation is to spend one night in Aguas Calientes. Take an afternoon train from Cusco the day before — for example, current schedules include a 12:30 p.m. departure arriving around 5:00 p.m., as well as a later 4:30 p.m. departure arriving around 8:45 p.m. Check into one of the many inexpensive hotels or hostels in Aguas Calientes, have dinner and get a good night’s sleep. The following morning, get up early and walk (it's a hike of around 1 hr depending on your fitness) or take one of the first shuttle-buses up the mountain, aiming to be at the entrance before your booked entry time.

I particularly recommend having booking the earliest tickets from the opening at 6.00 am. If you are at the gate at 5.30 to get in line, you get to experience Machu Picchu with minimal crowds. Afterwards, head back down to Aguas Calientes for lunch and take an afternoon train home. Current PeruRail schedules, for example, have bimodal departures around 2:55–4:22 p.m. that get you back to Cusco at approximately 7:00–8:30 p.m.

In our opinion it makes the whole Machu Picchu experience considerably more relaxed and enjoyable. You don't need to bring all you belongings, leave what you don't need at your lodgings in Cusco while you are away.

Choosing the right tickets for entering Machu Picchu

Which circuit should I choose?

Things have changed a bit in recent years. Since 2024, Machu Picchu has been divided into three main circuits, with several routes within each circuit, and your ticket determines which parts of the site you can visit. You therefore need to think a little about what kind of experience you want before booking. (⁠Machu Picchu)

Circuit 1 – Panoramic is the best choice if spectacular views and hiking are your priority. Route 1A includes the climb to Machu Picchu Mountain, the high mountain above the archaeological site. It is a substantial and fairly steep hike, but rewards you with fantastic views of Machu Picchu and the surrounding mountains. This is the mountain Stian climbed when Stian visited, and we definitely recommend it if you have the legs for it! (⁠Machu Picchu)

Circuit 2 – Classic Machu Picchu is probably the best choice if your main priority is the archaeological site itself. It takes you through more of the classic ruins and gives you the traditional Machu Picchu experience without adding a major hike. For most first-time visitors who primarily want to explore the Inca city, this is the safest recommendation. (⁠Machu Picchu)

Circuit 3 – Royalty explores a different, lower part of the archaeological site and also offers the option of climbing Huayna Picchu (Wayna Picchu). This is the dramatic, steep mountain you see rising directly behind Machu Picchu in the classic photographs. The climb is steep and more adventurous, with narrow stone steps and some exposed sections, but from the top you get a completely different perspective, looking down over Machu Picchu rather than towards it from above. To climb Huayna Picchu, choose Route 3A. (⁠Machu Picchu)

So there is no single “best” circuit. If you mainly want to explore the ruins, choose Circuit 2. If you are fit, enjoy hiking and want the big panoramic experience, consider Circuit 1A and Machu Picchu Mountain. If climbing the iconic Huayna Picchu appeals to you, look at Circuit 3A. Keep in mind that the current system is more restrictive than it used to be, so one ticket no longer necessarily allows you to wander freely through every part of Machu Picchu.

Hiking to Machu Picchu

If you're feeling adventurous and want to arrive at Machu Picchu on foot, there are several incredible trekking options available! These routes vary significantly in length and difficulty. Listed here are the most common options. If you want an impression of what these treks are like, look them up on youtube.

While there are ways to do these hikes by yourself, I highly recommend booking a guided trek which usually include not just a guide, but prepared campsites, tents/lodgings, mules that carry most of the equipment so you only carry a small backpack, chef's that prepare traditional food on the way, and you are taken care of should you run into any problems. There are many tour operators that offer slightly different options in terms of budget and comfort.

1. The Classic Inca Trail (4 Days)

This is the most iconic route to Machu Picchu, combining spectacular Andean scenery with ancient ruins and the experience of actually walking along roads built by the Incas. The trek is moderately challenging, with plenty of steep stone steps and a high mountain pass, but the historic route and dramatic arrival at Machu Picchu make it particularly rewarding.

Much of the trail follows genuine sections of the ancient Inca road network, including stretches of original stone paths and staircases. Along the way, you pass several impressive archaeological sites that can only be reached on foot. The scenery also changes dramatically, from high Andean passes and mountain valleys to lush cloud forest as you descend toward Machu Picchu.

One of the most special aspects of the Inca Trail is the way you arrive. Unlike most other treks, you don’t finish in Aguas Calientes and approach Machu Picchu through the regular entrance. Instead, the ancient trail leads you directly to Intipunku, the Sun Gate, where you get your first view of Machu Picchu from above before continuing down toward the ruins—essentially approaching the city along the same route used by the Incas.

Pros:

A unique combination of trekking, history, archaeology and beautiful scenery that none of the alternative routes quite replicates.
You walk substantial sections of genuine Inca road and encounter archaeological sites throughout the trek.
The arrival through the Sun Gate directly into Machu Picchu is arguably the most memorable way to reach the site.

Cons:

Permits are strictly limited and can sell out months in advance, making it considerably less flexible than alternatives such as Salkantay.
It is a popular and highly regulated trail, so it offers less of a wilderness experience than some alternatives.
If your main priority is dramatic high-mountain scenery, rather than archaeology and history, Salkantay arguably has the edge.

2. The Salkantay Trek (5 Days)

Another option is the Salkantay Trek, which is the trek Stian did in 2016. Usually completed over four or five days, it is the most popular alternative to the Classic Inca Trail. While the Inca Trail is particularly focused on history and archaeology, Salkantay is more about spectacular mountain scenery and the experience of crossing the Andes.

The route takes you beneath the enormous, snow-covered Salkantay Mountain, crossing a dramatic high-altitude pass at around 4,600 metres before descending into completely different landscapes. Over just a few days, the surroundings change from rugged mountains, glaciers and barren alpine terrain to green valleys, waterfalls and lush subtropical cloud forest as you make your way toward Machu Picchu.

Pros:

The scenery is arguably even more spectacular than on the Inca Trail, particularly if you enjoy big mountains and a more adventurous wilderness experience.
The dramatic change in landscape—from glaciers and high-altitude mountains to subtropical forest—makes the trek extremely varied.
It is generally cheaper, less restricted and easier to book than the Inca Trail, as you don’t need one of the limited Inca Trail permits.
Stian did this trek and can definitely recommend it.

Cons:

Unlike the Classic Inca Trail, Salkantay is not primarily an archaeological route. You don’t spend several days walking along original Inca roads and encountering ruins along the way.
It is higher and more physically demanding, with the Salkantay Pass reaching around 4,600 metres, so altitude can be a significant factor.
The biggest disadvantage compared with the Inca Trail is probably the arrival. You don’t walk directly into Machu Picchu through the Sun Gate. Instead, the trek eventually brings you down to Aguas Calientes, from where you visit Machu Picchu separately the following day.

3. Short Inca Trail (2 Days)

The Short Inca Trail is a great middle ground for those who want some of the classic Inca Trail experience without committing to the full four-day trek. The hike begins farther along the railway toward Machu Picchu and follows a genuine section of the ancient Inca road, including original stone paths and staircases. Along the way, you visit Wiñay Wayna, one of the most impressive archaeological sites on the entire Inca Trail, before continuing through lush cloud forest toward Machu Picchu.

The main attraction is that you still get the classic arrival through Intipunku, the Sun Gate. After several hours of hiking, you reach the gate and get your first view of Machu Picchu spread out below you, before descending toward the ruins. You then continue to Aguas Calientes for the night and normally return to Machu Picchu the following morning for a more extensive visit.

Pros:

You get many of the highlights of the Classic Inca Trail—walking on an ancient Inca road, visiting Wiñay Wayna and approaching Machu Picchu through the Sun Gate—without spending four days trekking and camping.
It is significantly less physically demanding, with no very high mountain pass comparable to those on the Classic Inca Trail or Salkantay.
It only requires one main day of hiking, making it much easier to fit into a shorter Peru itinerary.
If Machu Picchu itself is the main event, this is arguably the best compromise: you still get the special Inca Trail arrival without dedicating four or five days to getting there.

Cons:

You miss much of what makes the full Inca Trail an adventure in its own right: several days in the mountains, more archaeological sites and much greater variety in scenery.
Although shorter, the main hiking day is still fairly demanding, with plenty of uphill sections and steep stone stairs.
It still requires an Inca Trail permit and advance booking, so it doesn’t offer the flexibility of Salkantay.
If trekking itself is a major part of the experience you’re looking for, the full Inca Trail or Salkantay will be considerably more rewarding.

Whichever option you choose, we highly recommend booking well in advance, as permits for the Inca Trail in particular can sell out months ahead. We can't wait to hear about your experience!