I finally traveled below the equator to Peru, South America to see Machu Picchu in August. Machu Picchu was on my bucket list item of must-visit places. When I started the research on how to get to Machu Picchu, it made my head spin. There are many ways to get to Machu Picchu and there isn’t a straight line route to get there, but after researching extensively and attempting the journey myself, I figured out how! In this post, I will tell you how I planned my trip to Machu Picchu, travelled and visited one of the 7 wonders of the world.

Machu Picchu is located at an elevation of 7,970 ft (2,430 meters). Some may experience altitude sickness

Pro Tip : Stay in the city of Cusco, Peru for a night to acclimate to the altitude. Some hotels offer oxygen shots that you can take, if needed

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Picture of me in Cusco city, Peru

Step 1: Book your tickets to Machu Picchu in advance

A simple google search of how to get to Machu Picchu will get your head in a tizzy. You will first need to secure your tickets to Machu Picchu. You can do this on the official Machu Picchu website. However, that’s just one piece of the puzzle in getting to Machu Picchu.

I booked a day tour package through Inca Rail that included my hotel pickup from Cusco, bus to Ollantaytambo train station, bus up to Machu Picchu, private English guide & tickets to Machu Picchu. I’d save yourself the trouble of managing these logistics & go with a Inca Rail package. Go to Inca Rail’s official website for more information.

Step 2: Tour begins – Get picked up by a tour bus from Cusco city at 4:20am

Super early morning, I know! But you cannot beat the magic of experiencing the Andes when the sun is about to rise. My tour company picked me up from my hotel at 4:20am in a bus to my next stop called Ollantaytambo train station. Ollantaytambo is a historic archaeological town. A bumpy bus ride to say the least, but the night sky was spectacular.

Did you know? The famous Orion belt constellation is seen upside down in Peru because it is located in the Southern Hemisphere…or is it the right side up? Perspective!

Total bus trip from Cusco to Ollantaytambo is approximately 2 hours & 40 minutes.

Picture of blurry starry skies (result of bumpy bus ride) & a picture of beautiful sunrise in the Andes

Step 3: Enjoy scenic train ride through the Andes to your next stop, Aguas Calinetes

My bus trip from Cusco concluded at a town called Ollantaytambo train station. Here the tour gave me approximately 20 minutes to use the facilities & get something to eat. The station itself is small & has a few options for coffee, teas, sandwich, chips etc.

Picture of the rest area near Ollantaytambo train station

From here, I was escorted to the 360 scenic train run by Inca Rail. I boarded the train and sat in the comfortable AC chair.

Gorgeous views from the scenic Inca Rail

After a total trip time of 1 hour and 40 minutes, I arrived in a town called Aguas Calientes (literally translated to Hot Springs), the gateway town to Machu Picchu. The town has shopping alleys, great restaurants & even a natural hot spring.

Step 4: Catch a bus to Machu Picchu entrance

This step was a bit difficult for me. Before I could catch my final bus up to Machu Picchu, I had to locate my guide. Difficult because there’s a sea of people in this town, all waiting to board the bus up to the citadel. Finally my guide called out my name and I was glad I found him. He then scanned my passport & tickets & boarded the bus with me to Machu Picchu.

The total bus trip from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu entrance was approximately 20 minutes

Buses from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu run every 10 minutes from 5:30am to 3:30pm.

Step 5: Arrive at Machu Picchu, enjoy the historic views

Finally! After my bus trip up to the entrance, I had to stand in a line to get my ticket validated before entering the citadel. Thankfully, my guide was with me at this point & assisted me with getting in. There is a weight limit on bags you can carry up to Machu Picchu. The weight is capped at 17.6 pounds (7kg) as of 2024. Carry a small backpack with essentials – water, sunblock, insect repellant, tickets, jackets.

Once you get in through Machu Picchu’s entrance, it’s still a hike up. It’s still a manageable hike and have a couple of steps to climb. My guide was very knowledgeable & spoke Quechua – the Incan language.

Carry water with you. The Andean sun will suck out your energy. Hydrate.

Carry insect repellent too. The Andean mosquitoes are no joke.

Picture of Machu Picchu taken by me

And there it was, sitting at an elevation of over 7,000 feet. Stupendous structure, marvelous architecture, rich history & beautiful winter weather.

Llamas in Machu Picchu (please don’t pet them). Picture of Circuit 2, the most popular circuit to trek in Machu Picchu.

The entrance ticket for Machu Picchu is good for 2.5 hours. After that, I bid adieu to my guide & took the bus back down to Aguas Calientes. Then the train back to Ollantaytambo train station, and a bus ride to Cusco.My day ended at 7:30pm.

Tiring but worth it. You can also stay the night in Aguas Calientes if you don’t like the rushed schedule.

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Seek your Adventure – Alisha out.