To cut to the chase, there’s no direct train to Machu Picchu; you’ll need to combine a bus and train journey.
First, fly into Cusco, which will be your starting point for the adventure to Machu Picchu.
The route to the Machu Picchu scenic area involves a “bus + train + bus” journey. Here’s how it works:
1. Purchase your tickets from PeruRail for Machu Picchu, which actually take you to Aguas Calientes (refer to Figure 2).
2. After securing your tickets, head to the PeruRail office at Cusco Plaza de Armas (Figure 3) to exchange them. The friendly staff will provide you with new bus and train tickets.
3. Arrive at the location shown in Figure 4 about 30 minutes before your scheduled departure to catch the bus to Ollantaytambo, where you’ll transfer to the train.
4. The bus ride takes approximately two hours. Upon arrival, you’ll seamlessly transfer to the train, with staff on hand to guide you and check your larger luggage.
5. Once you reach Aguas Calientes, buy your round-trip bus tickets to the Machu Picchu scenic area at the locations shown in Figures 5 and 6. You can do this around 9 or 10 PM without having to wait in line.
6. It’s advisable to arrive at the bus station one hour before the official entry time for Machu Picchu. In the morning, you’ll see designated queue spots at the ticket gate corresponding to different entry times.
Pro Tip:
You can purchase Machu Picchu tickets 1-2 weeks in advance, and there’s absolutely no need to join a tour group—exploring independently is just as rewarding!
For my personal experience, I didn’t fancy waking up at 4 AM to catch the early train, so I opted to stay in Cusco on the first day. On the second day, I left at 4 PM and arrived in Aguas Calientes by 9 PM, spending the night there. The next morning, I headed to Machu Picchu, spent a memorable half-day exploring, and returned to Cusco in the afternoon.
#MyDailyLife #Peru #TravelGuide #SouthAmerica #MachuPicchu #MachuPicchuTravel #Cusco #AguasCalientes
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