Step 1: Fly to Cusco (or Lima first)
Most international flights land in Lima (LIM). From there, you need a domestic hop to Cusco (CUZ). LATAM, Sky Airline, and JetSMART fly this route. Round-trip fares run $120–$250 if you book 2–3 months out. Last-minute? Expect $300+.
Book the earliest morning flight you can. Cusco sits at 11,152 feet, and afternoon flights get canceled more often due to weather. A 6 a.m. departure is your best bet.
Pro tip: If you're coming from the U.S., a direct flight to Cusco from Lima is worth the extra $50–$80 over a long layover. You'll want the daylight to acclimate.
Step 2: Cusco to Aguas Calientes by train
You can't drive to Machu Picchu. The train from Cusco (Poroy station) or Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes is the only way in.
PeruRail and Inca Rail operate this route. Round-trip fares from Ollantaytambo: $140–$180 for Expedition class, $250+ for Vistadome (glass roof, worth it once). From Poroy, add $40–$60.
Trains sell out weeks in advance during May–September. Book as soon as you have your dates. The 7 a.m. departure gets you to Aguas Calientes by 8:30 a.m., plenty of time for a same-day visit if you have a late entry ticket.
Step 3: Bus up to the ruins
From Aguas Calientes, you have two options: walk 1.5 hours uphill or take the Consettur bus. The bus costs $24 round-trip (cash only, soles or USD). It runs every 5–10 minutes from 5:30 a.m.
Buy your bus ticket the day before at the Consettur office near the train station. The line at 5 a.m. is long but moves fast. If you have a 6 a.m. entry ticket, get in line by 4:45 a.m.
Step 4: Machu Picchu entry tickets
Tickets are sold online only at machupicchu.gob.pe. In 2025, adult entry is 152 soles (~$41). You must pick a specific time slot and circuit (there are four). Circuit 2 is the classic postcard view. Circuit 4 includes Huayna Picchu mountain (add $20, sells out months ahead).
Tickets release in batches. Check the site 3–4 months before your trip. If your date is sold out, keep checking—cancellations pop up, especially 48 hours before.
Total cost breakdown (per person)
Here's a realistic 2025 budget from Lima:
- Lima–Cusco round-trip flight: $150
- Cusco–Ollantaytambo bus or colectivo: $10
- Train Ollantaytambo–Aguas Calientes round-trip: $160
- Consettur bus round-trip: $24
- Machu Picchu entry: $41
- One night in Aguas Calientes (budget hotel): $50
- Meals and incidentals: $40
Total: about $475. Add $100–$200 if you're coming from the U.S. with a connecting flight to Lima.
Mistakes that cost you money
Booking a day trip from Cusco. You'll pay $300+ for a rushed 14-hour day and see the ruins for 90 minutes. Stay one night in Aguas Calientes.
Forgetting your passport. You need it to enter Machu Picchu. No passport, no entry, no refund.
Not acclimating. Cusco is high. Spend at least one full day there before heading to Aguas Calientes (which is lower, 6,700 feet). Drink coca tea, skip alcohol, and take it easy.
When to go
Dry season (May–September) is best for clear views but crowds are heaviest. June, July, and August see 3,000+ visitors daily. Book everything 3 months out.
Shoulder season (April, October, November) offers fewer crowds and lower prices. You'll get some rain, but mornings are often clear. December–March is wet season—trains can be delayed, and the Inca Trail closes in February.
My pick: late April or early October. You'll pay 20–30% less than peak season and still get good weather.