Machu Picchu is a wonder of the world. If you haven’t been there, you should have heard the news about the lost Incan city becoming a world tourist attraction site. Getting from Cusco to Machu Picchu is not difficult. However, it requires very early planning and ticket booking. The Machu Picchu day tour is the most common visit to the area, with approximately a million visitors arriving and leaving every day.
There are three commuting means to get from Cusco to Machu Picchu:
- Following the railway tracks
- Trekking/Hiking
- Taking a bus
The best way to get to Machu Picchu is from the stations of Poroy or Ollantaytambo.
Following the Railway Tracks
1. From Poroy Station:
Poroy is a small town on the edge of Cusco. You can take a local taxi to Poroy from Cusco or hire a cab service. It takes only about 20-25 minutes (could be more), depending on the traffic. From Poroy, the train heads to Aguas Calientes, with a single stopover at Ollantaytambo. From Aguas Calientes, you will get a shuttle bus to Machu Picchu.
2. From Ollantaytambo Station:
From Cusco, you must travel to Ollantaytambo Train station by road. The trip is about 2 hours. Then, from Ollantaytambo, you follow the train to Aguas Calientes. It takes roughly 2 hours to reach Aguas Calientes. From there, you can get a bus shuttle to Machu Picchu, which is usually the easiest means.
You should know that owing to the large number of visits in a day, all through the month and the year, it is almost impossible to find a quick ticket to get to Machu Picchu, even from Cusco. Hence, you have to book your tickets as soon as you have decided to spend your next holiday in Machu Picchu. Booking can get as far as four months ahead.
However, if all you need is to get from Cusco to Machu Picchu on a day tour, you can save yourself the stress of flagging a cab with many other people who would be visiting by scheduling your Machu Picchu day tour with a travel one tour agent. An agency like this does the entrance ticket booking, transportation arrangements from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes and back, and a travel guide. If you choose to go with a travel agency, follow up with them to know their exit scheduled times for departure.
Trekking/Hiking
Another way to get to Machu Picchu is by walking through the Inca trail. There are three trekking routes.
- Salkantay Trail. The trip by this route lasts four days.
- Inca Trail Km 88. The trip by this route lasts four days and three nights.
- Inca Trail Km 104. The trip by this route lasts two days and one night.
follows the route: Cusco – Santa María – Santa Teresa – Hydroelectric. From Hidroléctrica, you must continue your journey by foot or train to Aguas Calientes’ town, where you must sleep. And just the next day you can go up to Machu Picchu, by walking or by bus.
This route is the least recommended and is the most dangerous. The trip can last up to three days.
The train remains the most preferred option because you can view the beautiful terrain as the vessel drags itself along the rail tracks, giving you a memorable experience on your Machu Picchu day tour.
