It is a stone structure that the Incas erected 2,400 meters above sea level on the mountains. It is now regarded as one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World. Until Hiram Bingham discovered it in 1911, it was known as the Lost City of the Incas—the world’s most frequented location.

A Comprehensive Guide for Your Day Trip to Machu Picchu from Cusco

Machu Picchu, the legendary Lost City of the Incas, is a year-round destination, but certain times of the year offer distinct advantages for travelers seeking the best experience. Understanding the seasonal variations can help you plan your visit to maximize enjoyment and minimize challenges.

Dry Season: April to October: The best time to visit Machu Picchu is during these months; the weather is typically sunny and dry, with clear skies that provide breathtaking views of the ruins and surrounding mountains.

Shoulder Seasons: April-May and September-October: For those looking to avoid the peak tourist rush while enjoying favorable weather.

Wet Season: November to March: From November to March, the wet season sees frequent rain showers, making the trails slippery and challenging. However, this period also has advantages, providing a more intimate experience of Machu Picchu.

The rainy season (November–March) and the dry or sunny season (April–October) are consistent with our climate. Machu Picchu’s location in a tropical area results in warm, muggy weather, with temperatures ranging from 8° to 20° C. The months from April to September have the busiest tourist activity.

The following are options for how to get to Machu Picchu:

By Train: You can arrive by Peru Rail and Inca Rail, which have different services and daily departures. There are two stations, which are the following:

• The car ride to Poroy Station from Cusco takes 25 minutes.
  • Minimum cost: S/50.00, one way.
• By bus, Ollantaytambo Station is 1 hour and 40 minutes from Cusco.
  • Minimum Cost: S/80.00 to S/130.00 soles, one way. Daily bus departures (every 30 minutes).

By bus: The journey from Cusco to Hidroelectrica lasts roughly six hours.

You have two options for getting to Machupicchu (Aguas Calientes) from Hidroelectrica: Take a train or walk for two hours and thirty minutes along the railroad.

It would be best to find lodging when you get to Machu Picchu town so that the following day, you can take a Consettur bus to Machu Picchu and ride it for 25 minutes to the main gate.

The alternate route is a one-day tour from Cusco (Aguas Calientes) to Machu Picchu, which requires a one-hour and thirty-minute walk from the town.

The exact route is taken on the way back; buses to Cusco depart from Hydroelectrica at 14:00.

By trekking, reaching Machu Picchu may indicate the end of the walk.

Hiking routes like the Classic Inca Trail 4D/3N, with varieties of trails like the Salkantay Trek 5D/4N, Lares Trek 4D/3N, enjoying the Cocalmayo thermal baths in the Inca Jungle 4D/3N, all these ending the visit in Machu Picchu Ruins, having train and bus return to Cusco.

Documents: If staying at least one night in Machupicchu Village, a passport, ID card, international student card, or national student card with a valid date, along with the appropriate migration card, is required.

Dress appropriately for the weather by wearing long pants, long-sleeve polo shirts, a cap or hat, comfortable walking shoes, and a jacket.

Extras: sunblock, mosquito repellent, personal medication, extra money in soles, camera, water bottle, walking sticks (if you have knee discomfort).

These are the locations where you can purchase them.

• Casa Garcilaso, Calle Garcilaso, Cusco.
  • Opening hours: 07:00–20:00.
• Pachacuteq, Aguas Calientes, and Cusco
  • Opening hours: from 05:20 to 20:30.

Regarding the entrance tickets, there are limitations for conservation reasons. These are detailed below:

• Two thousand five hundred daily spaces are available for online booking to access Machu Picchu.
• Access to Machupicchu and Huaynapicchu: The entrance to the mountain is limited, with only 400 spaces available, and different groups or schedules can access it.
  • Only 200 spaces are available for the first group from 7:00 to 8:00.
  • Group 2: There are 200 spots available from 10:00 to 11:00.
• Access to Machupicchu and Huaynapicchu: The entrance to the mountain is limited, with only 400 spaces available, and different groups or schedules can access it.
• First Group: Access from 07:00 to 08:00 in only 200 spaces.
• Second Group: Access from 09:00 to 10:00 in only 200 places.

The Ministry of Culture manages the Machu Picchu entry rules.

Depending on the ticket’s availability, reservations can be made whenever you want or via Kondor Path Tours. If you choose to take this tour, you must purchase your entrance ticket to Huaynapicchu three months in advance.

Considering the schedules mentioned above, it is possible since there is only one access ticket for both because they are in the same city, Machu Picchu.

You can take luggage of no more than 05 kilos or 11 pounds. If you want extra baggage, you must pay a separate transfer fee, which does not recommend taking too much luggage.

Finding different tour guide services in Machu Picchu is simple. For example, shared services for “15 to 20 people” cost $20 per person, and other private services in multiple languages cost $100.

You may enter as early as 6:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. The first bus leaves from Machu Picchu Picchu Pueblo at 05:30 and runs every 10 minutes.

It is 20 minutes from the site’s central square in Machupicchu Pueblo, at the end of Pachacuteq Avenue.

No, you can do the paperwork, but it might be a mess because of the lengthy waits you’ll have to endure, and if you get the wrong advice, you might buy the wrong tickets. If you organize your tour with a company, they will handle all the required paperwork; Kondor Path Tours, a direct tour operator, takes it seriously.

A maximum age does not exist. Everyone is welcome.

Your travel-related correspondence can be sent to “Kondor Path Tours” via our website, Facebook page, Skype, WhatsApp, or by email at info@kondorpathtours.com.

Yes, there is a discount for students, and they consider students from 4 to 17 years old.

Children under 3 years old do not pay.

You can purchase train tickets to Machu Picchu online through the Peru Rail and Inca Rail websites using a credit or debit card, Visa, or Mastercard. The Peru Rail and Inca Rail offices are located in Cusco’s main square, where you can also purchase

In Aguas Calientes or Machupicchu Pueblo, many lodging options are available in different price ranges. For accommodations with top-notch amenities, you must reserve your lodging in advance.

While on excursions, you can leave your luggage at the hotel in Cusco.