🇵🇪 How to Visit Machu Picchu in One Day from Cusco: My Complete Guide

Table of Contents

🚉 Transportation Options

The easiest way to get from Cusco to Machu Picchu is to take the bus and train to Aguas Calientes. It’s a scenic trip each way along tracks that run right along the Urubamba River in the Sacred Valley, with dramatic canyon walls on either side. There are two train companies that can take you to Machu Picchu: PeruRail and Inca Rail.

PeruRail has two options – Vistadome and Expedition, both operate a Bus + Train model and begin at Wanchaq Station. I went with PeruRail Expedition because it’s relatively cheaper, and purposely booked a hotel close to the departure place Wanchaq Station, literally 2 minutes’ walk 😃

⏰ Travel Time Breakdown

Cusco to Machu Picchu: ~5 hours one way (~10 hours round trip)
Time at Machu Picchu: 3 hours recommended
Rest time in Aguas Calientes: 1-2 hours
Total day trip: ~15 hours

While many travelers stay overnight in Aguas Calientes, I found the town too touristy. Plus, doing Machu Picchu as a day trip is totally doable – I’m living proof! 😉

🗺️ My Exact Timeline

5:40 am – 7:40 am: Bus from Wanchaq Station to Ollantaytambo Station, takes about 2 hours.
8:30 am – 10:00 am: Train from Ollantaytambo Station to Machu Picchu Station (Aguas Calientes), takes about 1.5 hours.
10:25 am – 10:45 am: Bus from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu, takes about 20 minutes.
11:00 am – 2:00 pm: Appreciate the magnificent wonder of the Inca civilization.
2:00 pm – 4:00 pm: Back to Aguas Calientes, rest and chill.
4:45 pm – 6:15 pm: Head back to Ollantaytambo Station by train.
6:15 pm – 8:15 pm: Bus from Ollantaytambo Station to Wanchaq Station.

If you’d like to get a visual understanding:

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A post shared by Jeslyn Xie (@jeslynnn7)

🎫 Important Planning Tips

Book your tickets online as soon as possible. Train and site tickets can be sold out very fast. Here are the sites I booked my tickets from:
- Machu Picchu ticket – I’d recommend adding round-trip bus tickets between Aguas Calientes and the site.
- PeruRail Expedition – better price point than Vistadome.
If you decide to travel between Cusco and Machu Picchu in one day (like I did), make sure you arrange your bus, train and site entrance schedules precisely.
Bus tickets to Machu Picchu must be printed to be presented when boarding.
Bring the passport or identity document with which you made your reservation at the site entrance. If you updated your ID after purchasing the ticket, just need to email them ([email protected]) your updated ID information and they’ll send you a new ticket PDF.
Take sunscreen, bug spray, sufficient amount of water, umbrella or poncho with you.
Eat well before entering, since no food is allowed within the site.
The same applies to the washroom. There’s a washroom at the entrance (PEN 2 per use), you may want to consider using it to put your mind at ease.
Bonus: you can get a Machu Picchu passport stamp at the Aguas Calientes bus lineup 😉

Lastly, get ready to be impressed by the splendid Inca culture and the breathtaking view!

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