Machu Picchu-Planning your trip.....

 November 2, 2022

If you are planning a trip to Machu Picchu in the near future, here are some things we learned that might help save you time in the planning process. In our travels we expect some hiccups, but this trip went smoothly and I'd like to think it was because of our endless hours of planning, but who knows maybe we were just lucky.

Research the circuit you want to do and book your tickets early, at least six months in advance. Tickets are limited and by times so they sell out quickly. 

There are four circuits to choose from and each allows you access to only that section of Machu Picchu:

1. Llaqta de Machu Picchu (Circuits 1, 2, 3 or 4): This ticket allows access to the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu.
2. Circuit 4 + Wayna Picchu: This ticket allows access to the alternate route of the Huayna Picchu Mountain (200 per day with four scheduled times).
3. Machu Picchu Mountain + Circuit 3: This ticket allows access to the alternative route of Machu Picchu Mountain. (400 per day with two scheduled times).
4. Circuit 4 + Huchuy Picchu Mountain: This ticket allows access to the alternative route of Huchuy Picchu Mountain.

It depends on what you want to see, but regardless if you are booking online you must book from the official Machu Picchu Website. If available tickets are also sold in the city of Cusco. Tickets are not sold at Machupicchu Pueblo (Aguas Calientes). 

We booked online and received our tickets immediately in an email. You do not need to print your ticket to get into Machu Picchu, but it is smart to always have a hard copy. We chose Circuit 4 + Wayna Picchu, it cost $55.00 a ticket. 

To get to Machu Picchu you must first get to the small town of Aguas Calientes also known as the Machupicchu Pueblo.

We flew from Lima to Cusco on Sky Airlines. The cost of our one way ticket was $90.00 per person and that included a carry-on and a personal item. I suggest spending a few days in Cusco (11,150 elevation) to get acclimated before making your way to Aguas Calientes (6,693 feet).....Machu Picchu (8,835 feet).

From Cusco there are a few ways to get to Aguas Calientes. We chose Inca Rail (van and train) and we were very pleased. It definitely is not the cheapest way $254.00, for two round trip tickets, but was the best option for us. Alternatively, we could have jumped in a shared taxi to Ollantaytambo, then took the train. We booked tickets online which they emailed immediately afterwards. The Voyager was the cheapest carriage on Inca Rail. 

The Inca Rail office is located in the main area of Cusco. We were told to just come to the office a few minutes before our departure. 

On our departure date we arrived at Inca Rail and checked in, showing our tickets on our phone.  A 15 person shuttle van takes you on the two hour trip to Ollantaytango. It drops you off at the Inca Rail office, where you could use the bathroom and free WiFi. We waited there for about 20 minutes before a bunch of Inca dressed people came singing and chanting holding signs with the train group numbers on them. We found ours and went to that carriage. There was a person checking your ticket and passport before we boarded and then found our seats. It was all very easy. 

There are two sides to sit on the train, the river side and the mountain side. When booking you are able to choose your seats. We were on the mountain side facing backwards in carriage B on our way there. On our return we were in carriage E riverside. Both make for a beautiful ride during the day. Seats 25, 26, 27, 28 river and seats 29, 30, 31, 32 mountains.

Mountain side

River side

The train ride is about two hours and during that time they have some entertainment in which they reenact an Inca love story, in English. They offer drinks and snacks which you can purchase. The train was clean and there was a bathroom. However, I highly recommend using the bathroom at the Inca Rail office. The train brings you to the town of Machupicchu Pueblo in the city of Aguas Calientes. 

It would be possible to do a day trip from Cusco to Machu Picchu, however I would imagine everything would have to run smoothly and it would make for an early morning and late night. We stayed three nights in Aguas, two would have been perfect. Average cost of a room was $25 and that included breakfast. However the town itself was rather expensive.

There is a sign for the bus station on the main street. We bought our bus tickets the day before $48.26 for two roundtrip tickets up the mountain to Machu Picchu.  You can pay with Sol’s or a credit card. Buses leave every five minutes and the lines are long but move quickly. There is no reason to show up too early. There are signs with the entry times to Machu Picchu and you wait in the line for your ticket time.  Showing up 45 minutes would be a sufficient amount of time to make your entry time into Machu Picchu. As you wait behind the sign for your time a worker will come grab the sign and walk you to the bus. There is a person checking your bus ticket and passport before getting on. 

They have it down to a science, so once you get to the entrance of Machu Picchu the lines are fairly short. I am sure it is because all the buses don't arrive at once and are only bringing people with the same ticket time to the entrance. You do have the option to walk from Aguas to the entrance, but it is a trek straight up and I imagine you'd want to save the walking for your time at Machu Picchu.

In order to enter the gate you need to show your ticket (on phone or paper) and most importantly your passport. Once you enter, the paths are clearly marked each of the different circuits. We chose not to do a tour, but there are plenty of people offering tours at the bus station and in front of Machu Picchu. 

If you are like us we read the rules and followed them, so let me share a few things to know and things that were and were not being enforced on our trip:

• YOU MUST HAVE YOUR PASSPORT AND TICKETS
• All paths are one way with no re-entry or back tracking. There are workers at many points who enforce your circuit.  
• There is absolutely no re-entry. 
• Ticket times are strictly enforced. People were turned away because they showed up late. So be on time!
• We saw many people with plastic water bottles, even though it stated they were not allowed. 
• It also states no food, but we brought small snacks and on our circuit people were eating sandwiches and drinking small travel size bottles of wine.
• There is ONE BATHROOM for men and women at the entrance and NONE inside. The cost was 2 Sol's. I suggest using it before entering!
• On your entrance ticket it says no trekking poles but many people had them. I brought mine but never used them.
• It says masks and social distancing, but no one had masks on.
• The ticket said no selfie sticks, people had them.
• Definitely bring bug, spray we had more bites here than in the Amazon. Also sunscreen, the UV rays are fierce regardless of the weather. 
• On the train there is a backpack weight limit of 17 lbs. but no one checked. Be aware there is little room on the van and train. Your backpack needs to fit below your seat or on your lap. 
• Fog seems to be a constant in the morning so remember when booking your ticket times.
• They didn’t check the contents of our bag at the entrance to Machu Picchu.
  
  
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Overall our experience with Inca Rail and Machu Picchu was excellent and I hope you are able to use some of this information to make a once in a lifetime opportunity a wonderful trip.

Oh and when you get back to Aguas Calientes don't forget to get your passport stamped for $1.25.

Read about Alisa's Machu Picchu experience.