How to Plan a Day Trip to Machu Picchu: Tickets, Trains & Tips

There are a few ways to visit the incredible Inca ruins. You can do a 4-day or 7-day hiking trip, or, the simplest option (and what we chose) is a day trip. Many tour agencies will arrange the whole process for you, but booking everything yourself isn’t too complicated if you plan ahead—and it’s more affordable.

What You Need to Book in Advance:

1. Machu Picchu Park Entry Tickets

2. Train Tickets – 4 hours from Cusco or 1.5 hours from Ollantaytambo.

Park Entry Ticket Options

There are a few different ticket options for entering Machu Picchu, and the circuits change every couple of years to protect certain areas and archaeological digs. We recommend Circuito 2 – Circuito Clásico, which takes you to the classic postcard view and lets you walk through the ruins.

Ticket site: https://tuboleto.cultura.pe/llaqta_machupicchu

Best Time of Day to Visit 

You need to select an entry time when booking your ticket. Morning is supposedly best before it gets crowded, but we went at 3 PM in the last time slot, and it was still spectacular. Honestly, you can’t really go wrong.

Before confirming your ticket, make sure there are trains available to Machu Picchu on your chosen day.

Getting to Aguas Calientes

To visit Machu Picchu, you must first take the train to Aguas Calientes, the closest town. From there, you can either hike or take a bus up to the park entrance.

You can take the train from Cusco or Ollantaytambo (a town in the Sacred Valley—perfect for exploring the day before your visit). We spent the night in Ollantaytambo and took the morning train to Aguas Calientes.

Two companies run trains daily: Inca Rail and Peru Rail. Both are comfortable, with options ranging from basic to luxurious. Check both schedules to see which fits your itinerary best.

Hiking or Bus

If you’re in good shape, we recommend the hike! From the Aguas Calientes train station, walk toward the park entrance. The first 30 minutes are informal—you’ll share the road with buses. It’s not dangerous, and signage appears once you reach a small bridge with a booth. Show your park tickets here to start the hike.

The hike takes 1-2 hours. We made several short stops and reached the top in about an hour (1.5 hours total from the train station). Be sure to leave extra time before your entry slot. You might have to wait, so packing a sandwich is a good idea (or you can buy one at the top).

For the way down, you can either hike back or take the bus. We opted for the bus since we were in a rush for our train. Bus tickets are sold in town, and the lines are long but well organized.

Guides

There are guides right outside the park entrance offering tours in multiple languages, mostly Spanish or English. A guide is great if you want the full history and stories behind the ruins. The only downside is that they set the pace—you might feel rushed if you want to stop for lots of photos.