Getting to Machu Picchu: The Lazy Person's Guide
Getting to Machu Picchu was a hassle in planning so I want to make things easier for you because we’re all busy. There are so many details that the information is overwhelming but I want to cut through the fluff and just focus on the content.
Prerequisites
Purchase a ticket from the official Machu Picchu site.
Purchase a premium rail line ticket (includes taxi and bus transport from Aguascalientes to Machu Picchu) for transportation: Inca Rail, Peru Rail, and Belmond Hiram Bingham train.
Steps to getting to Machu Picchu
Get to Cusco. I highly recommend flying to Cusco especially if you’re coming from Lima. You can also take the bus but the trip is going to take hours longer.
Cusco —> Aguascalientes
There are three trains: Inca Rail, Peru Rail, and the Belmond Hiram Bingham train. Take Inca Rail or Peru Rail. The Belmond Hiram Bingham train is classy but significantly more expensive.
These rail lines have direct routes to Aguascalientes or Bimodal options. Either route is fine and gets you to Aguascalientes around the same time.
Purchase the premium ticket that includes the taxi pickup at the hotel/Airbnb and the bus transportation from Aguascalientes to Machu Picchu. Why?
Ubers may not be available at 3 am when you need to get to the train station
I don’t feel like walking 90 minutes from Aguascalientes to Machu Picchu.
I walked this route anyway just to explore and I got PTSD from almost getting hit by buses.
Take the bus (included in the train ticket) from Aguascalientes to Machu Picchu
Enjoy Machu Picchu
My view on Inca Rail
Notes:
Book the tickets at least 3 months ahead of time. No really. If you procrastinate on this one, you will be sorry.
You cannot enter Machu Picchu without hiring a guide. You can hire one from a tour package, the rail lines mentioned above, or at Aguascalientes.
Be prepared to wake up at 3 am to start the journey from Cusco to Machu Picchu
No drones, walking sticks, or trekking poles are allowed.
No food is sold inside Machu Picchu so stock up on snacks.
Machu Picchu has 4 circuits and you must pick one:
Hiking the Huaya Picchu and Machu Picchu mountains cost extra but it's not necessary to get the Machu Picchu experience.
What about the Inca Trail?
This guide is not for you If you want information on the Inca Trail.
Me: “Why is the train stopping?”
Train Employee: “People are getting off to do the Inca Trail.”
Me: “Where’s the train station?”
Train Employee: “There isn't one. The Inca trail starts right by those bushes.”
Me: 😐😐😐
The Inca Trail is a 4-day hike where the train drops you off in the middle of the wildness and you walk to Machu Picchu the way the Incas did in the past. I like a good hike but dying is not my thing bruh.
