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Machu Picchu Bus Tour
Reach Machu Picchu by bus from Cuzco through the Abra Malaga Route
Hostel accommodation
Hostel accommodation
The Machu Picchu Bus Tour is the most economical option to reach the inca citadel departing from Cusco. A 2 day tour that starts with a minibus ride following the Abra Malaga route from Ollantaytambo to Hidroectrica.
Once in Hidroelectrica you can decide whether to board the emblematic blue train for the last stretch of the trail or continue on foot to Aguas Calientes. On the second day of the tour, the highlight of this experience awaits you: the guided visit to Machu Picchu.
Read on for the complete itinerary of this 2 day tour by minibus:
Tour details
Included
- Entrance to Machu Picchu
- Guided tour of 2 hours in Machu Picchu
- Transfer by minibus Cuzco - Hidroelectrica (round trip) Guide
- 1 night hostel accommodation in Aguas Calientes with breakfast
- Lunch DAY 1
Not included
- Dinner DAY 1
- Lunch DAY 2
- Train Hidroelectrica - Aguas Calientes (one way) 40 USD
- Train Hidroelectrica - Aguas Calientes (return) 40 USD
- Bus Aguas Calientes - Machu Picchu (round trip) 24 USD
Important information
The Machu Picchu Bus Tour is the cheapest option to visit Machu Picchu Picchu from Cuzco. But from Howlanders we have decided not to recommend this tour as travelers can not enjoy Machu Picchu as we believe it deserves. It should be noted that the schedules of this tour are very tight due to the additional time involved in traveling by bus.
If you are looking for a 2 day tour to discover the inca citadel, we recommend that you take a look at the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu 2-Day Tour before. If you have more time, and you have an adventurous spirit, we recommend the Salkantay Trek 4 Days.
Cancellation policy
Tour itinerary
DAY 1 Cuzco - Ollantaytambo - Abra Málaga - Santa Maria - Santa Teresa - Hidroeléctrica - Aguas Calientes
Cuzco - Ollantaytambo
The tour guide will pick you up at your hotel at 7:30 a.m. to start this trip aboard the minibus. You will arrive at Ollantaytambo, the first stop of the tour, where you will have about 10 minutes to go to the restroom or just go out to stretch your legs.
Abra Malaga Pass - Santa Maria - Santa Teresa
The route will continue until you reach Abra Malaga, the highest point of the trail at 4,316m. From there, you will begin the descent to Santa Maria, where you will have another stop of about 10 minutes. After which, we will board the minibus again and head to Hidroelectrica, passing first through Santa Teresa.
Hidroelectrica
You will arrive by minibus to Hidroelectrica. At this point the road ends and you cannot continue by bus. You will have two options to get to Aguas Calientes:
Continue walking along the route that takes advantage of the layout of the train tracks in the company of your tour guide. The route runs through the middle of a valley and lasts approximately two and a half hours.
Take the train (Inca Rail Expedition class) that connects Hidroelectrica with Aguas Calientes in a 30 minute trip.
⭐ If you choose to make this last leg by train, you will have to add the extra Tren Hidroelectrica - Aguas Calientes (one way) to your reservation. This extra has a cost of 40 USD.
Aguas Calientes
Regardless of the option you choose, upon arrival in Aguas Calientes, the guide will accompany you to the hotel and you will agree on the meeting point for the next day. During the rest of the day you will have time to rest, get to know the town and if you dare, enjoy the thermal baths that give it its name.
DAY 2 Aguas Calientes - Machu Picchu -Aguas Calientes - Hidroelectrica - Cuzco
Aguas Calientes
On the second day of the tour you will wake up early to enjoy the visit to Machu Picchu.
You can choose to walk to the citadel from Aguas Calientes in a two-hour journey or take the bus (for 24 USD round trip) that makes the same journey in 30 minutes.
⭐ If you choose to take the bus, you will have to add the extra Bus Aguas Calientes - Machu Picchu (round trip) to your reservation. This extra has a cost of 24 USD.
Machu Picchu
Once you arrive at Machu Picchu you will have a 2 hour guided tour in which you will discover the fascinating history of the site. At the end of the guided tour you will have free time until noon to explore the citadel on your own.
Return to Cuzco
After the visit to Machu Picchu, you will return to Aguas Calientes on foot or by bus. You will have time for lunch before starting the return to Hidroeléctrica. Again, you will have the choice between walking or taking the train.
When you arrive at Hidroeléctrica, the minibus will be waiting for you to take you back to Cuzco, where you will arrive at approximately 21:00 🕐.
What to bring to Machu Picchu Bus Tour
- Passport
- Insect repellent
- Sunscreen
- Sunglasses
- Warm clothing
- Comfortable footwear (if possible waterproof sneakers)
- Refillable water bottle
- Raincoat
- Swimwear and towel (for the thermal waters of Aguas Calientes)
- Personal hygiene products and medications
- Medication to avoid altitude sickness (in case you consider it necessary)
Where does the tour Machu Picchu Bus Tour start
The tour includes pick up from your accommodation in Cuzco. If your starting point to get to Cuzco is Lima, you can arrive by bus (24 hours of travel) or take a plane that has a journey time of one hour.
If you arrive from Arequipa, the bus ride takes ten hours. You can also choose to make the trip by plane, in this case the only airline that offers direct flights is LATAM Airlines.
If you arrive from Puno the best option is to do it by bus, a journey of six and a half hours. We also offer the possibility of making this journey in a tourist bus that makes stops at the most important places along the way. Departure is at 7:00 in the morning and arrival in Cuzco at 17:30.
Finally, LATAM Airlines operates a direct route Iquitos - Cuzco. This route is not available on a daily basis, so we recommend you check the dates on which it is available to plan your trip.
