How to get from Lima to Machu Picchu

Thinking about visiting one of the world’s wonders? If you are planning a trip to Peru, you will not want to miss seeing the incredible Machu Picchu!

This has been by far one of my favorite traveling experiences! But getting to Machu Picchu is a journey within itself. 

Although it is a long trip, trust me! it is worth it, I recommend doing as much research as possible in order to see what would be the best way for you. If you are in the capital of Peru, Lima here is the best way to get from Lima to Machu Picchu.

How to get from Lima to Machu Picchu

There is no direct flight or train from Lima to Machu Picchu. You will need to make stops in different towns and might even need to use different methods of transportation.

What is the best way to get to Machu Picchu?

If you are coming from Lima. the best way to get to Machu Picchu is by taking a flight to Cusco. Once you have arrived, you can choose to stay in Cusco and do a day trip to Machu Picchu. The day trip will take about 10 hours, but you will return and be able to see the amazing city of Cusco. 

Another option is to stay in Aguas Calientes. This is the town where Machu Picchu is! The town is small, but it is very pretty and there are a few things you can do during your time there.

How to get from Lima to Machu Picchu

Lima to machu picchu flight

Getting a flight from Lima is really easy! But you will not be able to get to Machu Picchu by flight. You will need to take a flight from Lima to Cusco. The flights vary in price but are an average of USD $120, depending on the season. 

 There are many airlines that will fly out such as LATAM, EasyJet, Avianca, etc. The flights depart pretty much every hour, so you will have flexibility. 

Flying to Cusco will be the fastest way to reach your final destination, this will help if you do not have a lot of time. The flight will take bout 1.30 minutes in total. 

Once you are in Cusco, you can take the train from Cusco to Aguas Calientes. The journey will be about 4 hours one way.

Lima to machu picchu by car

If you are planning to rent a car or you have one already, driving is also an option. 

If you are driving, you can go directly to Aguas Calientes. This town is right outside Machu Picchu and it is where the busses depart to go see the world wonder. 

Taking a car might be the most complicated option, you will need to think about gas and there are roads that are not paved correctly. The total driving journey will take you about 16 hours.

Lima to machu picchu by Bus

There are a few buses that go directly from Lima to Aguas Calientes or Cusco. This option is the most inexpensive one! But it will take you approximately 24 hours to arrive at Machu Picchu. 

I do not recommend you take a bus, it will take you sooo much more. The price is lower at around USD $70 and you will avoid paying for the train to Machu Picchu. Although it is a great experience, the train is a lot pricier.

Lima to Cusco:

As I mentioned, the best way to get to Machu Picchu is by stopping in this amazing City called Cusco. 

There are soo many things to see here and you can create a great itinerary before visiting Machu Picchu, here is a complete guide on traveling to Cusco. 

If you are coming from Lima you can take a flight, car or bus. I recommend taking a flight as it will be the quickest way. Cusco does have a small airport, but there will be plenty of different options for airlines and times.

Cusco to machu picchu

Once you have arrived in Cusco, the best way to get to Machu Picchu is via train. There are two train companies, you can take either Perurail or Incarail. They are both great trains in really good condition. 

Incarail is more known to have a luxury experience, but those packages are more pricey. Make sure to purchase your tickets ahead of time, these can get quite packed. 

The journey can take about 3.5 hours to get to Aguas Calientes, there are different train schedules but I recommend taking the 6 AM train! You want to make sure you have enough time to enjoy Machu Picchu. 

There are two stations in Cusco, you can either leave from Poroy or Ollantaytambo. To get to these stations it will be about a 30-45 minute drive. Make sure you book transportation ahead of time. 

Once you have arrived at Aguas Calientes, you will need to walk about 5 minutes to the Machu Picchu bus stops. You will just need to show your entrance tickets and they will take you to the entrance. 

If you are Trekking Machu Picchu, the meeting point will vary! This will depend on the trail you picked and the length. Some would even start back in Cusco. 

How long does it take to get from lima to Machu Picchu?

If you are flying to Cusco, here is the estimated layout:

Flight: 1.50

Shuttle to the train station: .50

Train: 3.50

Bus to the top of Machu Picchu: .20

The total journey will take you almost 6 hours in total. This does not count if you are returning back to Cusco. If you are planning to return, it will take you 12 hours. That is why it is recommended to either stay in Cusco or Aguas Calientes. 

If you choose to take a bus instead of a flight, it can take you about 36 hours in total. If you would like to take this instead of flying. Make sure you pick a tour company that does different stops along the way. This is a great way to see more of Peru and it will feel less exhausting.

Getting from lima to Machu Picchu in one day

If you are trying to get to Machu Picchu from lima in less than a day. I am not going to lie, it is hard. NOT IMPOSSIBLE, but absolutely exhausting. 

This is possible if you take a flight to Lima at 5 AM and take the Machu Picchu train for the 8 AM or even 10 AM option. If you take the later train, you will be able to make it in one day. The return will be harder, so make sure you have a hotel in Aguas Calientes or a place to stay.

How far is Machu Picchu from lima by plane? 

Getting from Lima to Machu Picchu by plane is really quick! It is only 1.50 in total travel time. You will need to depart from Jorge Chavez International Airport and arrive in Cusco at Alejandro Velasco Cusco International Airport. 

There are a lot of different airlines and depending on the time of year, the flights can range from USD $50 – $150. My favorite time to travel to Cusco is always at the end of October or the beginning of November. This is not the peak season, so the prices are really good!

How much does it cost to go from Lima to Machu Picchu?

With so many different costs, you want to make sure you are getting to Machu Picchu cheaply. Here is the layout of how much I spent in total for the transportation:

Flight to Cusco: $100

Train to Aguas Calientes: $125

Tickets to Machu Picchu: $60 

There will be an average of almost $200. You can also choose to go on a Machu Picchu tour, this option is also great. Not having to worry about transportation and getting different taxis, will make your life a lot easier. The prices for different tours can range but can begin at around $400.

Trekking your way to machu picchu

If you are interested in hiking the Inca trail, there are a lot of different trekking routes you can choose from. The classic trail is about a 4-day hiking journey, there are also shorter options if you do not want to spend as many days. 

Trekking your way to Machu Picchu is an amazing experience, but I would only recommend this if you have done different hiking trails before. If you are not confident about hiking for so long, there are also different alternative trails that can take less than a day. 
If you want to hike, you can go with different tour companies. I recommend reading more here.

Lima to machu picchu tours

Whether you are hiking or going by train, there are many tour companies that you can work with to plan your adventure. 

While I usually like to go on my own, having a tour company take care of all arrangements will make everything a lot easier. 

During my trip, I decided to work with a tour company and they took care of picking me up at the airport, arranging a tour of the city, and making sure to pick me up at the train station When I finally finished my Machu Picchu tour, they had everything arranged for the way back as well. 

This is an exhausting trip, even when using the train. So if you choose not to use a company, always have everything ready ahead of time. You can book transportation early on or work with the hotel you are staying at. 

For some ideas on different Machu Picchu tours Click Here

How to get from Lima to Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu has been one of my favorite adventures so far! I recommend you visit this incredible world wonder. The whole experience was amazing and my only regret was not being there longer. 

If you are planning to visit, you are probably wondering how can you get there. To be honest, it is a bit of a journey. You will need to start from Lima to Machu Picchu!

The easiest way is getting on a flight from Lima to Cusco and then taking the famous train all the way to Aguas Calientes. In this post I go into detail about how you can get to Machu Picchu and how much will it actually cost. 

I recommend looking through different Machu Picchu tours, this will make your life soooo much easier. But of course, you can also go on your own. Whether you are doing the Machu Picchu hike or just a day visit, this will be an unforgettable experience.