Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu: Bus or Hike, Hours, Fares and Tips (2026)
Every train to Machu Picchu ends in Aguas Calientes, the town officially called Machu Picchu Pueblo. From there to the citadel gate you have two options: the bus up the Hiram Bingham road, which takes about 25 to 30 minutes, or the hike from Puente Ruinas, which is free but demanding. In this guide we explain where everything is in town, how to buy a bus ticket and what it costs, what the walk up is like, how to fit it all around your ticket time and what is happening with the bus concession. Whenever a figure does not come from an official source, we say so.
First of all, you need your entry ticket: neither the bus nor the trail is any use without a ticket with a date and time. We explain everything in our guide to Machu Picchu tickets.
Bus or hike: at a glance
| Bus | Hike | |
|---|---|---|
| Where it starts | Bus stop on Av. Hermanos Ayar | Puente Ruinas, on the edge of town |
| Time to go up | About 25 to 30 minutes | About 2 h according to PeruRail; 1 h to 1 h 30 min according to Inca Rail |
| Price for foreign visitors | USD 12 one way, USD 24 return (adults) | Free |
| Hours | Up from 5:30 to 15:30; down from 6:30 to 18:00 | No official hours published for the foot checkpoint |
| Effort | None | High: a steady climb with steps |
| Best for | Early entry, mountain routes, families | Fit travellers with plenty of time |
The bus figures are the Consettur details published by PeruRail and may change while the route is still awaiting a tender.
What Aguas Calientes is and where everything is
Aguas Calientes, or Machu Picchu Pueblo, is the town at the foot of the mountain where all the trains arrive. It is small and easy to get around on foot. These are the places you need to know:
- Train station: PeruRail trains arrive at Estación Machu Picchu, on Av. Machu Picchu Pueblo s/n, in the Las Orquídeas neighbourhood. Inca Rail trains also end in town.
- Bus stop and ticket office: on Av. Hermanos Ayar, about 2 minutes' walk from the train station, according to PeruRail. The Consettur ticket office is on the same avenue, before Puente Ruinas, and opens every day from 5:30 to 22:00.
- Centro Cultural de Machupicchu Pueblo: the Ministry of Culture ticket office that sells up to 1,000 entry tickets a day for the following day. The ministry does not publish an exact address and its sources give different opening hours. We explain it in our guide to buying tickets in Machu Picchu Pueblo.
- Puente Ruinas: the bridge over the Urubamba River where the footpath to the citadel begins.
If you don't yet know how to get to the town, see our guides to getting there from Cusco, from Lima or without the train.
Going up to Machu Picchu by bus
The bus climbs the Hiram Bingham road, which links the town with the citadel entrance. It is the fastest option and the one most visitors use.
Where to buy the ticket
According to the Consettur information published by PeruRail, you can buy it in three places:
- Online: at comprar.consettur.com, by credit or debit card.
- In Cusco: at the office on Av. Pardo 827, Monday to Saturday from 8:00 to 13:00 and from 14:00 to 17:30.
- In Aguas Calientes: at the ticket office on Av. Hermanos Ayar, every day from 5:30 to 22:00, in cash in soles or dollars.
Bring your passport or DNI when you board. The ticket is valid for any bus within operating hours.
Hours, frequency and journey time
- Up: from 5:30 to 15:30.
- Down: from 6:30 to 18:00.
- Frequency: every 5 to 15 minutes, depending on demand.
- Journey time: about 25 to 30 minutes each way.
Note: PeruRail publishes different times on other pages. Its FAQ says the last bus down leaves at 17:30, and a sample itinerary mentions departures every 20 minutes between 5:00 and 22:00. Use the times above as a guide and confirm them at the ticket office when you arrive.
Fares
For foreign visitors, the fare is USD 12 one way or USD 24 return for adults, and USD 7 or USD 12 for children. Peruvians, residents and national students pay lower fares in soles. If you want to save, you can buy only the ride up and walk down: we give more ideas in our guide to Machu Picchu on a budget.
Queues
PeruRail recommends arriving early because sales in town are in person and limited. In high season, and above all first thing in the morning, the queues to go up can be long. We have not found official waiting times, so always leave a margin.
The bus concession: a situation that keeps changing
Consettur's concession on the Hiram Bingham road expired in 2025. In December 2025, the Provincial Municipality of Urubamba annulled the temporary contract it had awarded to the company San Antonio de Torontoy, and Consettur carried on operating on an interim basis. In September 2026, the municipality set up a committee to prepare a new tender, with 45 working days to set the timetable and the terms. Meanwhile, the mayor says that Consettur and San Antonio de Torontoy are running the route without formal authorization. Fares, hours and sales points may change at any time: confirm them before you travel.
Hiking up to Machu Picchu
The hike is free and you don't need a guide, but you do need your ticket: without it you can't get into the citadel.
The route from Puente Ruinas
From town, follow Av. Hermanos Ayar towards the river as far as Puente Ruinas. According to travel guides, there is a checkpoint there where you are asked for your entry ticket and your ID. Then a steep path with stone steps begins, crossing the bus road several times. One travel agency puts it at about 3.5 km and 400 to 450 m of ascent, compared with almost 8 km by road. These figures are unofficial.
How long it takes and how hard it is
PeruRail estimates about 2 h uphill, and warns that you may arrive at the citadel very tired. Inca Rail says 1 h to 1 h 30 min. The difference depends on your pace and fitness. For the way down, PeruRail estimates 1 h 30 min.
What time does the Puente Ruinas checkpoint open?
We have not found current official hours. A 2014 draft regulation by the Decentralized Directorate of Culture of Cusco set pedestrian entry via Puente Ruinas from 5:00, but we don't know whether that time still applies. Confirm it at your hotel the night before.
Tips for the hike
- Set off early and with a margin: allow at least 2 h to the gate.
- Bring water and a light extra layer: the climb is humid and demanding.
- Watch out for rain: the stone steps get slippery, especially in the rainy season, from January to April. Wear shoes with good grip and bring a poncho.
- A torch if you leave in the dark: for the first time slots you will set off before dawn.
- Take care at the road crossings, where the buses pass.
- Travel light: whatever you carry in your backpack must comply with the citadel rules, which we cover in our guide to Machu Picchu entry requirements.
The way down
To get back to town you have the same two options. The bus down runs until 18:00 according to the Consettur information published by PeruRail, although its FAQ mentions 17:30. On foot, the way down takes about 1 h 30 min. A very common combination is to take the bus up, so you arrive rested, and walk down.
How to fit the ride up around your ticket time
Your ticket has a fixed entry time, between 6:00 and 15:00, which applies at the main gate of the llaqta. The Ministry of Culture publishes these grace periods:
| Period | Grace period at the main gate |
|---|---|
| Months of regular demand | Up to 30 minutes after your time |
| Months of peak demand (1 June to 15 October and 30 and 31 December) | Up to 45 minutes after your time |
| Checkpoints for the Machupicchu, Waynapicchu and Huchuypicchu mountains | No grace period |
Our recommendations:
- Entry at 6:00: the first bus leaves at 5:30 and the ride takes 25 to 30 minutes, so you'll need to be in the queue well before. On foot, leave with at least 2 h to spare.
- If you arrive by train the same day: leave at least 1 h to 1 h 30 min between the train's arrival and your ticket time, to walk to the bus stop, queue and ride up.
- If you have a mountain: there is no grace period at its checkpoint. The bus is the safest option. We explain it in our guide to Huayna Picchu tickets.
- For the return: on routes without a mountain you can stay a maximum of 2 h 30 min, and the llaqta closes at 17:30. Add the bus queue and the ride down before your train leaves.
How long you spend inside depends on your route. If you're unsure, see our guide to Machu Picchu circuits, the comparison circuit 2A vs 2B and the guide to circuit 3 (Royal Machu Picchu).
Frequently asked questions
- How much is the bus from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu?
- For foreign adults, USD 12 one way or USD 24 return, according to the Consettur information published by PeruRail. Foreign children pay USD 7 or USD 12.
- How long does it take to walk up?
- About 2 h according to PeruRail, or 1 h to 1 h 30 min according to Inca Rail. Walking down takes about 1 h 30 min.
- What time is the first bus?
- At 5:30. The last bus up leaves at 15:30.
- Where do you buy the bus ticket?
- At comprar.consettur.com, at the Consettur office in Cusco or at the ticket office on Av. Hermanos Ayar, in Aguas Calientes.
- Can I hike up without an entry ticket?
- No. According to travel guides, at the Puente Ruinas checkpoint you are asked for your ticket and ID, and without a ticket you can't get into the citadel.
- What grace period do I have if I'm late?
- 30 minutes in the regular season and 45 in the months of peak demand. There is no grace period at the mountain checkpoints.
In short
From Aguas Calientes you can go up to Machu Picchu by bus, in about 25 to 30 minutes for USD 12 each way, or on foot from Puente Ruinas, free but with about 2 h of demanding climbing. Choose according to your ticket time, your fitness and how much time you have: for early entry or mountain routes, the bus is the safest bet. And since the bus concession is still unresolved, confirm hours and fares when you arrive in town.
Sources
- PeruRail, how to plan your Machu Picchu trip on your own (Consettur bus: sales points, hours, frequency, journey time and fares): https://www.perurail.com/es/como-armar-tu-viaje-a-machu-picchu-por-tu-cuenta/
- PeruRail, frequently asked questions (station, bus and hike): https://www.perurail.com/es/preguntas-frecuentes/
- PeruRail, stations and sales points: https://www.perurail.com/es/ubicanos/
- Inca Rail, how to get to Machu Picchu (bus and hike from town): https://incarail.com/es/machu-picchu/como-llegar-a-machu-picchu
- Ministry of Culture, entry times and grace periods: https://www.machupicchu.gob.pe/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/HORARIOS-DE-INGRESO.pdf
- Ministerial Resolution 528-2023-MC (entry times and length of stay): https://cdn.www.gob.pe/uploads/document/file/5627334/4985976-resolucion-ministerial-n-000528-2023-mc.pdf
- Ministry of Culture, contact and sales points (Centro Cultural in Aguas Calientes): https://www.machupicchu.gob.pe/contacto/
- Infobae, relaunch of the bus tender for the Hiram Bingham road (23 September 2026): https://www.infobae.com/peru/2026/09/23/machu-picchu-relanzan-licitacion-de-buses-en-ruta-hiram-bingham-tras-quejas-de-mas-de-40-empresas-de-transporte/
- RPP, committee for the new Hiram Bingham road tender: https://rpp.pe/peru/cusco/machu-picchu-conforman-comite-para-nueva-licitacion-de-la-ruta-hiram-bingham-noticia-1708916
- Infobae, annulment of the temporary contract with San Antonio de Torontoy (6 January 2026): https://www.infobae.com/peru/2026/01/06/machu-picchu-consettur-seguira-cobrando-tarifas-de-entre-15-y-24-dolares-al-santuario-tras-anulacion-de-contrato-con-torontoy/
- DDC Cusco, 2014 draft visit regulation (hours for pedestrian entry via Puente Ruinas, not current): https://www.culturacusco.gob.pe/documentos/comunicados/R.D._N%C2%B0_-2014-DDC-CUS-MC.PDF
- Trail figures published by a travel agency (unofficial reference): https://www.inkayniperutours.com/blog/es/de-aguas-calientes-a-machu-picchu
Keep planning your visit
Tickets, all circuits, and route comparisons.
Machu Picchu Tickets 2026: Prices and How to Buy
Official prices, circuits, tuboleto.cultura.pe, daily limits and tips.
How to Buy Machu Picchu Tickets in Aguas Calientes (2026)
Where, hours, 1,000 daily tickets, routes, documents, prices and queue tips.
Machu Picchu Circuits 2026: All 10 Routes and Which to Pick
Circuits 1, 2 and 3, routes 1-A to 3-D, time limits, quotas, Huayna Picchu and tips.
Machu Picchu Circuit 2A vs 2B (2026): The Real Differences
Route 2-A vs 2-B: official maps, entry times, capacity, price and which to pick.
Machu Picchu Circuit 3 (Royalty) 2026: Routes 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D
Huayna Picchu, Great Cavern, Huchuy Picchu and route 3-B: entry times, quotas, prices and which to pick.
Huayna Picchu Tickets 2026: How to Get Them and Prices
Route 3-A, tuboleto.cultura.pe, 7:00 and 10:00 slots, 400 quotas, S/211 and alternatives.
Machu Picchu Entry Requirements 2026: The Complete Guide
Original ID, named ticket, entry time, banned items, guide rules and official conduct rules.
How to Get from Cusco to Machu Picchu in 2026: Full Guide
Train, bimodal, Hidroeléctrica, Inca Trail, bus up to the citadel and indicative prices.
Distance from Cusco to Machu Picchu 2026: km, Time, Altitude
Straight-line, rail and Hidroeléctrica distances, travel times, altitudes, altitude sickness and a one-day round trip.
Trains to Machu Picchu 2026: Classes, Schedules, Prices
PeruRail and Inca Rail: stations, classes, schedules, luggage, child fares and how to book, with a comparison table.
Lima to Machu Picchu 2026: How to Get There by Plane or Bus
Flights to Cusco, bus via Nazca or Arequipa, verified prices, acclimatization and the final train.
Machu Picchu Without the Train 2026: Hidroeléctrica Route
The Hidroeléctrica route step by step, the walk along the tracks, safety, treks, the Inca Trail and verified costs.
Machu Picchu on a Budget 2026: Real Costs and Savings
Official ticket prices, Hidroeléctrica or the cheapest train, where to sleep, sample budgets and scams to avoid.