Bus Tickets from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu | The train ticket is not enough to get to Machu Picchu, you will also need to book your bus ticket to Machu Picchu from Aguas Calientes town, this road that connects the modern city and the inca ruins is called “La carretera Hiram Bingham” and it has a distance of 8 km in a zig-zag.
The concession company of this route is called Consettur, the buses of this company are Ecological and have different prices according to nationality. This is due to the difference in the cost of living between Peru and countries from the first world, it is true that many tourists don´t like this issue, because they say that there is an issue of discrimination, which is understandable, but it is also reasonable to think that a Local cannot pay like most of the tourists.
We also believe that the expensive prices of the bus tickets in Aguas Calientes is because Consettur has a monopoly of the Hiram Bingham route, they can technically and legally set any price they want as per the constitution, we hope to overcome this issue and make reasonable prices for both locals and foreigners.
Super Important! Locals use the name “Machu Picchu Pueblo” or “Aguas Calientes” to refer to the same city, although we know that the official name of this town is Machu Picchu Pueblo, but many local people also use the term Aguas Calientes because of the Hot Springs that exist in this city.
Contents
1. Where to buy the bus tickets to Machu Picchu ruins?
1.1 In Cusco city:
- Av. Infancia 433 en el distrito de Wanchaq: Ther are open from 8am to 12:45pm and 3pm to 6pm.
- You can also book online on consettur.com.
1.2 In Aguas Calientes city:
- Look for them at Avenida Hermanos Ayar, before Puente Ruinas: they are open from Monday to Sunday from 5am to 9pm.
- Very important: We recommend calling the Consettur concessionaire company that operates the buses, this is to confirm the operation hours, please dial: (084) 262802.
1.3 Outside the Inca Ruins of Machu Picchu:
You can also buy the bus tickets at the entrance gate to Machu Picchu ruins, this can happen if you want to go to the Inca citadel from Aguas Calientes on foot and return by bus.
2. How to buy the bus ticket to Machu Picchu?
- Bring your original Personal Identification Document, for example, a Passport. No photocopy is accepted!
- Payment can be done in Soles or American Dollars, please bring cash.
- You can also make the purchase online, if so, they will not ask for an Original Identity Document but rather fill out the form.
3. How much does the bus ticket cost?
Remember that the Bus Tickets Do Not Run Out, but it is recommended to buy in advance, if you do it the same day of your tour, there might be a problem because sometimes there is a huge queue of people, this can alter the schedule of your guided tour.
| TYPE OF THE BUS TICKET FOR FOREIGNERS | PRICE |
| ADULT FOREIGNER (Round trip) | 24 USD |
| ADULT FOREIGNER (One way) | 12 USD |
| CHILDREN FOREIGNER (Round trip) | 12 USD |
| CHILDREN FOREIGNER (One way) | 7 USD |
| TYPE OF BUS TICKET FOR PERUVIANS | PRICE |
| ADULT NATIONAL (Round trip) | 15 USD |
| ADULT NATIONAL (One way) | 8 USD |
| STUDENT NATIONAL (Round trip) | 10 USD |
| STUDENT NATIONAL (One way) | 6 USD |
| CHILDREN NATIONAL (Round trip) | 8 USD |
| CHILDREN NATIONAL (One way) | 5 USD |
| TOUR GUIDE (One way) | 12 Soles |
| LOCALS FROM CUSCO REGION (Round trip) | 19 Soles |
| LOCALS FROM MACHUPICCHU CITY (Round trip) | 8 Soles |
4. What are the bus Schedules?
Don’t worry, the buses usually leave every 10 minutes, both from Aguas Calientes and also from the ruins of Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes.
5. Where is the bus station to Machu Picchu?
Do not worry about the station location, because the city of Aguas Calientes is very small, you won´t get lost, just make yourway to Avenida Hermanos Ayar, next to the train station.
On the way back there is a bus station located at the entrance to Machu Picchu ruins.
6. How long is the bus ride?
It is very close, an average of 30 minutes ride on a zigzag road, by the way, the distance of this road is about 8 kilometres.
7. What many people ask – FAQS
7.1 What time does the first bus leave to the Machu Picchu ruins?
Well, the first bus leaves at 5:30am, this bus is basically for people who work at the archaeological site and the Sanctuary Lodge hotel located next to Machu Picchu ruins; so stand in line to take the second bus. Consider that you will be able to access the ruins of Machu Picchu ruins from 6:30 am — the bus ride lasts about 30 minutes.
The last bus that leaves Machu Picchu ruins to Aguas Calientes is at 3:30pm, don’t forget.
7.2 When can I use my Bus ticket?
You can use them within three days.
7.3 Is there a helicopter that takes you directly to the ruins of Machu Picchu?
Well, believe it or not, there use to be a helicopter tour company a few years ago, but it had a negative impact on the fauna of Machu Picchu park, it would cause immense damage to the birds’ Auditive System, this is just an isolated example, but there were many other negative effects, that is why the Helicopter is forbidden in Machu Picchu and we are happy about it!
7.4 Is there a direct bus from Cusco city to Machu Picchu ruins?
No, there isn’t. Check the reason below:
- Because there is no road.
- Because there are economic interests of Peru Rail company to avoid the competition with buses, local people accuse this company of doing monopoly, that’s why for a few years there is another company that operates and competes with Peru rail on the same train route, this company is called Inca Rail.
- Because we want to preserve Machu Picchu for the next generations, we know that its maximum capacity of visitors per day is 2500 people, if there were buses bringing more tourists to Machu Picchu, it would make it way more over-crowded that it is already, that’s why most of us who love history and nature are ok with the way it is nowadys (only trains).
7.5 Can I walk to Machu Picchu instead of taking buses?
- Of course, you can!, many visitors do, it will take you about 1 hour to get to Machu Picchu ruins, please do this route if you are in good physical condition (it is steep-walking).
- However, if you are going to climb to Huayna Picchu mountain or do the route to the Inca Bridge of Machu Picchu, just the bus so that you save your energy to do the extra trek to any of those attractions.
7.6 Why don´t you build a cable car, there would be less pollution?
Many people think that the Carbon Dioxide of the Machu Picchu buses contaminate this archaeological and natural park, because of this reason there is a project to build a cable car from Aguas Calientes to the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu, it would be good! However, there are many reasons why this project is not being carried out. We believe that the most important is the opposition of the bus company Consettur.
On the other hand, Consettur, adresess that their buses are ecological and that is why they don´t pollute, they also state that they are Local entrepreneurs.
Free Walking Tours Peru
Secure your spot on our free tours led by professional, authorized, and expert guides in Free tour Cusco, Free tour Lima, and Free tour Arequipa. Booking is free!
