How to Get to Machu Picchu
How to Get to Machu Picchu
Getting to Machu Picchu isn’t just a journey—it’s an adventure, a spiritual awakening, and a cardio workout your thighs will remember forever. But don’t worry. Whether you’re a comfy-train type of traveler or someone who believes “vacation” means hiking for four days with no Wi-Fi, there’s a way up that mountain with your name on it.
Let’s explore the most popular routes to Machu Picchu—with just enough sarcasm and travel envy to keep things interesting.
1. The Classic Inca Trail: Hike Like an Emperor
Ah yes, the legendary Inca Trail. This is the rock star of Machu Picchu routes. Four days. Forty-something kilometers. Countless stairs. And more snacks than a middle school sleepover.
For those who want to “earn” Machu Picchu with their sweat and possibly a mild sunburn, this is the way to go. Along the way, there are ancient ruins, misty cloud forests, and moments of deep reflection like: Why didn’t I do more squats before this?
Permits are required, spots sell out faster than Beyoncé tickets, and you’ll be setting up your tent next to strangers who will become your trail family, like it or not. Totally worth it.
2. The Train Option: For the Glamorous (or Just Tired)
Not into trekking? Prefer your altitude gain with a glass of coca tea in hand? Say hello to the PeruRail and IncaRail trains. They leave from the town of Ollantaytambo and glide through the Sacred Valley like a luxurious steel llama.
You can book anything from “affordable” seats with windows to “I just mortgaged my house” panoramic carriages with gourmet meals. Either way, you’ll end up in Aguas Calientes, the town at the base of Machu Picchu, with all your leg muscles intact.
Bonus: no blisters. Downside: you’ll overhear people who did the Inca Trail telling dramatic stories about losing toenails.
3. The Salkantay Trek: For the Wild Souls Who Think Four Days of Hiking Isn’t Enough
This one’s for the hardcore folks. The Salkantay Trek is the wild sibling of the Inca Trail—longer, higher, and more remote. You’ll hike through jungles, glaciers, and possibly every type of weather in one day.
It’s five days, high altitudes, and epic views—without the Inca Trail crowds. You’ll still end up in Aguas Calientes, just with even more stories about how you almost got snowed on in Peru. Bravo.
4. The Budget Adventure: The “Inca Jungle Trek” (a.k.a. Choose Your Own Adrenaline)
Don’t want to commit to just hiking or just riding? This hybrid trip includes mountain biking, ziplining, rafting, hiking, and probably a little screaming. It’s like the travel version of ordering the combo platter.
Perfect for adrenaline junkies with short attention spans.
5. The “I’m Just Here for the Instagram” Approach
Some travelers fly to Cusco, book a train ticket, ride a bus to the entrance of Machu Picchu, and take exactly 37 photos of themselves doing yoga poses at sunrise before heading straight back to town for quinoa pancakes.
No judgment. Everyone has their own sacred path.
Final Thoughts: Whichever Way You Go, Bring Snacks and Awe
There’s no single “right” way to reach Machu Picchu—unless you try to take a taxi the whole way (spoiler: it doesn’t end well). Whether you trek, train, or throw yourself down a zipline, just know that the moment you see that ancient citadel perched in the clouds, all the planning, sweat, and possibly motion sickness will be worth it.
Just remember: bring layers, respect the llamas, and for the love of Pachamama, don’t call it “Machu Pizza.”
