Are you planning a trip to the World Heritage Site of Machu Picchu? For the very important bus tickets for the trip read our guide for more facts and information….
Due to the sheer amount of tourists to Machu Picchu and the possible damage these could do to the site and surrounding environment the government of Peru has now placed a cap on the amount of visitors that go each day at just 2,500.
So, in planning your trip it is essential to purchase all tickets well in advance of the date on which you plan to go to the ruins.
Machu Picchu Bus Tours
It is quite an expedition to get to Machu Picchu from the capital city of Lima. If you do this independently without the assistance of a tour company you will have to travel from Lima to Cusco either by bus, car or train. From Cusco can travel to Ollantaytambo by train or bus. From Ollantaytambo you have to travel to Aguas Calientes which is the closest town to the ruins. If you opt to do it this way plan to spend about USD$8 one way for a bus ride from Aguas Calientes to the ruins. This ride is about 20 minutes long. To get to Agua Calientes from Cusco you could take a bus which only costs about USD$2 per seat per ride. However, you will have one stop in which you have to change buses and pay again about half way between Cusco and Aguas Calientes.
To save money you could walk some of the Inca trail to the ruins, either starting from Cusco (which would entail a roughly four day hike), or from Aguas Calientes, which is a one hour walk. However, because of the altitude of the ruins, as well as the steepness of the mountain on which it is located, it is advised that older or unfit people not try this as you will be too tired upon arriving at the ruins to actually enjoy them.
To make the process hassle-free, though more expensive, it is best to visit the ruins through a reputable tour company. One of the best ways is to have a bus tour.
Lima to Machu Picchu Bus
Fortunately, there are plenty of well-maintained and reliable bus companies operating in Peru. There is the Expreso Cruz del Sur bus company. The company does not provide tours as such, but does transport passengers from Lima to Cusco at USD$66.67.
There are also a couple of private bus tour companies which one can catch from Lima to Machu Picchu. One such company is Inka Express. It is best to make your bookings well in advance, which can be done from their website. International payments to them can be made through Paypal. The price of a ticket is USD$45, subject to changes. This bus tour company has been operating for about 8 years and is the most reputable company available. They offer tours to other places in Peru, such as Puno, the Andahuaylillas, Areuipas, and other popular places in Peru.
