Travel to Machu Picchu on a Budget

There are many ways to travel to Machu Picchu, but many travelers to Machu Picchu just want to know how to make the trip without breaking the bank. In order to save some money, you’ll have to be willing to get off the well-trodden Gringo Trail. Here are some suggestions for traveling to Machu Picchu on a budget. 

Take the train from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes. The town of Aguas Calientes is nothing special; in fact, you should try to avoid it as much as possible. You may want to splurge here and stay at the El Mapi hotel, an excellent 3-star hotel run by Inkaterra, a luxury chain in Peru renowned for its excellent service. They have a great bar, a restaurant/cafeteria, and simple, clean hotel rooms, some with views of the cliffs behind the town. Otherwise, the Rupa Wasi hotel is a good alternative. 

 

Food is overpriced in Aguas Calientes, and exchange rates are terrible. You may want to go with a full boxed lunch available at KB Tambo in Ollantaytambo for $12.00. El Mapi offers boxed sandwiches for S./ 25 (about $10). You can get fruit, snacks, and water bottles in the upstairs market by the train tracks for cheap. Just ask the locals for the mercado. 

Make sure to buy your Machu Picchu entrance ticket and shuttle bus tickets the day before, to make it easy on you in the early morning rush. If you’re looking for something to do while in town, there are the hot springs, but those can be somewhat dirty and overcrowded. Inkaterra El Pueblo Machu Picchu offers tours of its orchid gardens. 

The best way to see Machu Picchu is to get there bright and early, so that you can beat the crowds and get to hike Huaynu Picchu, the cliff behind Machu Picchu. Get to the bus station no later than 5:30 am, stand in line (make sure to bring a raincoat or poncho), and take the 15 minute shuttle bus up to the entrance of Machu Picchu. 

It’s possible to walk up to the entrance, but only recommended for the serious trekker. At the entrance, ask for a stamp to get into Huaynu Picchu, as only 400 people per day can do the Huaynu Picchu hike. Then, once inside, walk over to the other side of the park, to the Huaynu Picchu trailhead.

In the early morning, the fog encircles the ruins and the cliffs rise up like giants from the valley floor. From the top of Huaynu, if the day is clear of fog, you can look down at the ruins of Machu Picchu. You can also hike to the Gran Caverna and the Templo de la Luna, both along another circuit on the way to Huaynu. This hike is less traveled and well worth the trek. Both are not for the faint of heart, and the whole circuit takes about four hours. 

When you return to the site of Machu Picchu, you can picnic in the shade and take a nap, but beware of insects. Make sure to bring lots of citronella bug spray, and wear long sleeves. After you’ve explored the ruins to your fill, and taken the obligatory Machu Picchu snapshot from the Watchman’s Hut, return to Aguas Calientes. 

You can spend another night in Aguas Calientes, or take a train in the late afternoon or early evening back to Ollantaytambo, or even all the way back to Cusco (four hour train ride). I recommend returning to Ollantaytambo, then returning to Cusco the next morning via the public bus. 

Once back in Cusco, you can relax in your hotel again, and then hit up any museums that you missed before, or do some last minute shopping. At night, head up to the neighborhood of San Blas, known for its music and art scene. The Kilometer Zero (KM 0) nightclub has music and a good vibe. You can indulge in a couple piscos, especially if you’re heading back to the airport the next morning, and may not have the opportunity to sip a Peruvian pisco for a long while.