Are you planning to visit Machu Picchu in Peru but you don’t want to spend a ridicilous amount of money on an overrated train? In this article I will explain how it is possible to get to Machu Picchu pueblo aka Aguas Calientes (town at the foot of Machu Picchu) for 10 EURO instead of 100 EURO!
Don’t want to read all this? Just check the video below!
Why take the train instead of bus to Aguas Calientes?
If you want to take the train there are several options and the cheapest option at the time I write this blog (31/05/2019) is 80 EURO for a one way ticket. The most expensive option is 200 EURO also one way.
So if you don’t mind spending the money on an expensive train ticket, go ahead. If you’re on a budget take the route described below. I’m sure some people don’t mind spending that kind of money for whatever reason that might be. The only disadvantage I find is that you lose twice the amount of time to get there (or back). With the train it will be 4h one way and bus/walking will be 8 or 9h.
The budget route to Machu Picchu Pueblo explained in 9 easy steps
Before getting into details you need to know that this route will take much longer than the normal (=expensive) train ride. It will take you approximately 10h to get to Machu Picchu Pueblo from Cusco.
- The first thing you need to do is: find a bus that will take you to Hidroelélctrica. Hidroeléctrica is actually not much more than a powerplant. In order to find a bus, I would advise you to ask at least 3 travel agencies what their prices are. Also ask if lunch is included or not. Without lunch included you shouldn’t pay more than 40 soles (=10 EURO) for a ticket from Cusco to Hidroeléctrica. Do keep in mind that there are also buses that will bring you to a town called Santa-Teresa (beautiful hot springs there) and then you need to take another bus to Hidroeléctrica. This option will take a bit longer and might be a bit more expensive as well. We took the bus straight to Hidroeléctrica.
- Once you have your bus ticket you will have to get up pretty early, I think we met at Plaza San-Fransisco around 6AM. The bus only left at 7AM but that’s another story. Make sure that you have clear instructions on the time and meeting point!
- When you get on the bus there will be 2 stops: one after about 2h driving and another after about 4h driving. The first stop was at a quite expensive shop/restaurant, so if you’re really on a tight budget it might be a good idea to bring your own food and drinks. The second stop was in a small town (more like a street) with 2 or 3 restaurants. Most people from the bus had their lunch included so they all went into a restaurant together, we went to a small restaurant a bit further and had some sandwiches with eggs and cheese for no more than 3 soles (0.75 EUR). Don’t eat too much if you have a sensitive stomache because the road gets pretty rocky in the last part!
- After about 7h driving you will arrive at Hidroeléctrica (we arrived around 14h15). Nothing much to do here except a small restaurant and a toilet.
- Before starting the hike you need to register yourself with your passport number and name. I’m guessing that this is for safety reasons.
- Now, you can start the hike! It is quite easy to find the start: just go to the small station and start following the train tracks! Just a few minutes away from the station you need to go right up a small hill and that’s the only time you will leave the train tracks. Well, actually, the last 30 minutes you also walk away from the train tracks.
- Now according to your pace you will hike 2h-3h. We did it in 2h10 minutes and we didn’t really rush.
- Just before the tunnel you will need to go off the tracks and you will see the Machu Picchu sign (official entrance to Machu Picchu that you will pass the next day). Just follow the road next to the Urubamba river and after about 20 minutes you arrive in Machu Picchu Pueblo (Aguas Calientes)
- Congratulations you arrived in Machu Picchu pueblo for 10 EURO!
How hard is it to hike to Machu Picchu Pueblo?
As Machu Picchu is on a lower altitude than Cusco and you walk almost all the time along the train tracks (mostly plain) this hike is not very intense. We are not experienced hikers and did it without any issues. So no worries, YOU can do it!
Conclusion
If you want to save some bucks this is the way to go. If you’re limited in time you might need to take the train anyway. Or you can do, like us, one way walking and one way train to save money and time!
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