The far-flung ruins of Machu Picchu, a former Inca empire, sit atop a Peruvian mountain bathed in fog. These unimaginable ruins are a preferred vacationer attraction however not as straightforward to achieve as you may assume.
If you are hoping to go to this spectacular website, it is going to take a while to reach — and also you may have to take a set of planes, buses and trains to make it there. Know, too, that some masks and vaccination necessities are nonetheless in place for visiting Machu Picchu, so you will wish to test the most recent steering and put together accordingly.
To assist you map out your journey to the “Lost City of the Incas,” here is a step-by-step information with all you should find out about attending to Machu Picchu, together with the right way to use your factors and miles for the journey.
Related: The greatest instances to journey to Machu Picchu
How to get to Lima, Peru, from the US
Machu Picchu sits just a few hundred miles southeast of Lima, Peru’s capital, excessive up within the Andes Mountains. Since attending to Machu Picchu itself takes a number of steps, a nonstop flight from the U.S. to this bustling metropolis is commonly the popular strategy to go, although you could possibly additionally attain Peru from one other Latin or Central American hub.
Should you resolve to fly immediately from the U.S., you will discover that there are numerous choices for flying to Lima nonstop.
American Airlines flies nonstop to Lima’s Jorge Chávez International Airport (LIM) from Miami International Airport (MIA) and Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW). LATAM Airlines provides service to the town from MIA, John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), whereas SkyGroup associate Delta Air Lines flies from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL). United Airlines additionally flies to Lima from Houston‘s George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH), and Florida dwellers have much more choices from MIA because of JetBlue Airways and Spirit Airlines, each of which fly nonstop to Lima.
Since Delta and United use dynamic pricing, you will must strive your luck on the subject of getting stable award fares. However, you should utilize bank card rewards that will help you accrue sufficient miles to cowl the price of flights. Chase Ultimate Rewards switch to United, whereas American Express Membership Rewards switch to Delta. Those with Delta elite standing might wish to fly with LATAM since Medallion standing and advantages are acknowledged because of a reciprocal partnership between the 2 airways.
Related: The full information to incomes and redeeming with LATAM Pass
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If you should fill up on LATAM Pass miles, you may switch Marriott Bonvoy factors to LATAM Pass at a 3:1 ratio, with a 5,000-point bonus for each 60,000 factors you switch. If LATAM is your only option and also you wish to use miles, take into account getting a Marriott cobranded bank card to earn a degree bonus that’ll switch to the airline on your Machu Picchu journey. Other choices for incomes LATAM Pass miles embody opening one of many airline’s cobranded bank cards or reserving lodges utilizing Rocketmiles.
Oneword flyers ought to take into account flying American. The airline does publish an award chart, although it is uncommon to search out costs as little as specified on account of dynamic pricing. However, when you’re fortunate (and touring on off-peak dates), you may discover a one-way MileSAAver Off Peak award ticket for 17,500 AAdvantage miles in financial system or a one-way MilesSAAver award ticket for 30,000 miles in enterprise class.
For these sans factors and miles, tickets on Spirit from Miami to Lima can typically value lower than $300 spherical journey. Just know that all the things out of your carry-on bag to seat choice and past will value further on Spirit.
Related: Everything it’s best to know earlier than flying Spirit Airlines
How to get to Cusco, Peru, and the Sacred Valley from Lima
No, you are not on the base of the Andes simply but. The subsequent step in your Peruvian journey needs to be to get from Lima to Cusco. The most direct strategy to arrive is by aircraft, which takes about an hour from Lima. There are different choices just like the bus, however contemplating it will possibly take round 25 hours (or extra), flying is the quickest alternative.
The best choice (particularly for Delta elite flyers) is LATAM, which provides one-way award tickets for just a little greater than 5,000 LATAM miles, plus charges. But you might not wish to trouble with miles, as tickets value round $50 every approach. Those able to courageous a low-cost service may be capable to shave $10 or $15 off LATAM’s value by flying with a service like Sky Airline, JetSmart Airlines or Viva Air Colombia.
Once in Cusco, you will wish to spend at the least one evening within the metropolis itself or the encompassing Sacred Valley, as attending to Machu Picchu will nonetheless take a substantial period of time after arriving.
How to get from Cusco to Aguas Calientes, Peru
This is the place the enjoyable actually begins. The quickest strategy to arrive on the gateway to Machu Picchu, the city of Aguas Calientes, from Cusco is by prepare, which takes round three hours. There’s additionally a two-hour prepare trip you may take from Ollantaytambo, Peru, to the location, must you resolve to remain within the Sacred Valley earlier than persevering with your journey. Other choices, together with a bus and climbing, can be found as nicely.
Train
The most luxurious prepare to Machu Picchu is the Hiram Bingham, a Belmond-operated prepare that prices round $500 one-way. Aside from this splurge, the principle trains — often known as the Expedition and the Vistadome — are operated by PeruRail. The Expedition trains value about $60 every approach, whereas the Vistadome trains value round $75 per one-way trip. The latter supplies an enhanced expertise that features snacks and even a style present the place vacationers can view and buy gadgets constituted of alpaca wool.
Inca Rail is one other prepare firm that provides varied choices for vacationers between Cusco and Aguas Calientes through its Voyager and 360 trains. Prices are akin to the PeruRail trains, and, like PeruRail, Inca Rail additionally provides an unique prepare expertise. Inca Rail’s Private prepare provides you and your group a whole prepare automobile to yourselves, the place you will get pleasure from a three-course meal, Champagne and a Peruvian cooking class as you journey. This specific service even provides a personal bus to Machu Picchu from the prepare station.
If you may’t resolve between Inca Rail and PeruRail, use finances and timing to resolve. Pick a prepare that is the precise value at a time that is most handy for you, because the providers are comparatively related. LATAM Pass frequent flyers might wish to choose Inca Rail trains, as you may join your account and earn one LATAM Pass mile for each greenback spent on Inca Rail.
Trains to Machu Picchu go away from the Poroy prepare station, which is situated 11 miles exterior of Cusco. If you are staying in or exploring the Sacred Valley, you may catch the prepare from the Ollantaytambo prepare station, which is lower than 40 miles northwest of Cusco. The final cease on every route is the Aguas Calientes station.
Bus and strolling
Budget vacationers (or anybody up for a novel, scenic expertise) ought to take into account the shuttle and strolling path choice often known as the Hidroeléctrica. Since there aren’t any precise roads that lead into the city of Aguas Calientes, you may’t drive all the way in which, so whilst you’ll take a bus the vast majority of the way in which, a three-hour trek is required on the finish.
To partake on this choice, you will have to ebook a spot in a gaggle shuttle (your resort or any tour operator may also help you ebook one) that departs from both Cusco or Ollantaytambo. The journey will value anyplace between $10 and $25 per individual, relying on the bus and the way many individuals are in your group. You’ll weave by the Andes as you method Aguas Calientes, stopping for lunch in a city referred to as Santa MarÃa. Once the shuttle drops you off at a location that appears to be in the course of nowhere — the Hidroeléctrica — you’ll get pleasure from a peaceable stroll alongside prepare tracks for about three hours till you arrive at Aguas Calientes.
For this journey, remember to pack mild, as you will be carrying your belongings in your again. Some Cusco lodges allow you to go away bigger suitcases or baggage of their storage rooms when you plan on returning to Cusco once more for an evening after your Machu Picchu go to, so take into account one among these properties when you do not wish to carry your entire belongings throughout the stroll.
Hiking
There are varied guided treks that finish in Machu Picchu. Depending on the choice you select, you will discover that they final anyplace from just a few days to weeks.
Hiking the Inca Trail — probably the most well-known route — begins from a base close to Cusco. Additionally, there are different treks that go away from different bases in Cusco and the Sacred Valley, together with the Lares Trek and the Salkantay Trek. These treks are guided and sometimes embody meals and porters. It’s greatest to ebook by a web-based journey supplier or company.
Walking
In some cases, vacationers have been capable of stroll the whole route alongside the prepare tracks from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes. However, this free, eight-hour stroll may be unsafe at instances on account of prepare tunnels. It’s extremely monitored by observe guards, so we do not suggest this feature.
Related: 9 errors vacationers make when visiting Machu Picchu
The ultimate step: Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu
By this level, you are so shut, but to date. Aguas Calientes is the gateway to Machu Picchu, however you aren’t on the ruins simply but. You nonetheless must make the vertical ascent to the citadel itself, which is a grueling trek that can take you about 4,000 toes uphill.
Anyone planning to hike Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain might not wish to embark on this stroll, as it may be exhausting (although you may all the time stroll again down, which is less complicated). If you do wish to stroll, observe the Camino Peatonal Trail. Leave early since this stroll will take you just a few hours to finish.
An different strategy to attain Machu Picchu is to take the bus. Buses go away each 10 to fifteen minutes from Aguas Calientes, beginning at 5:30 a.m. and operating till 3:30 p.m. Keep in thoughts that individuals line as much as catch the primary bus, so it is best to reach on the bus cease early. The trip up takes 20 to half-hour, and the final bus returns to Aguas Calientes at 5:30 p.m.
You should buy bus tickets upfront or on the day of your go to beginning at 5 a.m. Bus tickets value $12 per one-way trip or $24 spherical journey. Buy your tickets on the bus station in Aguas Calientes or one other licensed spot in Cusco or Aguas Calientes. Some businesses may also help you ebook them on-line forward of time, too, although you will have to pay an extra price. If you have booked your Machu Picchu tickets by a tour company, ask about bus tickets, as some will embody them.
Remember which you could all the time ebook your individual Machu Picchu tickets on-line by the official web site. Don’t overlook to additionally carry your passport. You’ll want to indicate it to enter the ruins.
Bottom line
If it looks as if Machu Picchu is difficult to get to, you are proper. The course of requires a number of steps because of its distant location atop a mountain.
Know, although, that you do not have to do the journey multi function go. Take just a few days in Lima, a while in Cusco and the Sacred Valley, and even a few nights in Aguas Calientes to arrange on your trek. Or, take into account staying put in one among these locations after your Machu Picchu journey to unwind.
Peru is a magical place to discover with many distinctive sights past Machu Picchu, so taking your journey sluggish and discovering different highlights could make the lengthy journey value it.