INTIRAYMIPERU.COM logo
United States Phone +1 (786) 577-7772
Phone in Peru +51 1 707-0500   
Machu Picchu Bus Round Trip

Machu Picchu Bus Round Trip

Bus ticket from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu (Round trip)

Price
$35.00

Children $23.00
Student $23.00
Machu Picchu Bus ride up

Machu Picchu Bus ride up

Bus ticket from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu (One Way)

Price
$23.00

Children $18.00
Student $14.00
Machu Picchu Bus ride down

Machu Picchu Bus ride down

Bus ticket from Machu Picchu ruins to Aguas Calientes (One Way)

Price
$23.00

Children $18.00
Student $14.00

TicketsDetailsPrice 
Machu Picchu Bus Round TripBus ticket from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu (Round trip)$35.00
Machu Picchu Bus ride upBus ticket from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu (One Way)$23.00
Machu Picchu Bus ride downBus ticket from Machu Picchu ruins to Aguas Calientes (One Way)$23.00

How to buy Machu Picchu bus tickets online

You can buy your bus tickets to the entrance of the Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu online and print them yourself to avoid the long lines at the ticket office where you could spend an additional hour just to purchase bus tickets. Remember that 5,000 people a day visit Machu Picchu so having your bus ticket in hand saves you time.

Types of bus tickets available online

To buy your Machu Picchu bus tickets online, simply choose from one of the 3 Machu Picchu bus options:

  • Machu Picchu bus tickets round trip
  • Machu Picchu bus ticket going up to the entrance of Machu Picchu from the town of Aguas Calientes
  • Machu Picchu bus ticket going down from the entrance of Machu Picchu to the town of Aguas Calientes.

After your reservation is received, you will be emailed you bus tickets within 24 hours unless your buying for tomorrow. In that case, we will rush your tickets and email them to you within 30 minutes.

Do I have to choose a specific time for the bus to Machu Pichu when booking?

No, you do not have to choose a specific time when booking your bus to Machu Picchu. You can board any bus during the operating hours as buses depart every 15 minutes. Since the bus journey is 20 minutes, it is recommended that you arrive to the bus station 35 minutes prior to the time of your Machu Picchu entrance ticket.

Machu Picchu bus station information

The town of Aguas Calientes, also known as Machu Picchu Pueblo, is where the Machu Picchu buses depart to to the Machu Picchu Citadel. When you purchase your bus tickets online, you will receive directions and a map to the bus station. However, the town of Aguas Calientes is so small that it is very easy to find the bus station.

Machu Picchu bus departure schedule

  • Departure buses (going to Machu Picchu) depart every 10 minutes starting at 5:30am until 4pm
  • Return buses (coming back from Machu Picchu) depart every 10 minutes starting at 7:30am until the last passanger is picked up.

Machu Picchu bus tickets include:

Guaranteed seat in a bus equipped with a modern ecological design that allows the passenger to travel comfortably during the 20 minute bus ride up to Machu Picchu as well as the bus down to Aguas Calientes. The bus route goes up in a zigzag through the middle of the cloud forest.

Price of Machu Picchu Bus tickets

$35USD Adults 11yrs and up
$23USD Children ages 5yrs-10yrs
$0USD Infants under 4 yrs as long as they sit on parent's lap

Time you should board the bus

You should be at the bus stop 1 hour prior to your entrance to Machu Picchu. This is because there will be people waiting already at the bus top. And then the bus ride itself is 20 minutes. Once you arrive to the entrance, you must use the restrooms before entering the Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu as there are no restrooms inside. There is also a line to verify your Machu Picchu entrance tickets.

How long is the bus ride to Machu Picchu

The bus ride up to Machu Picchu from Aguas Calientes is 25 minutes. The bus ride down from Machu Picchu is also 20-minutes.

Information about different bus types

All the buses are the same. There are no options for better buses. All buses are spacious with capacity for 29 passengers (all seated). It has large windows, curtains, seat belts and space for backpacks. It should be noted that all the buses are ecological, that is, they do not harm the nature that surrounds Machu Picchu.

Information about luggage restrictions

You are only allowed a small day back if you are entering Machu Picchu from the Aguas Calientes tourist entrance. You will be allowed a large backpack only on the return bus if you are entering the Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu through the Sun Gate (Intipunku) if you are participating on the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu 4d 3n or the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu 2d 1n or the 1d Inca Trail trekking to Machu Picchu .

Cancellation Policy

All Machu Picchu bus tickets are non-refundable regardless of the reason. This is the policy of the concessionaire in charge of the buses administered by the MTC (Ministry of Transportation and Communications) of Peru. Bus tickets are non-transferable. They are valid for the chosen day as well as one day before or after. Tourists must present, in addition to their ticket, their identity document or passport.

Accessibility

Priority Seating: At least one set of forward -facing seats are marked for people with disabilities. The buses do not have wheelchair lifts or do they provide separate entry for people with disabilities. If you bring a wheelchair, the wheelchair is stored in the bus compartment. You must hire porters to carry you onto the bus if you are not able to walk. Wheelchairs are not provided or supplied. You must contact us to arrange for wheelchair rental and porter service for visitors with disability.

Photos of Buses

Bus to machu picchu boarding.webpPhoto of tourists boarding bus from the entrance of Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes.

Bus to machu picchu bus stop.webpPhoto of bus boarding location in Aguas Calientes

Route of Machu Picchu bus from Aguas Calientes to the entrance of the Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu

The Hiram Bingham highway is the road that the bus travels to get from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu. Its name honors the American explorer Hiram Bingham, who made Machu Picchu known to the entire world in 1911. The Hiram Bingham Highway is only 9 kilometers. It is an unpaved road most of the way and it is surrounded by beautiful mountains of the high jungles of Cusco. The road is safe but because it zig-zags up the mountain, many people get the impression that it is not safe. On its route it crosses a bridge over the Vilcanota River. Tourists who make the route on foot take part of the Hiram Bingham road to finally take a detour of hundreds of stone stairs. bus to machu picchu route map.webpMap of the route of the bus to Machu Picchu

Information about purchasing tickets in person

Due to the large number of tourists, it is not recommended that you puchase your bus tickets in Person. But in case you do, the location of the bus stop is not where you purchase your entrance tickets in person. The bus ticket office is 3 short blocks from the actual bus boarding point. The address is Calle Mayta Capac, Aguas Calientes. The bus ticket office is open 5:30am to 22:00pm. Please allow about 1 hour to queue up to purchase bus tickets during the Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu operating hours.

Entrance tickets to the Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu are not included.

The entrance ticket to the Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu are not included. You must purchase entrance ticketes separately. When you purchase bus tickets to Machu Picchu, only the transportation is included.

More information about the bus trip to Machu Picchu

The bus trip is highly recommended for tourists who will go hiking in Machu Picchu: such as the walk to Huayna Picchu and the Machu Picchu mountain. This is because the walk is tiring and visitors will need strength to complete the hiking trails in Machupicchu. Bus tickets can be shown both physically and digitally (through the cell phone screen).
The bus trip to Machu Picchu is considered safe. The route is only used by the buses that transport tourists to Machupicchu. The buses are in perfect state of maintenance. Drivers are constantly evaluated responsible professionals.
A good option to enjoy Machu Picchu, its landscapes and, incidentally, save a few dollars is to make the outward journey (ascent) by bus while the return section (descent) on foot.