Most people dream of visiting Machu Picchu, the magical hidden Inca ruins found nestled amongst the clouds. There’s a reason its labelled one of the seven wonders of the world, it truly is a special place like no other.
We certainly didn’t want to miss out on seeing the magnificent ancient ruins, but we were on a budget and some of the options of getting there were way out of our price range. We spent hours searching on google trying to make sense of how we could get to do it for cheap.
We want to share with you our guide to Machu Picchu on a budget, for only $100 per person, including tickets to Machu Picchu and your accommodation, you’ll be staring in awe at one of the most special places on earth and you won’t be breaking the bank in doing so!
Best Time to Visit Machu Picchu
The best months to visit Machu Picchu are June through August, this is the winter season in Peru and it is the perfect climate to explore this World Heritage Site.
The days are mostly sunny and dry, the temperatures are not too hot averaging highs of 20°C and lows of 16°C. The sun is stronger as Machu Picchu sits at an altitude of 2,430m, so be sure to wear sun protection and a hat.
What Circuit to Pick
Picking a circuit can be a little confusing to say the least, as of June 1st 2024 10 new circuits were introduced. Each circuit gives you different perspectives of Machu Picchu, from the Upper Terraces to Waynapicchu, for us there were way too many options and it was hard making a decision.
Ultimately we settled on Circuit 2 and we are so glad that we did because it was spectacular. The route gives you the classic viewpoints where you can get the perfect pictures and it’s an easy route.
With only some steps going up the start, the rest takes you around the ruins and it was truly magnificent, we can see why Circuit 2 is the most popular. If you’re lucky, you might get to see the resident alpacas that are roaming around.
How to Book Tickets
Booking tickets for Machu Picchu is straight forward once you know your circuit, you can book your tickets directly on the official Machu Picchu website. Deciding on the time is going to be crucial for your itinerary, it really depends on what mode of transport you’re going to take. We personally chose an afternoon ticket 2-3pm as we wanted to avoid the morning crowds. This meant we needed to stay two nights in Aguas Calientes as we needed to factor in hiking back to Hydroelectrica.
It is important to try and book your tickets in advance as your chosen circuit may be fully booked, however if you prefer to be more spontaneous you can also get tickets for the following day at the Cultural Center in Aguas Calientes ( Machu Picchu Pueblo), they release 1000 tickets per day.
Getting to Machu Picchu
From Lima
The nearest airport to Machu Picchu is Cusco’s International airport- Alejandro Velasco Astete International Airport (CUZ)
You can also get an overnight bus from Lima to Cusco, which takes around 20 hours.
Flying is the quickest and most convenient, also the views flying into Cusco are incredible, if you get an early morning flight you’ll catch the sun rising over the Peruvian Andes.
From Cusco
There’s only two ways of getting to Machu Picchu from Cusco, one of which is a 6 hour bus to Hydroelectrica and then a 2 hour walk to Aguas Calientes, we will go more into detail about this route later on in this guide. The second option is by train, it’s defiantly the fastest route but also the most expensive, there are two companies, Peru Rail & Inca Rail.
Peru Rail is the only direct option from Cusco to Aguas Calientes. Inca Rail is a bus and train combo. If you book in advance, you can get a one way ticket from around $70, otherwise it can be up to $200 one way. If you can afford it, it’s a beautiful scenic route to Machu Picchu and they offer on board entertainment such as traditional singing and dancing.
Hiking to Machu Picchu
The Inca Trail is the most popular hiking route to reach Machu Picchu, you have to use a registered trekking agency and they can be sold out 6 months before your chosen date, so it’s advised to book well in advance. The two options are the classic 4 day route or the shorter 2 days. There are many agencies to choose from as it is super competitive. Be sure to do your research and shop around to get the best price.
Visiting Machu Picchu for $100
So you’ve made the decision you want to visit Machu Picchu but your budget can’t afford the “luxury” Andean train journey, we’re going to walk you through our step by step guide on how to see one of the 7 Wonders of The World for no more than $100!
1. Decide what circuit and book your ticket
We decided circuit 2 was the best for us and it did not disappoint, it’s an easy trail and it has the best views. Book your tickets online in advance on the official website or get them in Agua Celanese at the cultural centre for the next day.
2. Book your bus to Hydroelectrica
You can get a local bus or go through an agency, bare in mind the local bus will take longer as it tends to stop many times along the way. We went with a private agency called Macchu Picchu by Car VIP, it cost $25 per person for a round trip. They were really lovely and accommodating. The drive took around 6 hours, with 2 bathroom stops along the way. It’s an epic and very scenic drive, over several mountains, be sure to get your travel sickness pills if you suffer with motion sickness. You’ll be dropped off at the same point where you will get picked up from, so pin point it or make a mental note. There is a restaurant and some toilets, so you can feel ready and prepared for your walk ahead.
3. Walk from Hydroelectrica
First you have to sign your name at the office and this is where your walk will begin. You will walk past the Hydroelectrica station where there are many stalls/shops selling snacks and drinks. From here there’s some stairs that lead up to where the walk starts, everything is clearly signposted and there’s many people walking in the same direction. The walk takes around 2-3 hours depending on your pace. It’s an enchanting walk that follows a powerful river, towering mountains surround you and one of those mountains leading the way is literally the back of Machu Picchu!
Everywhere you look you can feel the energy and magic in the air, the lush jungle trek follows the train tracks, you won’t be alone as there are numerous other excited adventurers all embarking on a journey to reach the UNESCO World Heritage Site hiding amongst the clouds. You’ll know when a train is coming because it’s horn will echo through the valley long before it reaches you. There are little stalls along the way where you can stock up on water and snacks if you need.
4. Aguas Calientes
You’ll know when you’ve reached Machu Picchu’s Pueblo, Aguas Calientes, as your not in the quiet nature anymore you’ll find yourself in a town that’s heaving with restaurants, shops, bright lights and music, the serenity of the walk will soon wear off. If you needed to grab a poncho or some souvenirs, you can find literally find everything here. Now it’s time to check into your hotel, have something to eat and get a good night’s rest before the big day tomorrow!
5. Machu Picchu Day
Most hotels offer a breakfast, be sure to fill up before you head out. You can bring snacks as long as they’re sealed. You can get a bus to the entrance of Machu Picchu which takes around 20 minutes, a single is $12 and a return $24, there’s no discount for a return. We decided to get the bus up and walk down after our visit. The bus journey is exciting as it heads high up in the mountains, which reminded us of avatar, something out of this world! Make sure you have your passport with you as they check it against your ticket. They didn’t actually do a bag check we just got through bang on our ticket time of 2pm. Circuit 2 is hands down the best route for the ultimate views, it felt so surreal seeing the ancient ruins with our own eyes, it truly is a unique testimony of Inca civilisation. It’s hard to believe they built all of it without any modern day machinery, and damn it’s high up, so much so that the Spanish never found it and that’s the reason it still exists today.
Once you’ve explored for a few hours and it’s time to head down, you can grab the bus or take the stairs winding down the mountain, we opted for the stairs and it was very beautiful, little did we know there were 1600 steps to climb down, our poor legs!
6. Walking back to Hydroelectrica
The walk back felt faster as we knew what to expect, towards the end of the walk, keep an eye out for signs offering Kombucha, organic coffee and fresh juices. We spent some time here ,the owners are lovely and welcoming, they live off the land which has been passed down through generations. If you ask nicely Claudia will give you a tour, showing you where they grow fruits, vegetables and organic coffee, we don’t drink coffee but after smelling the rich aromas we were sold and bought some as a gift. They even make flutes out of bamboo, it’s truly a special place that must not be missed.
7. Bus back to Cusco
You’ll meet your driver at the drop off point where your journey began, back over the mountains you’ll go, winding through the ancient valley with a sense of achievement and with memories that will last you a lifetime.