How to Visit Machu Picchu: Step by Step Guide & Full Cost Breakdown
Starting the journey in Montreal, Canada. September 2024.
We first flew to Lima, Peru’s capital, passing by Bogota, Colombia. Most international flights to Peru land in Lima. Flights with Avianca.
One-way ticket was $250 CAD per person. After enjoying a few days in Lima, we flew from Lima to Cusco. Some South American airports offer direct flights to Cusco, one of the nearest airports to Machu Picchu. Flights with LATAM.
Round-trip tickets were $81 USD per person. We arrived in Cusco one night before our trip to Machu Picchu. From Cusco, head to Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu Pueblo), the closest city to Machu Picchu. Option 1: Rent a car or catch a bus to Aguas Calientes.
Roads can be dangerous, so hiring a local driver is safer than driving yourself. Option 2: Car/Bus + Train. Travel from Cusco to Ollantaytambo by road, then take the train to Aguas Calientes. Train companies (Inca Rail & Peru Rail) offer bi-modal tickets
(bus + train). This is the only option between January and April when Cusco’s train tracks are closed. Option 3: Take the direct train from Cusco to Aguas Calientes
(only available from May to December).
It’s safer, faster, and avoids the scary roads. Since we visited in late September, we chose the direct train from Cusco’s Poroy station to Aguas Calientes. Poroy station is a 20–30 minutes drive from central Cusco. We’re taking the Peru Rail Vista Dome train,
which cost $123 USD per person round-trip.
Book early—it sells out quickly! The seats were spacious and comfortable. Time to sit back, relax, and enjoy the stunning views. Many people take a day trip, skipping Aguas Calientes and heading straight to Machu Picchu before returning to Cusco. We stayed one night in Aguas Calientes to visit Machu Picchu early and avoid the crowds. Most hotels in Aguas Calientes are small and simple. Ours was fine—perfect for a one-night stay without high expectations. The room and bathroom were outdated, but for $44 USD per night, it was one of the cheaper options in town. No soundproofing in the hotel room. It was noisy, right in front of train tracks, and train smoke came in through poorly sealed windows. Time for lunch. We tried a recommended restaurant for Peruvian food. Large space with a buffet and a menu. The views were stunning! The food was disappointing. Pricey, with bland lamb shank despite being tender. The lamb rack was mostly fat and lacked seasoning. Frozen veggies. Wouldn’t recommend. At least the view made up for it. Aguas Calientes is full of shops in the city center. After resting, we explored the city.
Lots of Incan-themed items to see. After a disappointing lunch, we found a gem. Cheaper prices, and the food was much better! Not a Peruvian dish but made with local ingredients. Creamy, flavorful, and delicious. The Aji de Galinha was our favorite. Traditional Peruvian dish with moist, well-seasoned chicken and great flavor. Calling it a night. Early start tomorrow for Machu Picchu. A new day, but foggy and rainy. We weren’t sure if we’d see much in Machu Picchu. Rain had been constant for days. Let’s see what happens! To reach the mountain, you can hike for free or take the shuttle. The shuttle costs $24 USD per person round-trip. We made it to Machu Picchu! Bought tickets 3 months ahead, just before the circuit changes. Tickets cost $152 Soles for circuits 1, 2, and the Inca Bridge. Prices and circuits may have changed—double-check before visiting. It was so foggy we couldn’t see anything. We hired a guide and decided to visit the Inca Bridge first. The views were stunning. Down there is Aguas Calientes. The hike to the Inca Bridge is steep and narrow—avoid it if you fear heights. When we returned, it was still foggy. Our guide told us to wait, so we stayed patient. And then, after 30 minutes, this happened! The fog cleared, and it turned sunny. We were so lucky—enjoy this incredible view! Now heading to circuit 2. It got really hot! Bring sunscreen, repellent, and wear layers to adjust to the weather. Spotted lots of llamas at the end of the trails. Time flew by. We stayed for hours, soaking it all in! There’s no time limit for your visit. We had a 3 PM train to catch, so we returned to Aguas Calientes for lunch. Went back to Chullos since we loved dinner there the night before. The yuca croquettes were a great appetizer. Tried alpaca for the first time—it’s similar to beef, lean, and tasty. The pasta was well-cooked too. The trout was our favorite—so fresh and delicious! It started raining right after we left Machu Picchu.
What a lucky day! Time to head back to Cusco. The return train was the same as before.
A relaxing trip with beautiful views.
Planning your dream trip to Machu Picchu? In this video — How to Visit Machu Picchu: Step by Step Guide & Cost Breakdown — we show you exactly how to get there, what it costs, and what to expect.
We entered Peru through Lima, took a flight to Cusco, and from there, we cover how to travel to Aguas Calientes, where to buy tickets, how much each part costs, and what you should book in advance.
We also stayed one night in Aguas Calientes (the town at the base of Machu Picchu) — and we’ll help you decide if that extra night is worth it!
📍 Highlights include:
🚆 Train ride from Cusco to Aguas Calientes
🎫 Entry tickets, bus info & what to book first
🏨 Hotel review: where we stayed + honest tips
🧭 Must-know tips for visiting the Machu Picchu citadel
💰 Full cost breakdown for every part of the trip
Perfect if you’re planning your first visit or just want to know exactly how to visit Machu Picchu without the guesswork.
DO NOT CLICK HERE: https://shorturl.at/yp8rq
Please subscribe to support this channel and receive new videos.
Follow us:
https://www.instagram.com/triptastereviews
@triptastereviews
Timeline:
0:00 Video Summary
0.26 Flight with Avianca from Montreal to Lima
0:44 Flight with LATAM from Lima to Cusco
1:03 Options to travel from Cusco to Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu Pueblo)
1:41 Vistadome Train with Peru Rail from Cusco to Aguas Calientes
2:49 Arrival in Aguas Calientes + Hotel Room Review
3:24 Lunch at Toto’s House + Walking in Machu Picchu Pueblo
4:35 Dinner at Chullos Restaurant
5:04 Shuttle to Machu Picchu
5:27 Machu Picchu
12:15 Lunch at Chullos Restaurant
12:37 Train back to Cusco
13:04 How much spent to visit Machu Picchu – Cost
#TripTasteReviews #TasteTripReviews #TravelVlog #Travel #FoodReviews #Viagens #Trip #HonestReviews #SilentVlog #Silent #SilentTravelVlog #FoodVlog #machupicchu #machupicchuperu #peru #peruvianfood #peru #perutravel #peruvlog #machupicchuvlog #lifeinperu #aguascalientes