4 Days or 5 Hours? The Journey to Machu Picchu from Cusco
Visiting Machu Picchu is a dream for many travelers. A bucket-list destination. But, what people don’t always explain is that the journey to get there is an experience all its own. The logistics matter: routes, altitude, timing, tickets, guides — all of it plays a role in how this day unfolds.
Whether you go for the 4–day Inca Trail Hike or the 3.5-Hour train ride from Cusco, the journey to Machu Picchu is a significant part of the entire experience.
As someone who has now taken a group of 13 people to see this Wonder of the World, I want you to feel fully informed and completely confident planning your own visit.
Let’s start with the basics…
✈️ Where is Machu Picchu located & how do you actually get there?
Machu Picchu lives high in the clouds of the Andes Mountains in Peru — overlooking the Urubamba River in the Cusco Region of Peru. You can primarily get there through one of two ways:
- A 4-day hike along the historic Inca Trail
- A 3.5-hour train ride + 25-min bus ride
Since we were only in Cusco for 4 days, we opted for the one-day shortcut to Machu Picchu from Cusco:
📍 Cusco ➜ (Bus/Car) ➜ Poroy Station ➜ (Train) ➜ Aguas Calientes ➜ (Bus) ➜ Machu Picchu Citadel
It takes multiple forms of transportation to reach the site, but each part of the journey is worth it.
Best time to visit Machu Picchu
Dry Season (May–October) is said to be the best time to visit Machu Picchu. The weather is mild and you’ll spend a lot of time outdoors.
We went in October — at the end of the dry season — but it rained… a lot. Since weather in the Andes can shift quickly, we were already prepared with warm layers and rain ponchos.
Quick Tips:
- Best months for views + comfort: May–October
- Most crowded months: June–August
- Rainiest months: January–March (wet season)
- Being prepared matters.
Entry tickets and Machu Picchu tours
Machu Picchu requires timed entry tickets purchased weeks to months in advance, depending on season. Tickets are non-refundable and linked to the name on your passport. Make sure to triple-check the spelling, especially if you will be booking for others.
Based on what is available, you’ll choose from multiple route circuits that determine where you walk and what viewpoints you access. We booked our tickets over six months ahead and were still assigned the 4th available circuit.
You’ll also need to have your passport with you. It will be checked multiple times throughout the journey. Twice on the train, on the bus, and at the entrance. They will accept photos of your passport on your cellphone as well as paper copies.
Click the link above to book your journey!
HEADS UP: Although last minute tickets are entirely possible, I would highly recommend booking this experience in advance. There are a lot of “guides” walking around offering their services in Aguas Calientes (right before you board the bus) and at the Citadel entrance. Booking in advance gives you the opportunity to vet and compare guides so that you are not at risk of being overcharged or taken advantage of…
The Journey to Machu Picchu… Step by Step
This overview reflects exactly how it all played out:
Step 1
Hotel Pickup in Cusco
Pickups typically begin around sunrise. We stayed at the Hilton Garden Inn Cusco. We had breakfast with Coca Tea at 5:00 AM, and were packed up and on our way to Poroy Station by 5:40 AM.
As a group leader, I’ve learned that how you start the day in high altitude can set the tone for the rest of it. We drank our coca tea, took it slow, drank plenty of water throughout the day, and checked in on each other’s well-being often.
Cusco sits even higher than Machu Picchu (~11,000ft), which means if you can adjust here, you’ll likely feel better once you descend to the citadel (~8,000ft). That small detail surprises many travelers, but it makes all the difference.
Fun Fact... we were in Cusco for less than 24 hours before heading to Machu Picchu. Most sources will tell you to wait 48 hours, but once you take your meds, use the altitude patches, drink coca tea, and get oxygen if you need it, you can potentially acclimatize faster. Now I'm not saying it'll be easy... but preparedness is key! *We did however wait to visit Rainbow Mountain (~16,000ft) until a couple days later.
Step 2
Poroy Station → Aguas Calientes
3.5 Hour Train Ride through Andes Mountains
We arrived to the Poroy Train Station around 6:00AM and prepared to board. I was surprised to see how crowded it already was! Boarding began right around 6:30AM and our 3.5 hour journey through the Andes Mountains started a few minutes before 7.
The train car offered a gorgeous, panoramic view of the Andes mountains.
Riding through the Sacred Valley and taking in those unreal, breathtaking views was a reminder that the journey is often as beautiful as the destination itself.
The train was equipped with a small snack cart that rolled through offering coffee, coca tea, and a few packaged treats. I would definitely recommend packing your own snacks though. A handful of trail mix, coca candy or a small sandwich goes a long way when you’re conserving energy for what’s ahead.
Step 3
Aguas Calientes → Machu Picchu
25-minute Bus Ride to the Citadel Entrance
When the train finally slowed into Aguas Calientes, we were excited. This little town — also known as Machu Picchu Pueblo — is a crossroads for travelers from all over the world. There are cafés, restaurants, and souvenirs shops all spilling out onto cobblestone streets. It’s a bustling little town surrounded by the beauty of the Andes mountains.
We made our way to the line of official green buses, the only vehicles allowed to carry visitors up the narrow mountain road. The wait wasn’t long — maybe ten minutes — but just enough time to take in the view of the Urubamba River rushing below and to double-check that everyone had their tickets and passports ready.
The views from the bus are breathtaking but super close to the edge! Mountains, waterfalls, mist… just unreal. It definitely builds the excitement for getting to the site!
Twenty-five minutes later, we made it to the gates of Machu Picchu — and that’s when it hits you…
You’ve made it to one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Arguably the hardest one to access.
MACHU PICCHU
When you hop off the bus, the first thing you notice is the crowd of people being assembled by their guides with their passports and tickets in hand. It’s a busy, but very organized process.
HEADS UP: There are 10 available routes and tickets sell out very fast! We purchased our tickets in the early spring (over 6 months in advance) and were able to get on the 4th route available - Route 2B. Two members of our group who joined us a little later in the year were assigned to circuit 3 due to tickets for our route selling out.
Our tour guide gathered us just before the entrance — a woman whose first language was Quechua, the indigenous language of the Incan people. Her family still lives in the Sacred Valley, so listening to her passionately speak about the stones, the terraces, the temples — you realize this is more than just a ruin. It’s a story still being told by the people whose ancestors built it.
We ranged in age from 40 to 70 (this adventure was actually taking place on my 42nd birthday) — proof that you are never too old to conquer Machu Picchu if you prepare and set your mind to it. We walked slowly, following our guide along the route, and pausing often to hear stories, take in the scenery, or snap a few photos. The path led us past carved stairways and terraced fields where llamas grazed freely and unbothered by the crowds of people gawking at them. It rained on and off throughout the journey, but it didn’t take away from the majestic views of the entire site.
Our Machu Picchu tour of the site took about 90 minutes. When it was over, we exited the site, caught up with our friends who were on circuit 3 (they finished right around the same time), and joined the line to make our journey back down the mountain to Aguas Calientes.
Lunch & Shopping in Agua Calientes
Once we made it back to Agua Calientes, we had lunch at a restaurant that was selected by our tour guide. It was buffet style and a bit touristy, so I wouldn’t recommend it. But I will say, there are a lot of restaurants to choose from that offer a local lunch with a cooked to order menu.
Prior to getting back on the train to Cusco, we spent some time exploring the area and doing a little shopping for alpaca scarves and other local goodies.
The Journey Back to Cusco
We were exhausted on our journey back to Cusco. The train ride back was actually longer than our journey to Agua Calientes – 4.5 hours! But, we did get to watch the sunset through the train’s panoramic ceilings.
By the time the sun set and we could only see darkness through the train windows, just about everyone was nodding off.
It was a truly beautiful day…
…Final Thoughts…
Listen… Machu Picchu is breathtaking. The day is long, but symbolic reminder of the beauty of life’s journeys. As Black travelers, entering spaces where we are not always expected is both powerful and transformative. To see and be seen is equally important as we shift narratives of who we are in the world. And then, to stand where ancient builders shaped stone and spirit into a masterpiece reminds us:
We belong in every wonder this world holds.
Our group supported each other, shared joy, and made space for curiosity — and that is part of what made this experience unforgettable.
No matter how long it takes to get there — whether it’s a 4-day hike or five hours of travel — Machu Picchu rewards every ounce of effort.
When you arrive and look over the valley, you don’t just see a world wonder. You see proof that you can climb, you can rise, and you can celebrate the journey as much as the destination.
You deserve to experience it all.
