The Consettur bus from Aguas Calientes up to the Machu Picchu entrance covers 400 metres of ascent on 13 switchbacks in about 25 minutes. It’s the only motor transport up — the alternative is the 1.5-hour Hiram Bingham trail on foot, which climbs the same ridge directly.
Buses leave every few minutes from 5:30am and the last comes down at 5:30pm. Round-trip tickets currently run US$24 for foreign visitors; you need both the bus ticket and the timed Machu Picchu entry, which are sold separately. Lines at the Aguas Calientes bus-ticket office can run 45 minutes at peak hours, so booking online is sensible.
The road itself is scenic — cloud forest on both sides, waterfalls, glimpses of the Urubamba far below — but functional. Save your legs for the circuit.
Peruways books the Consettur bus together with your train, Machu Picchu entry and (if you want) a licensed guide. Reserve at Peruways before you leave home.
