The only way up to Machu Picchu by vehicle is the Consettur bus from Aguas Calientes — 400 metres of ascent on 13 switchbacks in about 25 minutes. The alternative is the Hiram Bingham trail on foot, which climbs the same ridge directly in 1.5 hours.
Buses leave every few minutes from 5:30am and the last comes down at 5:30pm. Round trip currently US$24 for foreign visitors; the ticket is separate from the timed Machu Picchu entry.
Peak-hour lines at the Aguas Calientes bus-ticket office run to 45 minutes, which eats into your 4-hour entry window at the citadel. Buying online beforehand is a quiet piece of planning that saves the day.
At the top, the bus drops you a short walk from the entry gate. You go through ticket control, then straight onto whichever one-way circuit you booked — the circuits were introduced in 2021 and the gate enforces them.
On the way back, join the queue at the citadel bus stop for the return. Lines move fast — the buses run constantly during peak visitor hours.
Peruways reserves the Consettur bus together with the train and timed entry, so the pieces line up.
Book here.
