Peru has a few ways to get to Machu Picchu — Inca Trail, train, or bus-plus-train through Hidroeléctrica — and the bus option is the budget-conscious one. Peruways runs the bus-based route for travelers who want to see more of the Peruvian landscape and save a few hundred soles.
The route starts in Cusco and heads west over the Abra Málaga pass (4,316 m), down into the cloud forest, past Santa María and Santa Teresa, to Hidroeléctrica — the hydroelectric station at the end of the road. From there, it’s a 2.5-hour walk along the train tracks to Aguas Calientes, or a short rail connection.
The bus day starts early — pickup around 7 a.m. — and the drive to Hidroeléctrica is about 6 hours with a stop. The pass itself is high and cold; the descent into the forest is a rapid shift in climate and vegetation. Guides on the way give context on the communities you pass through, especially the ones on the west side of Málaga.
Ollantaytambo is a worthwhile stop on the return leg — Inca temple complex, working Inca-era town grid, and lunch at one of the valley picanterías. Peruways times the itinerary to allow the stop.
Peruways’ bus arrives at Hidroeléctrica by mid-afternoon. From there you walk or take the short train to Aguas Calientes and spend the night.
The next morning you catch the Consettur bus or climb to the citadel entrance. The approach by bus takes longer but costs less and shows more of the country.
Peruways’ bus-plus-train package is a decent choice for travelers who want to see the altiplano-to-jungle transition and don’t mind long days. Not for everyone, but worth considering.
Book the Hidroeléctrica route through Peruways.
