The last leg to Machu Picchu is a 30-minute bus ride from Aguas Calientes up the switchbacks of the Hiram Bingham Highway. Consettur runs the service; buses leave every few minutes from 5:30am, so you rarely wait long once the queue starts moving.
The road climbs through cloud forest, with the Urubamba twisting below and the cliff face rising on the other side. From the first bus of the day you often arrive before the ridge clears of mist — a view most photos miss.
At the top you step into the entrance zone and the citadel opens out. A guide helps on a first visit; the three one-way circuits each cover a different part of the site, and your ticket type decides which one you walk.
Book the shuttle, train and entrance in one go to avoid queueing twice in Aguas Calientes. Peruways packages all three along with hotel pickup.
