The shuttle bus from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu is a 25-minute ride up the Hiram Bingham Road switchbacks — the most practical way to reach the citadel entrance without a steep hike.
Buses run continuously from 05:30 to 15:30. Tickets are good for any departure in either direction, so you can match them loosely to your site entry time. The views on the climb are a worthwhile side benefit — the Urubamba gorge drops away as the road zigzags up through the cloud forest.
The shuttle is also the lower-impact option. The footpaths up are available but hard on the knees, and the shuttle service runs on a managed schedule that keeps traffic off the site road at other hours.
Book shuttle tickets through Peruways alongside your train and site entry.
