The 25-minute shuttle bus from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu is the most practical way to make the final leg from the train station to the ruins’ entrance. The alternative is a 60-minute uphill footpath — walkable, but hard on the knees at altitude.
Buses run continuously from 05:30 to 15:30, with return runs through the afternoon. Tickets are good for any departure in either direction. In peak season the morning queue can run 20–30 minutes, so book ahead.
At the top, the bus drops you at the citadel gate. From there a licensed guide can be hired at the entrance, or you can walk the circuits on your own.
For a bundled booking — shuttle, train, and site entry in one pass — see Peruways.
Peruways also builds the shuttle around your site ticket’s time slot so the timing is coordinated end-to-end.
