The 25-minute shuttle bus from Aguas Calientes up to Machu Picchu is the standard way to make the final climb. The alternative is a 60-minute direct footpath or a 90-minute walk along the road itself — both are hard on the knees at altitude.
Tickets are sold at the bus stand in Aguas Calientes or in advance through travel services. Buses run continuously from 05:30 to 15:30 in each direction, and the ticket is good for any departure, so you can match it loosely to your site entry time.
The road — the Hiram Bingham switchbacks — gives you the first real views of the Urubamba gorge dropping away below. By the time you reach the ruins’ gate the scale of the geography is already visible.
For a bundled booking that covers the shuttle, train, and site entry in one pass, see Peruways. Peruways also coordinates timing so your train arrival in Aguas Calientes lines up with your site ticket’s entry window. Book your trip at Peruways.
