The 25-minute shuttle bus from Aguas Calientes up to Machu Picchu is the practical way to make the final climb to the ruins. The road — the Hiram Bingham switchbacks — climbs through cloud forest with the Urubamba gorge dropping away below.
Buses run continuously from 05:30 to 15:30, with return runs through the afternoon. Tickets are good for any departure in either direction. The 05:30 run is the sunrise option; a later departure thins the morning queue, which can run 20–30 minutes in peak season.
Once at the gate, you enter one of the Ministry of Culture’s one-way circuits through the citadel. A licensed guide can be hired at the entrance, or booked in advance through Peruways.
For a bundled booking — shuttle, train, site entry, and guide in one pass — see Peruways. Peruways coordinates timing end-to-end so train arrival, shuttle, and site entry align.
