Bus to Machu Picchu from Aguas Calientes: Schedules and Fares

The bus to Machu Picchu leaves from Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu Pueblo) and goes up to the sanctuary entrance in 25 to 30 minutes. It’s run by Consettur: buses go up from 5:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and come down from 6:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. The reference fare for foreign adults is US$24 round trip. If you’d rather not pay for it, you can walk up in about an hour and a half.

How the Aguas Calientes Bus Works

Between the town and the citadel there are about 8 km of winding road, the Hiram Bingham road. There are no taxis or private cars on that stretch: you either take the authorized bus or walk. It’s a separate service from the train and the entry ticket, with its own ticket.

• Who uses it: almost every visitor, whether they arrive by train, via Hidroeléctrica or on a trek. Hikers on the Classic Inca Trail walk in through the Sun Gate and only use the bus to go down.
• Where it drops you off: on the esplanade next to the main entrance, where the restrooms and the ticket checkpoint are.
• Frequency: a bus leaves every 5 to 15 minutes, depending on demand. You don’t book a time: you get in line and board the next one.

Who Runs the Bus Today

For decades, the service has been run by Consettur Machupicchu. Its concession expired on September 4, 2025, and since then the Provincial Municipality of Urubamba has been trying to award the route to another company. In early 2026, the municipality canceled the new concessionaire’s temporary contract, and Consettur kept operating on an interim basis while a new tender is called. If the route changes hands, the ticket sales points and fares may change too: confirm before you travel with your hotel, your agency or the ticket office in town.

Schedules and Ride Time

Service	Schedule
Up (Aguas Calientes → Machu Picchu)	From 5:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Down (Machu Picchu → Aguas Calientes)	From 6:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Ride time	25 to 30 minutes
Frequency	Every 5 to 15 minutes, depending on demand

Schedules published in PeruRail’s travel guide. The first bus at 5:30 a.m. is timed for the 6:00 a.m. entry slot, and the last one up for the 3:00 p.m. slot. The last bus down leaves at 6:00 p.m.: if your route is long, plan to be at the bus stop before then.

Reference Fares

Passenger	One way	Round trip
Foreign adult	US$12	US$24
Foreign child (under 12)	US$7	US$12
Peruvian adult	S/ 8	S/ 15
Peruvian student	S/ 6	S/ 10
Peruvian child	S/ 5	S/ 8
Cusco resident	S/ 9.50	S/ 19

Fares checked on October 22, 2026. Confirm them on the official channel before you buy.

Fares published in PeruRail’s travel guide. In January 2026, the Peruvian national press reported that Consettur was keeping its US$24 round-trip fare for foreigners. Fares may change along with the concession, so confirm them when you buy.

Tip: buy a round-trip bus ticket from the start. For a foreign adult it costs the same as two separate one-way tickets, for a child it costs less, and you skip a second line at the office. If you plan to walk down, a one-way ticket is enough.

Where and How to Buy Your Bus Ticket

Online

On Consettur’s sales website, you choose the date, the number of passengers and whether you want one way or round trip, and you pay by credit or debit card. It’s the most convenient option if you’re traveling independently and want to arrive in town with everything sorted.

At the Aguas Calientes Office

It’s on Avenida Hermanos Ayar, before the Puente Ruinas bridge, and it’s open every day from 5:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Payment is in cash, in soles or dollars. If you arrive by train in the afternoon, buy your ticket that same afternoon rather than in the morning, when people are already lining up to go up.

At the Cusco Office

It’s at Avenida Pardo 827 and it’s open Monday to Saturday, from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and from 2:00 to 5:30 p.m. It’s useful if you want to have your ticket in hand before heading to the Sacred Valley.

What You Need to Board

• Passport or ID: the ticket is personal and must be shown with your ID.
• Your bus ticket, printed or on your phone.
• Your Machu Picchu entry ticket, also handy, because it’s the next thing you’ll be asked for at the gate.

The bus ticket is valid for any bus during that day’s service hours. It doesn’t include entry to the citadel: the Machu Picchu ticket is bought separately and much further in advance.

The Bus Line: How to Plan for It

The bus has no reserved seats or assigned times, so how long it really takes depends on the line. This is how we see it work in peak season:

• First time slots (6:00 and 7:00 a.m.): this is when the most people want to go up at once. The line forms before the first bus leaves at 5:30 a.m. If you have the 6:00 a.m. slot, get in line as early as you can.
• Mid-morning: the line moves fast because buses leave one after another. Get to the bus stop at least one hour before your entry time.
• Going down in mid-afternoon: several time slots usually finish their visit around the same time in mid-afternoon. If you have a return train, leave yourself a buffer.

Remember that the main gate allows a 30-minute grace period after your entry time, or 45 minutes in the busiest months. It’s a cushion, not a plan. To make the first time slots without stress, the easiest option is to spend the night before in Aguas Calientes.

Important: if you’re arriving by train the same day, choose one that gets to town at least one hour before your entry time. That way you allow for the bus and the line. There are sample combinations in our guide to the train to Machu Picchu.

Walking Up: The Stone-Step Trail

The free alternative is a trail of stone steps that starts by the river, crosses the Puente Ruinas bridge and climbs up to the gate, cutting across the road several times. Aguas Calientes sits at about 2,040 m and the citadel at about 2,430 m, so that’s almost 400 meters of elevation gain over a short distance.

• Time: about an hour and a half going up. PeruRail also estimates an hour and a half to walk down.
• Difficulty: demanding. The steps are uneven, very humid and, during the day, hot.
• First thing in the morning: you’ll be leaving in the dark. Bring a headlamp and plan to reach the gate before your time slot.
• Water: bring your own and carry it up from town.
• Rain: the steps get slippery. Wear shoes with good grip.

What we usually recommend is taking the bus up and walking down. You arrive fresh for your entry time, with energy for the visit or for a mountain, and the walk down is much more enjoyable. If your ticket includes Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain, don’t wear out your legs on the way up.

Bus or Walking: Comparison

Criterion	Bus	On foot
Time going up	25 to 30 min, plus the line	About 1 h 30 min
Cost	US$12 each way for foreign adults	Free
Effort	None	High: about 400 m of elevation gain on steps
Schedule	Up from 5:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.; down until 6:00 p.m.	Depends on daylight and your entry time
Best for	Kids, older travelers, early time slots and routes with a mountain	Fit backpackers and anyone looking to save

Fares checked on October 22, 2026. Confirm them on the official channel before you buy.

Special Cases

With Kids or Older Travelers

The bus is practically a must. Foreign children under 12 get a reduced fare, and so do Peruvian children. Buy a round-trip ticket and avoid walking down with young children: the trail has high steps. More ideas in Machu Picchu with kids.

With Reduced Mobility

Take the bus up and down, and choose a short route inside the citadel, such as 3-B. The duration and effort of each route are in our guide to Machu Picchu circuits.

If You Arrive via the Inca Trail or a Trek

On the Inca Trail, you walk in through the Sun Gate and only need the bus down; on the classic 4-day route, agencies usually include that ticket. If you arrive via the Hidroeléctrica route or the Salkantay, you spend the night in town and go up like any other visitor: by bus or on foot.

If There’s a Strike or the Bus Isn’t Running

The bus business sparks local conflicts. In September 2025, the dispute over the concession led to blockades of the railroad tracks, and PeruRail and Inca Rail suspended their trains for several days. It’s not the norm, but it’s worth having a plan:

• Ask at your hotel the night before whether the bus is running normally.
• If there’s a strike, set out earlier on the trail and allow an hour and a half to climb.
• Carry as little as possible: your backpack for the citadel can’t be larger than 40 × 35 × 20 cm. Review what not to bring to Machu Picchu.
• If you’re traveling with a tour, your agency will rearrange schedules and let you know about any changes.

Common Mistakes

• Thinking the bus includes entry: they’re two separate tickets.
• Leaving your passport at the hotel: it’s checked on the bus and at the gate.
• Getting in line at your entry time: you need at least one hour between the bus stop and the gate, counting the line.
• Missing the last bus down: it leaves at 6:00 p.m. After that, your only option is to walk down.
• Booking your return train right after your exit time: the line for the bus down gets longer in mid-afternoon.

Bottom Line: What to Do Based on Your Trip

• You’re on a day trip from Cusco: a round-trip bus ticket, bought in advance. One-day tours from Cusco usually include it along with the train and the entry ticket.
• You’re staying in Aguas Calientes: buy the bus ticket the afternoon before and get in line early. More on visiting the citadel in our Machu Picchu guide.
• You want to save money: take the bus up and walk down, or walk both ways if you’re fit. More money-saving ideas in our budget for a trip to Cusco and Machu Picchu.
• You still don’t know how you’ll get to town: compare the train, treks and the road in how to get to Machu Picchu from Cusco.

The bus is the easiest piece of the trip, but also the one people forget most. Lock it in last, once you have your entry ticket and train.