Machu Picchu Bus: How the Shuttle From Aguas Calientes Works

What Is the Machu Picchu Bus?

The Machu Picchu bus is a shuttle service operated by Consettur that carries visitors between Aguas Calientes, the town by the train station, and the main gate of the Inca citadel. It is the only motorized way up, because private cars and taxis cannot use the road. Walking the stone stairs is the only alternative.

The buses follow the Hiram Bingham road, a zigzag dirt and gravel road named after the explorer who publicized Machu Picchu in 1911. Coaches are modern, seat around 30 people and leave as soon as they fill.

Everyone who arrives by train uses this service or hikes. Inca Trail hikers usually ride it only downhill after their visit.

How Much Does the Machu Picchu Bus Cost?

The Machu Picchu bus is priced in US dollars for foreign visitors, with separate fares for children and Peruvians. Most recent sources report about $12 one way and $24 round trip for a foreign adult, while some 2026 sellers list higher fares. Prices change without much notice, so confirm the current fare on Consettur's official sales channel.

The bus ticket is never included in the Machu Picchu entry ticket. See the full cost of Machu Picchu tickets for entry prices and discounts.

Where and How Do You Buy Machu Picchu Bus Tickets?

Machu Picchu bus tickets can be bought online through Consettur's official sales site or in person at the ticket office in Aguas Calientes, next to the bus stop by the river. Buying a day early saves queue time. Bring your passport, because the ticket carries your name and document number and is checked when boarding.

1. Book your Machu Picchu entry ticket first, since buses rarely sell out but entry tickets do.
2. Choose one way or round trip, depending on whether you plan to walk.
3. Buy online with a card, or at the Aguas Calientes office in cash or card.
4. Enter your name and passport number exactly as on your passport.
5. Save the ticket on your phone and keep a printed copy as backup.
6. Watch out for look-alike reseller sites that add extra fees.

Tour packages and day trips usually include the bus, so check before buying a separate ticket.

What Time Is the First and Last Machu Picchu Bus?

The first Machu Picchu bus up usually leaves Aguas Calientes around 5:30 am, and buses keep running every few minutes until mid-afternoon. Downhill buses start mid-morning and run until roughly 5:30 pm, around closing time. Tickets are not for a fixed departure, so you simply join the line when you want to go.

Your entry hour also decides which Machu Picchu circuit and route you walk. Exact bus times can shift by season and after road works, so treat these as reported times and confirm locally the night before.

How Long Is the Bus Ride to Machu Picchu and What Is It Like?

The bus ride to Machu Picchu takes about 20 to 30 minutes and climbs roughly 1,300 feet up 13 hairpin bends above the Urubamba River. The road is narrow and unpaved, and buses pass each other at wide points. Drivers make the trip many times a day, and the views of the cloud forest are excellent.

Travelers who get carsick should sit near the front on the right side going up. The road ends at a small plaza by the entrance, where restrooms, a cafe and luggage storage sit just outside the gate.

Should You Take the Bus or Walk Up to Machu Picchu?

Most visitors should ride up and decide about walking down later. The bus saves about 1.5 hours of steep stairs and energy for hikes like the Huayna Picchu climb or the Machu Picchu Mountain trail. Walking up suits fit budget travelers with a later slot, and walking down is easier.

The stone stairway starts at a bridge about 20 minutes' walk from town, then cuts across the bus road. A side-by-side comparison of riding and hiking is in our guide to Aguas Calientes, Machu Picchu town.

• Take the bus: early entry, mountain hike booked, kids or seniors, rainy weather.
• Walk up: tight budget, strong legs, mid-morning or later entry.
• Walk down: saves one fare and takes about 1 hour.
• Avoid walking in heavy rain: the steps get slippery.

What Happens if the Machu Picchu Buses Stop Running?

Machu Picchu buses occasionally stop during protests, contract disputes, landslides or heavy rain, and visitors then have to walk the stairway. Suspensions are usually announced a day ahead but can happen suddenly. Keep a flexible plan, carry rain gear and leave extra time so you can still reach the gate on foot within your entry hour.

1. Check local news, your hotel or your tour operator the evening before.
2. If buses are stopped, leave at least 2 hours before your entry time and walk up.
3. Carry water, a headlamp and a rain jacket for an early climb.
4. Keep your bus ticket; ask the office about a refund or later use.
5. If you cannot walk, contact your operator, since some arrange alternatives when service resumes.

Strikes can also affect trains. Our guide to how to get to Machu Picchu covers backup routes, and train to Machu Picchu schedules explain how trains connect with the bus.