By: Bound2explore January 1, 2020

Are you dreaming of Machu Picchu? Are you wondering on how to plan a trip to Machu Picchu? And the thought of it excites you beyond your wildest dream? This UNESCO heritage site is probably on so many people’s bucket list. It is situated on mountain ridge above Urubamba Valley. This Inca’s ruin is definitely a sight to behold.  Something that will awe you the moment you lay your eyes on it. Since the location is remote and far away from Lima or Cusco, it requires some organizational skill and knowledge on how to plan a trip to Machu Picchu.

While you can take a private tour to Machu Picchu, planning your own trip is probably your best bet, especially if you like to have a full experience without any limitations.  So if you are like me, you like to experience thing deeply and freely without any restricted schedules, free to roam around and stumble upon unexpected thing, I highly recommend to do it on your own. Here’s a simple and complete guide on how to plan a trip to Machu Picchu on your own.

• Buy the entrance ticket to  Machu Picchu

Buy the entrance ticket to Machu Picchu ahead of time. You don’t want to risk having to arrive at Machu Picchu and tickets are sold out especially if you are going in high season. How to buy a ticket online? Go to Ministry of culture website to buy a legit Machu Picchu ticket. Some people buy the ticket months before the departure date, but we were there during off shoulder season and decided to buy it just two weeks before our departure time. If you are not sure and rather want to wait, you can buy the ticket in person at Machu Picchu cultural center in Aguas Calientes.

• Start your trip from Cuzco.

Cuzco is the closet big city to Machu Picchu. You can fly straight to Cuzco or take a bus from Lima. I won’t recommend the bus unless you are tight on budget and like to rough it off. Because the distance quite long and it will take you days on the bus before you reach Cuzco.

Also be prepare before you arrive at Cuzco especially if you have asthma or breathing problem. Due to its high elevation at 11,152 feet, many people will experience altitude sickness when they arrive at Cusco. It is recommended to have a day or two at Cusco to acclimate to new elevation. The best remedy is cocha leaves. Some hotels provide free choca tea for their guests.

• Take the train from Cusco

The train runs from Cuzco Central Station to Agua Calientes Town. During the off season, the train only runs from Olantantamboy to Agua Calientes Town. So you have to take a bus or taxi from Cuzco to Olantantamboy to grab a train. If you take a bus, you will get to see a beautiful view of Olantantamboy. There are few trains that serve Cuzco to Agua Calientes. From the fancy Belmond Hiram Bingham or business class on Inca rail train to economical expedition class.  We took business class on Inca Rail train, and the experience was quite pleasant. Bigger seat and the food were served by a train attendant.

• Arrive at Agua Caliente

This little town is quite panoramic. You can walk around the town and enjoy the view. There are so many restaurants that offer authentic Peruvian cuisine. My fave one is the one right by the river. When you arrive at the train station, you have two options. You can start hiking to Machu Picchu or you can take a bus to the entrance gate of Machu Picchu.

If you decide to take a bus, here is the map on how to get to bus stop.

• Hike the Machu Picchu

When you arrive at the entrance gate, you have to show your ticket to the attendant before you can enter. Then you can start hiking to the top of Machu Picchu, the house of guardian. Sometimes there are llamas where you can pose and take a picture. The total time it takes to hike Machu Picchu is about 3 hours. The surface is not even so wear a hiking shoes to navigate it easily. The view is absolutely breathtaking. It is an evident of Inca’s civilization. This jaw dropping view worth all the time you spend on hiking and all efforts you put to learn on how to plan a trip to Machu Picchu.

• Take a break at Machu Picchu Café

After a long hike, a drink and small bite surely sound like a good reward especially when a view is so stunningly impressive. The café is located outside the Machu Picchu right by the entrance gate. You can enjoy the view and the food while waiting for a bus or taking a rest before you hike back to Agua Calientes.

Hope this post will help you on how to plan a trip to Machu Picchu. If you are looking for more things to do in Peru check this post about a day trip to Huacacina.