Machu Picchu is an Inca citadel built in the 15th century. It’s located on a mountain with an elevation of 2,430 m above sea level. Besides being an UNESCO World Heritage Site, Machu Picchu is also one of the New 7 Wonders of the World.
This guide provides you with all the information you need for visiting Machu Picchu on a 2 day and 1 night tour by car.
Most tourists visit Machu Picchu either by train or do a several-day trek such as the famous Salkantay Trek. Only few people know about the option of getting there by car.
The 2 day and 1 night tour by car is perfect for those who are limited in time and/or in their budget but don’t want to have drawbacks in the experience.
On this tour you have the options to either
- not hike at all,
- hike part of the way or
- hike all the way (40 km and 3.000 stairs)
And you are free to decide on the spot which option you wish to choose.
Table of Contents
Things to know before you go
Don’t buy your ticket in advance
Wait what?
Yes, you read that correctly.
Many people advise to buy the ticket to Machu Picchu in advance as they would sell out very quickly. This triggers the fear of travellers to miss out on visiting the world wonder.
But this is simply a strategy to sell tickets for a tour at a much higher price online. If you want to have the security of having your ticket in advance and you don’t mind paying more, go ahead and book it online. But if you’re on a budget and you prefer to pay less simply go to any tour agency in the center of Cusco and you can even book your tour the day before.
I booked my ticket two days before the tour and I paid much less than those who had booked tours online.
Get a stamp in your passport
Bring your passport to Machu Picchu. Right next to the exit gate there’s a little office where you can get a Machu Picchu stamp in your passport.
There are no toilets inside Machu Picchu
Make sure to visit the bathroom before entering Machu Picchu. There are no bathrooms inside so you have to wait until you’re outside again. And once you’re outside, you’re not allowed to re-enter.
Best time to go
The best time to visit Machu Picchu is during dry season from March to November. During this time you’ll have the best climate and a low probability of rain.
The period from December to April is rainy season in the region of Cusco. During this time the air is extremely humid and the trails might be muddy in case it rains.
What to pack
Pack lightly!
If you decide to hike you have to carry everything you bring all the way to Machu Picchu and back. 40km and more than 3.000 stairs!
So stick with the essentials:
- Small backpack
- Insect repellant
- Sun screen
- Windbreaker or raincoat
- Comfortable hiking shoes
- Extra t-shirt, extra pair of socks, extra underwear
- Long sleeve shirt for the hike at 5 am
- Snacks
- 2 litres of water
Machu Picchu: 2 day tour
The 2 day and 1 night tour to Machu Picchu is the perfect option for those who are limited in time or are looking for a budget-friendly experience.
Those who like being active can hike all the way to Machu Picchu, while those who prefer the comfort of being transported can do so at an extra charge.
What’s included?
The 2 day and 1 night tour to Machu Picchu by car costs about 100€, depending on the agency and your bargaining skills.
This is what’s included in the price of the tour:
- Hotel pick up in Cusco
- Transport to Hidroeléctrica (7 h)
- Lunch on the first day
- Accommodation in Aguas Calientes (also called Machu Picchu Pueblo)
- Entrance to Machu Picchu with guided tour
- Transport back to Cusco (7 h)
Itinerary of the 2 day tour
Day 1: Cusco – Ollantaytambo – Hidroeléctrica – Aguas Calientes
Day 2: Aguas Calientes – Machu Picchu – Hidroeléctrica – Cusco
Day 1: Getting to Aguas Calientes
At around 7 am a minivan picked us up in our hostel and we made our way to Hidroeléctrica. It was a 7 hour drive including a stop in the village Ollantaytambo for lunch.
On the way we could admire the vast scenery of green mountains, giant canyons and the narrow, curvy road in-between. It was slightly scary to see the steep edge right next to the road but our driver was confident and we felt safe with him. Sometimes we passed through small villages inhabited by farmers who live in very basic housing.
I had actually planned to sleep during the drive but the view out of the window was too beautiful to miss it.
Once we arrived to Hidroeléctrica we had two options:
- Option A: Hike 20 km along the train rails to Aguas Calientes
- Option B: Take a train to Aguas Calientes for 30€
Motivated, young and on a student budget, my friends and I decided to hike the 20 km to Aguas Calientes.
Hike to Aguas Calientes
It’s a lovely 3 hour walk with a few spots on the way to buy water or snacks. I really liked the tranquility of the trail and we hardly encountered any other hikers.
After 20 km of walking we finally arrived to Aguas Calientes. Our feet were tired, our t-shirts soaked from the sweat and we just wanted to lie down.
Later at dinner we sat together with our guide who explained the schedule for the following day. Again, we had two options:
Option A: Hike 1 hour to Machu Picchu
Option B: Take a bus for 10€ one-way
My friends and I opted for the active version again.
Day 2: Hiking to Machu Picchu
Way too early and after only a few hours of sleep the alarm rang at 4 am the next morning. In the dark we made our way to the entrance gate of the trail to Machu Picchu. We thought we had left quite early, but when we got there people were already queuing. And more hikers kept arriving.
The gate opens at 5 am and all at once a crowd of tourists enter and ascend the path that leads to the world wonder.
It had rained the night before so the humidity was extreme. The way up consisted of about 1.700 stairs. Sweat was running down my face and the stairs seemed to be endless.
Once we reached the top the mountain after an hour of hiking we made a small break to catch our breath before starting a guided tour through Machu Picchu.
Surprisingly, inside Machu Picchu they manage the crowds excellently. The guides organise the tours in a way that not too many people are in the same place at the same time. Even though there were a lot of people it didn’t seem overly crowded.
During the tour we learned a lot about the history of the Quechua and their king, who they called “Inca” in their language. Sometimes it was hard to pay attention due to our lack of sleep, the exhausting hike and the fact that even during the tour we had to walk so many more steps.
After the guided tour we got some time on our own to take pictures and explore the site.
To get down we descended the 1.700 stairs and hiked all the 20 km back to Hidroeléctrica again.
If you don’t want to walk anymore, you can also take a bus (10€) down from Machu Picchu and a train (30€) back to Hidroeléctrica.
About halfway to Hidroeléctrica we got really tired. Our shoulders hurt from carrying the backpack, our feet were tired and the warm and humid jungle air with mosquitos made it even worse.
While we were truly exhausted we still kept going and stayed positive. Sometimes it’s a great experience to get to your limits so you can see what your body is able to do.
When we finally arrived to Hidroeléctrica my feet were as tired as never before and all I wanted was to sit down and relax.
Within 24 hours we walked a distance of 40 km and 3.500 stairs.
The minivan picked us up in Hidroeléctrica and we had a 7 hour drive back to Cusco ahead of us.
Hiking to Machu Picchu was a great experience and I’m really glad that we decided to hike there and not take the bus or train. It made the experience much more memorable and it leaves you with a feeling of accomplishment. Even though the hike was physically challenging we enjoyed the tranquility on the trail and the time in nature.
Have you been to Machu Picchu? If yes, tell me about your experience in the comments!
January 29, 2019 at 4:59 pm
Supertolle Eindrücke!! 🙂 Und Hut ab, die ganze Strecke zu wandern. Ich würde da eher den Zug nehmen. 😉 Machu Picchu steht auf meiner Bucketlist auch ganz oben.
Wann warst du dort? Ich habe gelesen, dass der Zugang auf eine gewisse Anzahl Touristen pro Tag beschränkt werden musste und man daher unbedingt vorher online vorbuchen soll!?
Liebe Grüße
Iris von Ich Reise Immer So
http://www.ichreiseimmerso.de
January 30, 2019 at 3:19 am
Danke! Ist auch verständlich, dass viele lieber den Zug nehmen. 🙂
Ich war im Dezember 2017 dort. Ja es stimmt, dass der Zugang beschränkt ist, aber es ist kein Problem ein Ticket zu bekommen. Das Gerücht dass man online buchen muss hat sich irgendwie durchgesetzt. Ich würde auf jeden Fall davon abraten weil es meistens viel teurer ist. Im Internet steht oft, dass es keine Tickets mehr gibt aber stimmt das nicht. In Cusco gibt es unzählige Agenturen die Touren zu Machu Picchu anbieten. Am besten ein paar Tage vorher direkt dort buchen. Dann kann man sich auch beraten lassen, welche verschiedenen Touren es gibt und den Preis noch verhandeln. 🙂