Machu Picchu on a Budget
We visited Machu Picchu on August 22, 2015 and it was a highlight of our world trip. Going to Machu Picchu by train or in a multiday trek tour is very expensive, after researching other alternatives we found a good way to make it there with a combination of car and walking without blowing up our budget. These days more independent travelers are following this route: Bus from Cuzco to Santa Maria – Shared taxi from Santa Maria to Santa Teresa – Shared taxi from Santa Teresa to the Hydroelectric Plant – Walk about 12 km from the Hydroelectric to Aguas Calientes – Hike up or take a tourist bus from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu. To avoid all those lengthy transfers and save time, we purchased a one-way transfer at a travel agency that took us from Cuzco directly to the Hydroelectric Plant and paid $40 soles per person for the entire 6.5 hour trip which included a one hour stop for lunch in Santa Teresa. This price was only a few soles higher than paying individual public transport but a lot faster, which we considered valuable.
From the Hydroelectric Plant, we walked a pleasant route through the tropical forest, along the Urubamba River and the train tracks for about 2.5 hours until reaching Aguas Calientes. In Aguas Calientes, we shared a room with a private bathroom with two other travelers we met along the way. We paid $20 soles per person on a Friday night. We were told accommodation on Saturdays is more expensive. Food in Aguas Calientes is much more expensive than in the rest of Peru, so we brought fruit, bread, and avocados for dinner and breakfast. We had previously purchased our entrance tickets to Machu Picchu and the morning bus from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu in Cuzco. Machu Picchu tickets were cheaper for Peruvians and citizens of the Andean Community like Colombia, costing $64 soles per person. Tickets for all other foreigners were almost double the price. One-way bus ride from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu cost $12 USD per person and buses started running at about 5 am. Make sure to be in line early to catch a bus since it is in first-come-first-serve basis. It is worth getting to Machu Picchu early to see this Inca city while it is being showered with the first rays of the sun.
We spent a total of 6 hours in this archaeological site. After taking morning pictures, we made our way out to find a tour guide. We joined a small group of 7 people and paid $25 soles each for a great 2-hour, guided tour. Going to Machu Picchu without learning details about it is like not being there, we highly recommend you getting a guide. After our tour we hiked to Puerta del Sol and Inca Bridge, and made our way back to Aguas Calientes hiking down the steps taking us about 1 hour at a fast pace. We had a well-deserved lunch in Aguas Calientes before walking back to the Hydroelectric Plant. The one-way return from the Hydroelectric Plant to Cuzco can also be booked by a tourist agency, but the vehicles leave between 2 pm and 2:30 pm. Since we wanted to maximize our day in Machu Picchu we decided to go back to Cuzco in public transportation. We ended up paying a total of $30 soles each to get back to Cuzco, $15 soles from the Hydroelectric Plant to Santa Maria plus another $15 soles from Santa Maria to Cuzco. Although it was $10 soles cheaper, it was much less comfortable and a very long process. We hope our experience can be helpful to you and your budget, enjoy Machu Picchu. š
