What are the different ways to get to Machu Picchu?

Hi there, since there isn’t much recent info on how to get to MP, I’d love to know if there have been any improvements to the "route" to Hydroelectrica. Is it feasible to drive there in February? And is it still possible to walk all the way to Aguas Calientes? I think I read somewhere that it’s no longer allowed?? Do you think I can buy Machu Picchu entrance tickets last-minute at that time of year, given the weather?

Hi, As far as I know, it’s not forbidden to go from Electro to Aguas Calientes by following the railway tracks. That said, in February—rainy season—there are avalanches, so the route isn’t safe. You can buy your entrance ticket the day before in Aguas Calientes, as well as the bus ticket. Hiking up on foot is a nightmare reserved for the young!! Good luck in February.

Good evening, thanks for your reply—it’s not very encouraging!! I’m looking into this option because taking the train is a big budget hit, and if we have to book in advance, it doesn’t leave us any wiggle room in case of bad weather. For the hike reserved for younger travelers, are you talking about the climb from Hydroelectrica to Aguas Calientes, or from Aguas Calientes to the entrance of Machu Picchu?

I’m adding this question because I just saw that you know Peru really well! Is Lake Titicaca still a must-see? I’m worried I’ll be disappointed; we love places that are a bit off the beaten path, which is why we’re renting a car—it lets us get away from the usual tourist routes. The problem is there isn’t much advice, even on forums. The only thing that bothers me is that it’s hard to know what the roads are like, especially this time of year.

Good evening, I had bad luck—a wrong move, and my message disappeared.

My WhatsApp is 997770642. That’s better. At 74, I’m eager to help you.

Hi there,

I went in 2018, so it’s been a while, but here’s what I did:

- By bus from Ollantaytambo to Hidroelectrica (guaranteed to make you queasy); - On foot from Hidroelectrica to Aguas Calientes (gorgeous); - On foot from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu (running) and same on the way back; - By train from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo (stunning, but really expensive); - By bus from Ollantaytambo to Cusco.

Check it out here: https://xn--duncontinentlautre-qrb.com/dollantaytambo-a-aguas-calientes-perou/ Here: https://xn--duncontinentlautre-qrb.com/le-machu-picchu-perou/ And here: https://xn--duncontinentlautre-qrb.com/la-montana-machu-picchu-perou/

I went there in 1984. Took a third-class train from Cusco to Aguas Calientes for just a few francs (in soles), and from Aguas Calientes, I hiked straight through the forest (it’s a steep climb) and ended up right in the middle of the site... Free entry 😄

Note that entry was also free for those who hiked from km 88 on the "Inca Trail."

Times have really changed!

Hi, I sent you a message on WhatsApp—did you get it?

Nothing has changed except for the ticketing system, which now sells half of the entries in person in Aguas Calientes, creating chaos for tourists who didn’t plan ahead and buy their tickets in advance.

Taking alternative routes to Machu Picchu in February isn’t a great idea—if it rains, you could get stuck or take unnecessary risks. It *can* be done by deciding last-minute based on weather conditions, but that’s tough to reconcile with a trip that’s 100% pre-organized.

It’s possible to walk to Aguas Calientes along the railway tracks from Hydroelectrica. During the rainy season, though, the tracks might be cut off by floods or landslides, just like the road to Santa Teresa. This access is sometimes "closed" due to weather conditions, and while most tourists will tell you it’s doable, it often involves significant risks (rockfalls, river crossings with reckless drivers, flash floods, mudslides).

Walking from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes is a bit of a masochistic backpacker plan. Even though there are a few trails, the distance is long, walking alongside the railway on rocky terrain is pretty rough, and trains pass regularly—plus, you *have* to go around the tunnels.

Buying Machu Picchu tickets last-minute means getting them on-site, which translates to wasting a day standing in line at the country’s worst tourist trap.

In my humble opinion, buying tickets on the spot just feeds shady businesses involved in the mafias responsible for this absurd and chaotic system of selling half the tickets in person in Aguas Calientes.

Thomas

Hi Tomas, we're currently in Peru, and we went to Machu Picchu last week. We rented a car, so we drove from Ollantaytambo to Hidroelectrica, then took the train to Aguas Calientes because it was raining and we didn’t want to walk. We bought our entrance tickets when we arrived for the next day—off-season, there’s availability without too much hassle.

All this let us pick the day based on the current weather. Of course, you’ve got to be careful (we checked with bus drivers to find out about road conditions) and be a bit experienced for driving on trickier terrain, since there had been landslides but it was pretty well cleared. We’re really happy we did it this way—we got to enjoy some amazing landscapes at our own pace.

Yeah, sometimes it works out just fine even during the rainy season, and it’s even possible to travel for 15 days in southern Peru with great weather—you just have to be flexible. It’s easier if you’re traveling for a long period and can adapt to unexpected changes.

Obviously, in high season (July–August), it’s not as easy to improvise because there are a lot more tourists.

Thomas