Machu Picchu by Car (2 days)
If you cancel your booking until 45 days before the beginning of the activity, we will refund 100% of the advance you paid for the booking.
You can reschedule your booking without any additional cost until 45 days before the beginning of the activiity.
The cheaper version for backpackers to visit Machu Picchu from Cusco. Transport, and accommodation.
Price
Prices of the programs with entrance fee to Machu Picchu and with accommodation in Aguas Calientes:
- Resident in Andean Community: US$ 99 per person.
- Non-resident in Andean Community: US$ 139 per person.
If you select a program without entrance fee to Machu Picchu, you must have a ticket at the latest with entrance from 7:00 am to 8:00 am (ingreso de 07:00 a 08:00), and a discount will be applied as follows:
- Adult non-resident in the Andean Community: US$ 42 off.
- Adult resident in Andean Community: US$ 18 off.
*Resident in Andean Community price is for citizens of Peru, Colombia, Ecuador and Bolivia, and foreign residents of other nationalities in Peru.
*Non-resident in Andean Community price for non-resident international visitors in Peru.
Discounts
- Students**: US$ 10 on the local price and US$ 20 on the international visitor price.
*To access to these discounts, write us at reservas@denomades.com.
**See requirements in FAQ’s.
Included
- Round trip shared transportation between Cusco and Hidroeléctrica.
- Drop off in downtown Cusco.
- Meals:
- Breakfast on day 2.
- Lunch on day 1.
- Dinner on day 1.
- Accommodations:
- Night in Aguas Calientes in Eco Machu Picchu Pueblo Hostel or similar, in double private room* with private bathroom.
- Entrance ticket to Machu Picchu (archaeological site).
- Guided visit (Spanish and English) in archaeological site of Machu Picchu.
*If you travel alone, you will have to share the room with another passenger.
Not included
- Guide (except for the guided visit in the archaeological site of Machu Picchu).
- Stops not mentioned in the itinerary.
- Meals not mentioned.
- Beverages.
- Travel insurance.
- Health-care coverage.
- Tips (optional).
Optional services
- Bus up from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu: US$ 12 per person.
- Round trip bus between Aguas Calientes and Machu Picchu: US$ 24 per person.
How to book
- Select the departure date from the calendar.
- Select the number of people.
- Click on "Add to cart".
- Pay an advance deposit of the full price of the tour online.
What to bring
- 30-liter backpack to bring what are you going to use during the two days.
- Comfortable shoes.
- Bathing suit.
- Towel.
- Rain poncho.
- Hat for the sun.
- Sunscreen.
- Sunglasses.
- Toiletries.
- Water.
Restrictions
- Minimum age of 18 years to make the activity.
Itinerary
Start: Day 1 at 7:00 am from the main square of Cusco.
End: Day 2 at 10:00 pm in downtown Cusco.
Day 1: Transportation from Cusco and trekking from Hidroeléctrica to Aguas Calientes.
We will gather early in the morning in the Galería Las Mercedes, El Sol Ave. to begin this Machu Picchu by Car tour. The first stop will be the town of Chinchero, where we will have breakfast and be able to use the facilities. After that, we will resume our trip by a road with many bends and not in a very good condition, to pass by the Abra Málaga, the highest point in the way at 14,108 ft. of altitude.
Then, we will begin the way down by the winding road so we will be able to identify the landscape change while we go further, from a cold and mountain landscape to a jungle warmer one.
We will retake the hard route to reach the Hidroeléctrica station. From this place, after having lunch and getting some rest, we will walk for three hours by the train rail to arrive at Aguas Calientes, where we will be placed in our corresponding accommodations. If we have some time, we will go over the town and maybe go to the hot springs to relax. Anyways, we will gather with the group and the guide for dinner; he will give us some directions for the next day. After that, we will get some rest to get up early the next day.
Day 2: Visit to Machu Picchu, trekking from Aguas Calientes to Hidroeléctrica and transportation from Hidroeléctrica to Cusco.
We will get up very early so we can go up to the archaeological site by bus or walking for one hour, following the stairs for reaching the entrance to the place. We will meet with our guide to begin the guided tour in Machu Picchu. We will receive some explanations about special places, about the re-discovering of the place by Hiram Bingham and, after that, we will have some time to visit the archaeological site on our own.
Around noon, we should leave the place to walk for three hours by the train rail to Hidreléctrica. In that place, we will take our transportation to begin the return trip. We will make one last stop in Santa Teresa, where we will be able to buy something to eat and use the bathrooms, which we recommend because we will not make any more stops until reaching Cusco, where our tours ends.
*The road used to reach Hidroelectrica has many bends and it is not a very good condition, which makes it a little bit difficult for some people.
Visit to the archaeological site
To enter to Machu Picchu archaeological site, you must have the so-called Llaqta Machu Picchu entrance ticket. Remember that, in case you select a program without entrance fee, you can buy it in the Ministerio de Cultura website.
The entrance will give you access to the archaeological site following one of its 4 circuits, which you will have to choose once you are in the citadel entrance:
- Circuit 1: high and low part of the archaeological site, as well as the platforms and terraces area for 3 hours.
- Circuit 2: high and low part of the archaeological site, as well as the routes to the Inti Punku and the Inca’s Bridge for 4 hours.
- Circuit 3: low part of the archeological site including the agricultural area, Temple of the Sun, Inka House, Sacred Rock, and Archaeological Reserve for 1 and a half hours.
- Circuit 4: low part of the archeological site including the agricultural area, Temple of the Sun, Inka House, Sacred Rock, and water mirrors for 2 hours.
Our recommendation for you to tour the citadel is choosing the circuit 2, because it will allow you to visit a bigger number of attractions inside Machu Picchu and taking the classic pictures.
Cancellation policy
- If you cancel or reschedule 45 days before starting the tour, we will make a full refund of what you paid for the booking.
- If you cancel or reschedule until 3 days before starting the tour, it will be a penalty of US$ 50 per person included in the booking.
- If you cancel or reschedule less than 3 days before starting the tour, there will be no refund.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take the visit to Machu Picchu?
The visita has a duration of three hours. The first hour, we will make the guided tour by the citadel. Then, you will have the rest of the time to go over freely by the citadel.
What document to I need to prove that I am a student?
The students discount is valid as long as you are maximum 25 years old. The same way the discount is valid if, at the moment of booking, you send us a copy or picture of your university ID card. This card needs to have the following information:
- Full name of the university.
- Full name of the student.
- Picture of the student.
- Year on which it is valid (the card should indicate the same year in which you will visit Machu Picchu).
The following documents are not valid to prove you are a student:
- Registration voucher.
- Regular student certificate.
- Transportation card for students.
- ISIC card.
How far in advance should I book the activity?
We receive bookings with minimum 48 hours in advance. However, the places are limited and are always subject to availability. The entry tickets to the Machu Picchu citadel have a high demand, running out of tickets, in some cases, with months in advance. Because of that, our recommendation is to make the booking as far in advance as possible.
How is the weather in Machu Picchu?
Machu Picchu is located between the Andes Mountain Range and the Amazonas Jungle, having a warm and mild weather, with a minimum average temperature of 12°C and a maximum average temperature of 24°C. From April to October is the dry season in the place, that is to say, during this period there is a lower possibility of having rain, while from November to March is the rain season, that is to say, during this period there is a higher possibility of having rain. Nevertheless, during the whole year there is possibility of rain, because we are talking about a subtropical area.
Is it possible to add an accommodation night in Aguas Calientes and return to Cusco a day after the tour?
Yes. To make the booking in this way, you have to write us at reservas@denomades.com, indicating the number of people travelling and the date you want to begin the program, and we will send to you the corresponding quotation along with the instructions to make the booking.
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