How to get from Cusco to Aguas Calientes to visit Machu Picchu Peru on a budget!

Today Chantal reminisces about our visit to one of the "Wonders of the World" - Machu Picchu, Peru. The lost city of the Incas, also known as the Old Mountain, is a 15th-century site located 2,430 meters above sea level.

The land of the great Incan Empire is known for it's high elevations and breathtaking views which definitely gave us a fright a few times along the road.

Most tourists that visit Machu Picchu take a train to the famous Inca ruins, but some with a more adventurous streak choose to hike. We kinda did both. 🙂

We came from Bolivia and took a bus ride to Cusco, the former capital of the Inca Empire. Once we arrived there we encountered overpriced tours and that's why we decided to take an alternative and cheaper route.

Basically our itinerary looked something like this

1) We got from Cusco to Santa Maria by bus

2) Then from Santa Maria we got to Hidroeléctrica in a taxi

3) Finally, from Hidroeléctrica we got to Aguas Calientes on a 30 minute train-ride

4) We stayed the night there so we could be one of the first ones up

5) On the way back we decided to walk down and back along the railroad tracks to Hidroeléctrica. (you can pay to send only your luggage on the train which is what we did)

6) We got back to Cusco in a packed minivan.