How Much Does a Machu Picchu Trip Cost? (2023 Update)

How Much Does a Trip to Machu Picchu Cost?

A Machu Picchu trip cost varies depending on if you want to go ultra-budget or extremely high-end luxury. Taking a trip to the Machu Picchu archaeological site has various factors involved when it comes to cost. One can visit Machu Picchu taking everything from a bare-bones budget trip all the way to an extremely high-end luxury trip. Additionally, in 2019 the cost has gone up due to new regulations to help preserve Machu Picchu. As of July 1, 2017, it is required to have an official tour guide to obtain entrance past the ticket gate. As a result, the cost of the Machu Picchu trip has gone up, and you can expect the prices to continue to rise as the years go on as Peru does everything it can to conserve the integrity of Machu Picchu.

PRO TIP: Make sure your passport is valid for 6 months before entering Peru or they won’t let you in. 

Machu Picchu Ticket Prices for 2019

Machu Picchu Entrance

• Adult: $45 USD (152 Soles)
• Students: $23 USD (77 Soles)
• Child (8-17 years): $21 USD (70 Soles)

This provides entry to Machu Picchu Citadel which consists of the main ruins, terraces, and temples. It does not give admission to either of the mountain peaks including Machu Picchu Mountain or Huayna Picchu.

Pro Tip: Be sure to get a Machu Picchu stamp for your passport at the entrance. 

Machu Picchu plus Huayna Picchu

• Adult: $59 USD (200 Soles)
• Student: $37 USD (125 Soles)
• Child (8-17 years): $35 USD (118 Soles)

This provides entry to the famous Huayna Picchu Mountain. This is a busier hike but has ruins including the Temple of the Sun. Because of the popularity, you will have to buy these tickets months in advance.  There are three-time slots available for this ticket.  

1. Entrance to Machu Picchu at 6:00 with Huayna Pichu at 7:00 amAccess to
2. Machu Picchu at 7:00 am with Huayna Picchu at 7:00 am
3. Machu Picchu at 8:00 am and Huayna Picchu at 10:30 am

Machu Picchu plus Machu Picchu Mountain

• Adult: $59 USD (200 Soles)
• Student: $37 USD (125 Soles)
• Child (8-17 years): $35 USD (118 Soles)

This provides entry to climb Montaña Machu Picchu. This mountain is generally less busy but has no ruins at the summit. There are three-time slots available for this ticket.

1. Entrance to Machu Picchu at 6:00 with Huayna Pichu at 7:00 am
2. Access to Machu Picchu at 7:00 am with Huayna Picchu at 7:00 am
3. Machu Picchu at 8:00 am and Huayna Picchu at 10:30 am

You can see how to purchase tickets to Machu Picchu here.

Transportation to Machu Picchu

The most significant cost for your trip to Machu Picchu will be your transportation costs. This will also have the broadest range of cost depending on if you are a frugal traveler or a spendthrift.

Airfare to Cusco

To get to Machu Picchu, you will most likely be taking a flight from Lima to Cusco.  There are a few different airfare companies that will do the job. Sky Airlines tend to be the cheapest flight on average, while Avianca tends to be the most expensive.

Ground Transport from Cusco to Ollantaytambo

Next, after arriving in Cusco, you will need to get to Ollantaytambo. Currently, there is no direct train connecting Cusco to Aguas Calientes. To get to Ollantaytambo, to take the train to Aguas Calientes, you will need to arrange some ground transportation. There are two options to do so, either via taxi or via bus. A bus to Ollantaytambo is approximately $3 USD but takes around 2 hours to arrive. If you go by taxi, expect to pay roughly $30 USD. These prices are one way. So expect to pay the same on the way back after visiting Machu Picch

Train from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes

Machu Picchu is at the base of Aguas Calientes. The only way that we recommend getting to Aguas Calientes is via train. You can walk, but this would be an extremely long journey. Two train companies run from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes: PeruRail and Inca Rail. Both companies have options ranging from budget train option to luxurious. Prices below are round-trip costs. You can buy tickets online or at the train station. Buying tickets online will require a credit card. Be sure to check out the full breakdown of your train options. 

Bus from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu

The final step in transportation cost requires getting from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu. You have two options, a 30-minute bus ride or a two-plus hour hike up very steep elevation. The walk up is going to be the cheapest option, free. However, bus tickets from Aguas Calientes and back is $24 USD.

Accommodation

Cusco

There are plenty of places to stay once you are in Cusco. Again, you will have everything from budget hostels to high-end options. Cusco is your home base for all your trips to the Valley. Whether you are traveling to Machu Picchu, Rainbow Mountain, the Sacred Valley or hiking the Inca Trail, this will be your ground zero. All the options below are near Cusco square. Prices below are for a single person at the cheapest option. More amenities will incur an extra cost.

Budget Option
At Cachi Life, for those looking to keep to a small budget and don’t mind the hostel atmosphere we love Ecopackers. It’s a low-key chill hostel, with plenty of group atmosphere to meet travelers from all over the globe. They even hold your luggage for no fee if you are doing a trek. If you’re ok sharing a dorm room with 18 people, a stay starts at $10 per night.

Middle Budget
For an excellent moderate budget hotel in Cusco, be sure to check out Ninos Hotel. A Dutch couple founded this hotel. Proceeds from any reservation to Ninos Hotel go to underprivileged children in the Cusco region. Any chance to help disadvantaged children in the Cusco area doesn’t go unnoticed by Cachi as malnutrition in the region can run very high. This hotel starts at $30 per night for a single-person bedroom with a shared bathroom. A private bathroom will go up to $60 per night.

Luxury Budget
Again, if money is no object, then Inkaterra La Casona is right for you. It’s a boutique hotel that takes a Cusco stay to the finest. It’s a unique manor house built on the grounds of a training grounds for a group of elite Inca army. Complete with impeccable service and a spa, this is the pinnacle of a Cusco stay. A stay here will run you approximately $570 per night.

Aguas Calientes

Here, we recommend that you get a hotel. You will be waking up extremely early to get to Machu Picchu before sunrise. Depending on the time of year, you may even be looking at a 3:30 am wake-up time. Therefore it is not recommended to splurge on a night in Aguas Calientes. There are plenty of options, so find a hotel you can get some sleep and stick with it. With that said we’ll still break down our recommendations for you.

 Budget Option
Again, Ecopackers has excellent service, and we recommend them in Aguas Calientes as well. Great for backpackers, students, and those on a budget. There is a magnificent view from the roof lounge. A 6-person dorm room starts at $13 per night.

Middle Budget
Terrazas del Inca is the personal selection for the owners of Cachi Life when they stay in Aguas Calientes. Nothing better than hearing the river running at night, excellent service, and comfortable beds. This bed and breakfast have a single person room with breakfast are approximately $50 per night.

Luxury Budget
Again, if you want to live in luxury seated next to Machu Picchu, we recommend Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel. This is Machu Picchu living at it’s finest. You’ll be staying in your very own cottage with your private pool set in the middle of a tropical garden. A spa is on the grounds for a gentle massage or pampering after your trip to Machu Picchu. A junior suite starts at $650.

Food

There are plenty of good food options in both Cusco and Aguas Calientes. You can spend $2-4 eating street food. We especially love Antichuco. However, if you are in Cusco and looking for a higher-end meal to celebrate your last days in Cusco, you’re going to love Chicha. It was started by the famous Gaston Acurio who is responsible for  

Astrid y Gastón, the 33rd best restaurant in the in the world. If you are eating here, expect to pay approximately $40 USD per meal.

Machu Picchu Trip Total Cost

As you can see, there are some fixed costs for your trip, including Machu Picchu entrance tickets and some variable costs such as food and accommodations. If you are going complete bare bones, where you hike entirely from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes, take a bus, and go with the cheapest food and hotel options, you can expect to spend around $250. The average cost of a Machu Picchu trip when you include hotel and plane is roughly $550. However, this will require a lot of hiking, grunt work and will not be very enjoyable. Over at Cachi Life, we got you covered for the price of $450 all inclusive (minus food/hotel) from Cusco. If money is no problem for you, will spend north of $12,000. The most significant factor for your Machu Picchu costs when traveling at the highest end is Inca Rail’s The Private train as a ticket will cost you $10,000. We recommend you use a travel agent to take care of all this for you. 

Have you been to Machu Picchu? How much did your Machu Picchu trip cost? Let’s hear it in the comments. 

Machu Picchu Trip Cost FAQs

How much does the train to Machu Picchu cost?

The Train to Machu Picchu can cost anywhere from $100 on the low end via the Peru Rail Expedition or Inca Trail Voyager all the way to $10,000 roundtrip on the Inca Rail Private option.