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Machu Picchu Bus: Aguas Calientes to the Citadel

Written and reviewed by the Highland Adventures trip specialist team · Updated

Machu Picchu sits about 400 meters above Machupicchu Pueblo (Aguas Calientes). Most visitors ride a bus up the Hiram Bingham road, a switchback route of about 25 to 30 minutes. The other way up is on foot.

Your bus ticket is separate from your Machu Picchu entry ticket, and you need both.

Who runs the bus right now

The route has been in dispute since Consettur's concession expired.

  • Consettur's concession for the Hiram Bingham road expired in September 2025. On December 30, 2025, the provincial municipality of Urubamba annulled a temporary contract with San Antonio de Torontoy, and Torontoy said it would take legal action. (Infobae, Jan 6, 2026, verified )
  • As of September 23, 2026, both Consettur and San Antonio de Torontoy were carrying passengers on the Hiram Bingham road, while Urubamba prepares a new public tender. (Infobae, Sep 23, 2026; Gestion, Feb 9, 2026, verified )
  • A national decree, DS 010-2026-MTC (April 2026), lets the municipality keep the service running under a transitional regime while the tender runs. (Diario del Cusco, Apr 9, 2026, verified )
  • What this means for you: two companies sell tickets for the same ride. Buy from one of them directly, and check the company name on your ticket matches the bus you board.

Where to buy

  • Consettur sells tickets online and at its offices in Cusco (Av. Pardo 827) and in Machupicchu Pueblo (Av. Hermanos Ayar, before the Puente Ruinas bridge), cash in soles or US dollars. (PeruRail travel page, verified )
  • San Antonio de Torontoy sells online at its own site, by card, PayPal or WeTravel. You must show your original ID when buying and boarding, and the name must match exactly. (San Antonio de Torontoy website, verified ) Torontoy tickets are valid from one day before to two days after the booked date. (San Antonio de Torontoy website, verified )

Timetable and the ride

Consettur's first bus up leaves at about 5:30 a.m. and the last bus down at about 6:00 p.m., with buses every 5 to 15 minutes depending on demand. The ride takes about 25 to 30 minutes each way. (PeruRail travel page, verified )

Torontoy advises boarding one hour before your Machu Picchu entry time. (San Antonio de Torontoy website, verified )

Under Ministerial Resolution 334-2026-MC (September 11, 2026), a Machu Picchu entry ticket is valid only for its date, time, circuit and holder. (RM 334-2026-MC, verified ) So plan the bus around your entry hour, not the other way round. How the entry hours, circuits and routes fit together is in Machu Picchu tickets, circuits and routes.

Walking instead

Walking down from the citadel to Machupicchu Pueblo takes about an hour and a half. (PeruRail travel page, verified ) The path starts at the Puente Ruinas bridge below town. Walking up is steeper and slower.

When the road closes

Rockfalls can block the road. On the night of November 1, 2026, a rockfall near Puente Ruinas closed the Hiram Bingham road; buses resumed after several hours and some visitors walked, the Machupicchu district municipality confirmed. (Infobae, Nov 2, 2026, verified ) If buses stop, the walking path is the only way up.

The same rockslide also stopped the rail section to Hidroelectrica. What a rail suspension does to your train ticket, entry ticket and Inca Trail permit is in when the train to Machu Picchu is cancelled.

Questions travelers ask

Do I need a bus ticket to enter Machu Picchu?

No. The bus and the entry ticket are separate. You need an entry ticket from the Ministry of Culture whether you ride or walk.

Can I buy the bus ticket on the day?

Yes, at the company office in Machupicchu Pueblo, subject to queues.

Is the bus included in train tickets?

No. Train and bus are sold separately.

How long is the bus ride to Machu Picchu?

About 25 to 30 minutes each way.

Can I walk instead of taking the bus?

Yes, about 1.5 hours down by the path from Puente Ruinas. Walking up is steeper and slower.