How to See Machu Picchu Without Hiking
Posted 10/03/2025 | 10th March, 2025
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I have now visited five of the New Seven Wonders of the World, managing to tick three of them off on an epic year in Latin America. I’m pretty sure that the Great Wall of China is still sitting as my firm favourite, with Machu Picchu coming in a very close second.
In the backpacking world, taking the Machu Picchu train appears to be somewhat of a deadly sin. The hikes appear to be a rite of passage amongst those travelling to Peru and the rest of South America.
But, what if you want to see Machu Picchu without hiking?
Well, fear not!
The train from Cusco (or Ollantaytambo) is absolutely breathtaking. In fact, I’m certain that it has to be one of the most beautiful train rides in the world. So please, don’t feel that you’re going to miss out by skipping the Inca or Salkantay trek.
Here’s exactly how to see Machu Picchu without hiking.
What is Machu Picchu?
I’m pretty sure that if you’ve landed on this guide, you’re already familiar with what Machu Picchu is. But, for the avoidance of doubt, here’s a quick overview:
Machu Picchu is an ancient Inca citadel located in the Andes Mountains of Peru, about 2430 meters above sea level. It is one of the most famous and well-preserved archaeological sites in the world, often referred to as the “Lost City of the Incas”.
Key Facts About Machu Picchu:
📍 Location: Cusco Region, Peru
🏛️ Built By: The Inca Emperor Pachacuti around 1450 AD
🌎 UNESCO World Heritage Site: Since 1983
🌟 One of the New Seven Wonders of the World: Since 2007
Different Ways to Visit Machu Picchu
This post is going to cover exactly how to see Machu Picchu without hiking. But, before we get into that, here is a quick overview of the four most popular ways to get to Machu Picchu
The Classic Inca Trail (Most Popular Trek)
⏰Duration: 4 days / 3 nights
🥵Difficulty: Moderate to Challenging
✨Highlights: The only route that lets you enter Machu Picchu through the Sun Gate (Inti Punku). You pass several ancient Inca ruins along the way.
🎟 Booking: Requires booking months in advance due to limited permits (only 500 per day, including guides and porters).
Salkantay Trek (More Adventurous Alternative)
⏰Duration: 4 to 5 days
🥵 Difficulty: Challenging (higher altitudes, up to 4,650m)
✨Highlights: Stunning scenery, including glaciers, cloud forests, and hot springs. It ends in Aguas Calientes (town at the base of Machu Picchu).
🎟 Booking: No permit required, but guided tour needs to be booked well in advance
Train from Cusco (Easiest Option)
⏰Duration: Around 4 hours
🥵 Difficulty: Easy
🚂Route: Train from Cusco or Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes, then a 30-minute bus ride up to Machu Picchu.
✨Train Options: Luxury: Belmond Hiram Bingham, Comfortable: Vistadome (panoramic windows) or Budget: Expedition train
Budget Route via Hidroelectrica (Cheapest Way)
⏰Duration: ~7-8 hours
🥵 Difficulty: Moderate
🥾Route: Take a bus from Cusco to Hidroelectrica (6-7 hours), Walk ~3 hours along the train tracks to Aguas Calientes, then, hike or take the bus up to Machu Picchu.
💰Cost: Much cheaper than the train, but takes longer.
Exactly how to See Machu Picchu Without Hiking
There are two main things you need to sort out in advance. The first is your tickets to the actual Machu Picchu, and the second is your train tickets.
I recommend booking both of these as early as possible (at least 4-6 weeks).
For the Machu Picchu entrance tickets, you will choose a specific time that these tickets can be used, and the staff are generally very strict on allowing you admission only at that precise time. (We did manage to sneak in a little early, but I wouldn’t count on that).
Booking Your Machu Picchu Tickets
We were very overwhelmed by the process and ended up booking two separate tickets. One with allowed us to explore the ruins, and another which allowed us the iconic viewpoint.
I completely recommend this. Although it involves a little more administration, visiting Machu Picchu is a once-in-a-lifetime experience and therefore I implore you to make the most of it.
The Different Machu Picchu Routes
As of June 1, 2024, the Peruvian Ministry of Culture has restructured the visitor routes within Machu Picchu to three main circuits, encompassing a total of ten sub-routes. This change aims to enhance the visitor experience and better preserve the site, however, in my personal opinion, this completely overcomplicated the situation!
Panoramic Circuit
🇵🇪 Purpose: Offers visitors sweeping views of the archaeological site and its surrounding landscapes.
🥾Sub-Routes: Includes multiple paths that highlight different vantage points for photography and observation.
Classic Circuit
🇵🇪 Purpose: Provides a comprehensive tour of the main sectors of Machu Picchu, including significant archaeological features.
🥾 Sub-Routes: Comprises several routes that guide visitors through essential areas such as temples, plazas, and residential zones.
Royalty Circuit
🇵🇪 Purpose: Focuses on the more exclusive and less-visited parts of the site, offering insights into areas believed to be used by Inca nobility.
🥾 Sub-Routes: Encompasses paths that lead to secluded spots, providing a deeper understanding of the site’s historical significance.
Booking Your Machu Picchu Rail Tickets
If you’ve done any research, you will know that Machu Picchu tickets have to be purchased weeks, if not months, in advance. For two relaxed ‘go with the flow’ backpackers, this was quite the change of pace!
Booking the Peru Rail to Machu Picchu was one of the most stressful and frustrating experiences I’ve had whilst travelling. Not only are the tickets for this train incredibly expensive, but the website crashed multiple times and was extremely confusing. Therefore, I recommend booking your Peru Rail tickets as far in advance as possible (it literally took us three weeks of trying on the website to obtain tickets).
We finally managed to secure tickets by using PayPal rather than card.
There is actually a Peru Rail office in the centre of Cusco where you can book your rail tickets. However, I was reluctant to do this as I wanted to ensure that we were on the exact time and carriage we wished.
The Machu Picchu Train Experience
After the stress of booking the Machu Picchu tickets, I am very pleased to say that the train experience was absolutely fantastic. There was a tiny niggle in my head telling me I had missed out by not doing the hike. However, I can confidently say that the train was amazing, offering a luxurious, fantastic, relaxed experience and a completely different travel style to what I am used to.
We booked the slightly more expensive train tickets on the way out, with the windows in the roof to allow for the best views. It also included coffee and breakfast snacks, which was amazing. I visited Machu Picchu on the day before my 30th birthday and I honestly cannot think of a better way to kiss goodbye to my twenties!
Bus From Aguas Calientes to Macchu Picchu
The train does not drop you at Machu Picchu. The train drops you at Aguas Calientes, which is the nearby town.
From here, you have two options to get to Machu Picchu. The first is to walk. Now, as we have established, this is a guide of how to get to Machu Picchu without walking. But, even if it wasn’t, I wouldn’t recommend it. It is a serious UPHILL.
It’s a steep, uphill, 90-minute hike which will leave you feeling anything but refreshed.
Instead, you will need to take a bus (which again, is another logistical nightmare). The tickets are all purchased from one very small, very hidden shop.
You need your passport to purchase bus tickets. The tickets are $24 USD per adult (for foreigners), and this is for the return ticket. You will not be given a specific bus time, but you will queue along the main road based on what time your entrance tickets to Machu Picchu are.
Yes, the staff will ask to see your Machu Picchu tickets so you cannot lie and jump on an earlier bus to avoid the longer queues.
In all honesty, it was an overly complicated and stressful part of the day, but a necessary evil in order to see this incredible part of the world.
Travelling from Cusco or Ollantaytambo
When visiting Machu Picchu without hiking, you have two main options for your starting point.
The first is Cusco, which is an incredible city and a fantastic place to base yourself when exploring this region. In fact, Cusco was one of my favourite stops in the whole of South America.
However, if you have the time, I seriously recommend sparing a day or two for Ollantaytambo. If you’ve purchased the Cusco Tourist Card (an excellent value card which allows you access to 16 incredible sites in the region), you already have access to the ruins here.
To get from Cusco to Ollantaytambo, your best option is to take a colectivo (shared cars/minibuses) that drive between the two multiple times per day.
It’s the same train whether you get on at Cusco or Ollantaytambo, you just simply get on later in the journey.
To Guide or Not to Guide
There are various companies that offer full-day trips to Machu Picchu from Cusco. These may be a good idea if you really hate the planning and organising side of things. However, I would not recommend them.
You will have no control over the circuits that you choose to explore when inside Machu Picchu. And, you will be stuck on someone else’s timeline. Additionally, these day trips are extremely expensive. And, from my research, most do not include the train as standard. Meaning, on top of the very expensive day trip, you also have to purchase train tickets separately.
Instead, I would recommend arranging a guide once you are in Cusco. There are an endless number of tour agencies that can assist, and your hotel or hostel will be able to point you in the direction of the best ones.
Alternatively, there are lots of guides loitering when you get off the bus from Aguas Calientes, which are available to be booked on that specific day. This might not be the best option if you are desperate to have a guide, but is probably the most budget-conscious option.
We didn’t get a guide, and in hindsight, I regret that decision. The ruins were absolutely stunning, but there isn’t any information inside, so you have to store all your questions in your head to frantically google on the way home.
If you are taking a route which explores the ruins, then I recommend hiring a local knowledgeable guide which will completely elevate your experience at Machu Picchu.
Visiting Machu Picchu Without Hiking – Round-Up
🎟 You first need to choose which routes you would like to complete and book your Machu Picchu tickets using the official website.
🚂 You then need to book your Machu Picchu train from either Cusco or Ollantaytambo, choosing your class of seat based on your preference and budget.
🚍 The final step is to purchase your bus ride from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu, which is done directly in the town.
🇵🇪 If you wish to have a guide, the most cost-effective way to book is either in Cusco, or Aguas Calientes.
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