
Excursion: Machu Picchu
There are several ways to visit Machu Picchu, some are cheaper and some are more expensive. Maybe you want to do the inca trail, or you want to pay a lot of money for some minutes of train travel. Here I want to propose a alternative and inexpensive way of a Machu Picchu visit, which will only cost you around 100$.
You can either book it in Cusco all inclusive as a “tour” or do it on your own. The pro to do it on your own is that you can choose the restaurant and the accommodation on your own. The pro of a “tour” is that don’t have to worry about anything and it’s cheaper.
Make sure to buy your entrance ticket to Machu Picchu some days in advance.
I did a “tour” and I would recommend you to do it on your own, especially if you want to walk from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu.
It’s a two day trip that can be extended to a three day trip.
Day 1:
At 7am you take a bus from Cusco to Hidro Electrica (50-70 Soles/16-22$ both ways). I recommend to book the bus via a tour operator, as those drivers drive carefully. There you will arrive at 2pm, where you can have a meal or either start already the trek. If you booked the tour you probably have a lunch here included. There is a buffet of different foods like rice, pasta, lentils, vegetables, tomato sauce and salad, so there are enough vegan options. I mixed pasta, tomato sauce and lentils to a “vegan bolognese” and had a cabbage salad.

Then you can start the trek following the rail. After about 2-3 hours you will reach Aguas Calientes. Here you will either meet with your guide at the main plaza and afterwards have dinner, or you go to your accommodation and so on. If you’re on your own I would recommend to not yet choose a guide, as there are many standing in front of the entrance of Machu Picchu and so you have as much time as you need to hike.
Day 2:
On the second day you get up at 4am and start your trek at 4:30. As the control point at the bridge opens at 5am you can start at 4:30 and don’t have to wait hours in the cold dark.
In case you don’t want to walk you can get up later and it is recommendable to buy the ticket (12$ one way) the day before.

When you arrive at the top you can enjoy Machu Picchu (if you have your passport with you) until 11am. Machu Picchu works one way so you cannot walk back, but you can enter more than once in the time window of your ticket.
At around 11am you should start your way back down. Be aware of not getting stuck in Machu Picchu, because it’s getting busy from 9am on and you have to find the way through the masses of humans back to the exit. It’s one way, remember, so you probably have to walk more than half Machu Picchu just to get out.
At 2:30pm or more probably 3pm the bus will bring you back to Cusco, where you will arrive at about 9pm.

