Machu Picchu on a Budget

James Bustamante( Travel Writer )

James Bustamante is Native to New York but born to Peruvian parents. He has been traveling throughout Latin America since early 2003 and finally made his home in Peru. James has made his way by eating and traveling through almost every country in Central and South America.

www.journeymachupicchu.com

Last Updated on March 15, 2021 by James Bustamante

Visit Machu Picchu on a budget by going over some key points that will help make your next trip to the Inca Citadel a fun and affordable one. This might seem seem difficult to accomplish for a lot of potential travelers; the truth this is easier than you think as long as you follow our advice. 

There are countless ways to make your trip to Machu Picchu not only an enjoyable but an affordable one as well.

International Flights

Speak to an Airline

We’ll start with International flights.  There are many ways one can book their international flight to Peru, 99% of the time you will be arriving into Lima first. For starters some travelers like to take the old fashioned approach and book directly through their preferred international airline. 

This is a good first option, that way you can try to get a cheaper flight speaking directly to an airline, right? This however, can limit you to a single airline or you have talk to one company at a time. This isn’t the most time effective approach and 50% of travelers will go with whatever the price currently is within the first 2 queries.

If you want to take this approach than simply call or visit various airline websites and check on costs.  If you have the time and the dedication to go through a bunch of websites then go ahead. You’ll find there are literally dozens of airlines coming to Peru from various points in the world at many prices.

Maybe Through Agencies

A second approach would be to talk to a travel agency to check what prices they currently hold. Many times agencies have inside deals that airlines are currently offering. You might be able to take advantage of these lower prices and get a great flight.   There are many occasions when travel agencies have confidential pricing, most likely though it will be for domestic travel and not international flights.

Price Comparison Websites

The third option which I think is a great thing would be using comparison websites like Kayak or Priceline.   With either of these websites, or many others like them, you can check on pricing for flights coming to Peru from the majority of airlines, all at once. There are filters that allow you to get cheaper flights as well.

You can book a flight with a few stops (generally cheaper but a longer flight) with a more affordable price or a direct one that might be a tad more expensive. The cash that you save on flights will definitely make Machu Picchu on a budget a much more realistic option.

Gettin From Lima to Cusco

Now let’s go through a few options on how to get to Cusco. Our ultimate goal is of course to take a trip the goes from Lima to Machu Picchu but remember that we first need to reach the former capital of the Inca Empire, Cusco. The thing is that most travelers will assume that you can actually go directly to Machu Picchu and make the trip more affordable that way.

This is not the case, there will be obligatory stops along the way due to the travel schedules of transportation services. Below we have detailed the methods used to get to Cusco, go over each one and see which is the most cost efficient in order to make Machu Picchu on a budget possible.

The Bus From Lima to Cusco on a Budget

If we want to take the bus from Lima to Cusco we are looking at a very long bus journey of 22 to 26 hours. It is not the fastest method of travel from the coast to the highlands and we normally don’t recommend it unless you are accustomed to long bus rides and have time to spare. The ride is not the most comfortable one either.

If you book with a company like Cruz del Sur, you can reserve VIP seats, which are similar to the business-class seats you’ll find on an airplane. The seats are spacious, full recline and there’s even an attendant who serves you meals. If you are truly on a very limited budget you can take this method but again, it is not recommended.

Approximate Cost: $35 – $50 roundtrip

Flying From Lima to Cusco on a Budget

Flying is clearly the easiest option, and takes around an hour and a half. This is your best bet to be honest in terms of time, efficiency, price. Ff you’d like to save money but don’t want to take the bus, flying can be affordable as well. Today there are deals that rival bus fares, you can check out airlines like Viva Air, Sky airlines or LATAM to check on pricing.

Just be aware of the fine print, as these low-cost carriers love to nickel and dime you for things like checking a bag or printing your boarding pass. One of the worst experiences you can possibly have is booking a flight, checking in and the counter lets you know that your ticket only includes a carry on and no luggage, this followed by “sorry there is no more space in the cargo area” will definitely ruin the experience.

When it comes to domestic airfare (Lima-Cusco-Lima), local agencies will easily book a roundtrip flight for anywhere between $60-$80 but can reach $250-$300 depending on how soon your trip is and during what time of the year you will be traveling.

Anticipation is always key to visiting Machu Picchu on a budget. Flights are always dependent on when you decide to actually book as well. So either book in advance, at least 30 – 60 days or wait for travel specials which can come out on a weekly basis in some airlines.

Approximate Cost: $55 – $300 roundtrip

Getting to Machu Picchu on a Budget

So how would you actually go about getting to Machu Picchu itself? There are a variety of ways, take a tour, trek or just head straight there. 

Many people head toward the Inca Trail route where you trek through the Andes and eventually reach the cloud forests and cross the breathtaking valley in 4 days, hiking to Machu Picchu through the Sun Gate on your final day.

However, other routes, such as the Lares Trek, the Vilcabamba Trek and the Salkantay Trek are often a better bang for your buck and can be much less touristy.

Those whose are short on cash or time — or who simply can’t tolerate the thought of hiking or camping for four days — can opt to do a one-day or two-day Inca Trail hike. At Journey Machu Picchu, we can accommodate and customize many of your packages depending on your needs and preferences.

If you decide to take a more modern route, you’ll eventually have to take the train to Machu Picchu. Many people prefer to go directly from Cusco-Poroy for the sake of brevity but it tends to be a bit pricier.

We always include a shuttle to Ollantaytambo, which is about two hours from Cusco and a relatively straightforward drive.

Once there we provide train tickets to Aguas Calientes, all of which comes out to be a fraction of the price. On the way there or back, stop by and check out the ruins in Ollantaytambo, which are quite impressive.

As with anything related to Machu Picchu reservations, be sure to book train tickets in advance as they often sell out.

Accommodations on a Budget

Hotel accommodations are another big factor when trying to do Machu Picchu on a budget.  There are 3,4 and 5 star hotels available in Cusco and in Aguas Calientes.

This is one of those cases where it also pays to do your research; a local travel agency will once again have the upper hand here by getting confidential or rack pricing, oftentimes helping you save hundreds of dollars per person.

This is why it is obviously better to travel with a companion as it will make it a much more affordable variation of your hotel.  It will be much easier for a travel agency to give you a big discount if there are more than 2 travelers.

This is a great way to even get discounts on the rest of your trip like passes, hiking permits, tours of Cusco, the Rainbow Mountain or the Sacred Valley. This method even works for taking the Inca trail straight to Machu Picchu. 

Meals on a Budget

What about food? This trick isn’t going to save you millions, but if you’re on a really tight budget, bring your own water and snacks with you into Machu Picchu.

Cusco is the cheapest spot you’ll find water and food, followed by Aguas Calientes, so if you plan on purchasing from the snack bar or restaurant just outside the entrance, expect to spend three to four times as much as you would elsewhere. 

As previously mentioned, the biggest factor tends to be booking with anticipation, particularly if you want a particular hike as part of your Machu Picchu Travel package.

There are several travelers who try to book last minute and find themselves having to pay top dollar for something that could have cost half the amount just a few months ago. 

So in short, do some research before choosing your how to go to Machu Picchu. We our experienced travel advisors always advise booking everything as far in advance as possible.

Frequently Asked Questions About Machu Picchu on a Budget