Last updated: september 2026 · Written by the Sisa Peru Tours editorial team
Most international flights to Peru land in Lima, but Machu Picchu is in the Cusco region, about 500 km away in a straight line. There is no road, train or airport that connects Lima directly with the citadel. Every route goes through Cusco first. This guide explains each leg, how long it takes and how to plan the days in between.
Quick Answer: How Do You Get from Lima to Machu Picchu?
To get from Lima to Machu Picchu, fly from Lima to Cusco (about 1 hour 15 minutes), travel by road to Ollantaytambo in the Sacred Valley, take the train to Aguas Calientes (about 1.5 hours) and ride the bus up to the citadel. There is no direct train or flight. Plan at least 3 days, and ideally 4, to include time to adjust to the altitude.
Lima to Machu Picchu Route Explained
The trip has four legs:
| Leg | Transport | Typical time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lima → Cusco | Domestic flight | About 1 h 15 min | The fastest option; by road it takes about 21 hours |
| Cusco → Ollantaytambo | Road (private transfer or tour) | About 1.5 to 2 h | Can include stops in the Sacred Valley |
| Ollantaytambo → Aguas Calientes | Train | About 1 h 23 min to 1 h 45 min | PeruRail and Inca Rail operate this line |
| Aguas Calientes → Machu Picchu | Bus | About 8 km of switchbacks | You can also walk up the stairs |
Flight and road times come from PromPerú. Train times are from the PeruRail timetable for May to December 2026. Aguas Calientes appears on train tickets as “Machu Picchu Pueblo”.Lima to Machu Picchu: the route, leg by legEvery route passes through Cusco.
Option 1: Lima → Cusco → Ollantaytambo → Machu Picchu
This is the most common route and the one we recommend for first-time visitors. After landing in Cusco, you travel by road to the Sacred Valley and board the train in Ollantaytambo.
Why it works:
- Shorter train ride. From Ollantaytambo, the train takes about 1.5 hours, compared with 3.5 to 4.5 hours from Cusco.
- Lower altitude first. The Sacred Valley is lower than Cusco. Pisac, for example, is at about 2,950 m, while Cusco is at 3,399 m.
- Sightseeing on the way. You can visit Pisac and Ollantaytambo on the same day.
Our Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu 2-day tour follows this route. It visits Pisac and Ollantaytambo, takes the train to Aguas Calientes and visits Machu Picchu the next morning.
Option 2: Lima → Cusco → Aguas Calientes
You can also take the train from the Cusco area straight to Aguas Calientes. PeruRail runs services from San Pedro station and from Poroy, about 20 minutes from central Cusco, as well as bus-and-train services from Wanchaq. The ride takes about 3 hours 45 minutes to 4 hours 40 minutes, depending on the station and service.
This option suits travelers who stay in Cusco and do not want to change vehicles. It is longer, and there are fewer daily departures from the Cusco area than from Ollantaytambo. There is also a longer road route via Hidroeléctrica, used mainly by backpackers, which ends with a walk or a short train ride to Aguas Calientes.
Can You Take a Direct Train from Lima?
No. There is no train from Lima to Machu Picchu, and no train from Lima to Cusco. The railway to Machu Picchu runs only within the Cusco region, from Cusco, Ollantaytambo and Urubamba to Aguas Calientes.
You also cannot fly directly to Machu Picchu: the nearest airport is Cusco. Our guide to planning a trip to Machu Picchu from Cusco covers the Cusco part of the route in more detail.
Lima to Machu Picchu Travel Time
Door to door, the trip takes about 7 to 9 hours if everything connects on the same day: a 1 h 15 min flight, airport time, 1.5–2 hours by road, about 1.5 hours by train and the bus. In practice, we do not recommend doing it in one day, for two reasons:
- Altitude. Flying from sea level to Cusco is a sharp climb. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advises against going from below 1,200 m to a sleeping altitude of 2,750 m in a single day, and says that 2–3 nights at 2,450–2,750 m markedly reduce the risk of altitude sickness.
- Connections. A delayed flight can make you miss the train, and train and entry tickets have fixed times.
Lima to Machu Picchu without flying: the bus from Lima to Cusco takes about 21 hours by road via Abancay, according to PromPerú. Add the train and bus from Cusco, and the trip takes about two days each way.
Lima to Machu Picchu Cost Factors
We do not list fixed prices here because fares change by season and demand. These are the items that make up the cost:
| Item | What changes the price |
|---|---|
| Lima–Cusco flight | Airline, season and how far ahead you book |
| Train to Aguas Calientes | Service class (Expedition, Vistadome, Observatory or luxury trains) and departure time |
| Machu Picchu entry | Circuit and age category; buy only on tuboleto.cultura.pe |
| Bus up to the citadel | Round trip or one way |
| Hotel in Aguas Calientes or the Sacred Valley | Category and season |
| Guide | Group or private; a guide is required inside the site |
A package with transport, train, entry and guide often costs less than booking each piece separately in high season. Our 3-day Machu Picchu tour starts at US$450, and the 4-day Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu tour at US$540 (October 2026 prices; they may change).
Best Route for First-Time Visitors
For a first trip, we recommend this order: Lima → Cusco → Sacred Valley → Aguas Calientes → Machu Picchu → Cusco.
- You sleep lower on your first nights.
- You see the Sacred Valley on the way instead of making a separate trip.
- You enter Machu Picchu in the morning, after a night in Aguas Calientes.
- You end in Cusco, already acclimatized, for the city and other day trips.
Where to Acclimatize Before Machu Picchu
Should you stay in Cusco before Machu Picchu? You can, but the Sacred Valley is a gentler first stop because it is lower. Machu Picchu itself (2,430 m) is lower than both. Many travelers feel the altitude most in Cusco, at 3,399 m.
| Place | Altitude | Role in the route |
|---|---|---|
| Lima | Sea level | Arrival city |
| Cusco | 3,399 m | Airport and highest overnight stop |
| Pisac (Sacred Valley) | About 2,950 m | Gentle first stop |
| Machu Picchu | 2,430 m | The citadel, on a ridge above Aguas Calientes |
Altitudes: Cusco from PromPerú, Machu Picchu from UNESCO, Pisac from our Sacred Valley tour page. Before you travel, read our altitude sickness tips for Cusco.
Sample 3-, 4- and 5-Day Routes
All three routes start with a morning flight from Lima to Cusco.
| Day | 3 days | 4 days | 5 days |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fly to Cusco; afternoon city tour | Fly to Cusco; afternoon city tour | Fly to Cusco; rest |
| 2 | Train to Aguas Calientes; Machu Picchu; return to Cusco | Sacred Valley; train to Aguas Calientes | Cusco city tour |
| 3 | Fly back to Lima | Machu Picchu; return to Cusco | Sacred Valley; train to Aguas Calientes |
| 4 | — | Fly back to Lima | Machu Picchu; return to Cusco |
| 5 | — | — | Free day in Cusco or a day trip; fly back to Lima |
- The 3-day route matches our Machu Picchu tour 3D/2N. It is the fastest option, but it leaves little time to acclimatize.
- The 4-day route matches our Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu tour 4D/3N.
- For the 5-day route, combine the Cusco city tour with the 2-day Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu tour.
How many days do you need from Lima to Machu Picchu? At least 3 days, and 4 or 5 if you want to acclimatize and see the Sacred Valley. Before choosing dates, check the best time to visit Machu Picchu.
Want the route arranged for you? Browse our Machu Picchu tour packages, with train, entry, bus and guide included.
Arriving at Lima Airport
Lima’s Jorge Chávez International Airport opened its new terminal on June 1, 2025, according to Andina. If your international flight lands late, it is usually better to spend a night in Lima and fly to Cusco the next morning. Our guide to Lima, Peru’s capital has ideas for that extra day.
FAQs
Can you take a train from Lima to Machu Picchu?
No. There is no train from Lima to the citadel or to Cusco. Trains to Machu Picchu run only inside the Cusco region, from Cusco, Ollantaytambo and Urubamba to Aguas Calientes. From Lima, you first fly or take a bus to Cusco.
Is there a direct flight from Lima to Machu Picchu?
No. Machu Picchu has no airport. The closest airport is in Cusco, about 1 hour 15 minutes by air from Lima. From Cusco, you continue by road and train to Aguas Calientes, then by bus to the citadel.
How long does Lima to Machu Picchu take?
The fastest connection takes about 7 to 9 hours: the flight to Cusco, the road to Ollantaytambo, the train and the bus. Most travelers spread it over 2 or 3 days to adjust to the altitude and avoid tight connections between the flight and the train.
What is the fastest way from Lima to Machu Picchu?
The fastest way is a morning flight from Lima to Cusco, a transfer to Ollantaytambo and the train to Aguas Calientes. It is possible in one day, but we recommend sleeping in the Sacred Valley or Aguas Calientes and visiting Machu Picchu the next morning.
Should I stay in Cusco before Machu Picchu?
It helps to spend at least one night at altitude first. The Sacred Valley is a gentler choice than Cusco because it is lower: Pisac is at about 2,950 m and Cusco at 3,399 m. Many travelers visit Machu Picchu first and Cusco afterwards.
How many days do I need from Lima to Machu Picchu?
Plan at least 3 days for the round trip from Lima, and 4 to 5 days for a comfortable pace. Extra days let you acclimatize, see the Sacred Valley and keep a buffer in case of flight delays or rain.
Can I go from Lima to Machu Picchu without flying?
Yes. A bus from Lima to Cusco takes about 21 hours by road via Abancay. From Cusco, you continue by road and train to Aguas Calientes. The trip takes about two days each way, so it suits travelers with more time than budget.
What is a good Lima to Machu Picchu itinerary?
A good first itinerary is: day 1, fly to Cusco and rest; day 2, Sacred Valley and train to Aguas Calientes; day 3, Machu Picchu and return to Cusco; day 4, Cusco city tour. Add a fifth day for a day trip or extra rest.
Plan Your Route with Sisa Peru Tours
Sisa Peru Tours is based in Chinchero, in the Sacred Valley, on the road between Cusco airport and Ollantaytambo. Send us your arrival date in Lima and your flight times, and we will build the route, trains and entry times around them.