Machu Picchu is an ancient Incan city in Peru about 795 miles (1280 kilometers) southeast of Lima. The Incas built the city in about 1450, and most researchers believe it was abandoned less than 100 years later. Situated on an obscure mountaintop, the forgotten city’s 200 buildings succumbed to jungle overgrowth but remained surprisingly intact.
Today, a 70-mile (113-kilometer) train ride connects visitors to Machu Picchu from Cusco, a regional center in the eastern Andes Mountains. At 7,546 feet (2,300 meters), the surroundings are permeated by lush growth. The subtropical climate sees average highs in the low 80s with cool nights. The dry season extends from May to October, but even during the wetter months, mornings are usually sunny.
To get to Machu Picchu from Lima, you first have to reach Cusco. Your options to get to Cusco from Lima are by plane or by bus. There are no trains connecting these two cities.
Lima to Machu Picchu.
Fly or Bus?
Flying is the fastest (1 hour and 15 minutes), most comfortable and more convenient alternative. There are many flights leaving from Lima to Cusco all morning until early afternoon. There are no flights late in the afternoon or at night. The reason is the location of the airport in Cusco and tale winds that make difficult the landing in the afternoon and at night. LATAM, Avianca, and Star Peru are reputable airlines flying daily from Lima to Cusco and vice versa.
In regard to the bus alternative, there are daily departures that connect Lima and Cusco. Cruz del Sur, Oltursa, Ormeno, and Civa are reputable bus companies that offer comfortable service for the long drive. It is a 22-hour journey by road connecting these two destinations. Thereby this option is longer, less comfortable and not very convenient when compared to the flights; but it is cheaper.
We highly recommend flying, and that’s why our tours consider this option rather than the bus. This makes sense especially if you will not stay for a long period of time and you are not on a tight budget.
So if you are planning to travel from Lima to Machu Picchu, our tours are your best alternative. We will book your accommodation in Lima and Cusco, also the transfers to the airports and hotels, and include tours to visit the main attractions in Cusco plus the train to Machu Picchu or the Inca trail hike.
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Flight Info
The city of Cusco has an airport called Velasco Astete International Airport. Offering regular domestic and international flights, Cusco’s airport is a meeting point for visitors coming from various parts of the country and the world. Flights arrive daily from Lima, Juliaca, Arequipa, and Puerto Maldonado in Peru as well as La Paz, Bolivia. the airport has service taxis and buses.
Flights frequency
Bus Info
Cruz del Sur:
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Oltursa:
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Ormeño:
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Civa:
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Read more about Best Time to Go to Machu Picchu