Machu Picchu on a Budget: A Traveler’s Guide

4 Tips on How to Avoid Crowds in Machu Picchu

1. Organizing Your Trip in Cusco

One of the most convenient and affordable ways to visit Machu Picchu is to organize a transfer service via a travel agency in Cusco. It will be cheaper than booking one online, and you can browse through all the offers by different agencies and pick the best one for you. You have to be in Cusco for at least 5 days to do this since the tickets are often fully booked for the next 2 days or so.

I spent a day walking around the Plaza de Armas searching for the right travel agency, and I found one that quoted me 210 USD for a roundtrip transfer from Cusco to Ollantaytambo, roundtrip train + bus tickets from Ollantaytambo up to Machu Picchu, and the entry ticket. Once you pay, the travel agency will prepare all the tickets for you in an envelope that they will give you the next day.

Once you have your ticket organized, spend another day exploring the city. Acclimatize your body to the 3,000m altitude and walk up to the San Cristobal church for the view from the top. You can also visit the Saqsaywaman ruin (read "sexy woman" if you must 😂), which, in my opinion, is a little bit overpriced and doesn't offer much to see.

2. Travel to Ollantaytambo to Machu Picchu

If you choose to go in the morning, the tour agency should have a transfer to pick you up at your hotel as early as 4 AM. It will take you around 1.5 hours to reach Ollantaytambo, where you will be able to catch the first train up to Machu Picchu at 6 AM.

It will take about 2.5 hours by train to get to Aguas Calientes, a gateway town before Machu Picchu. From here, you can take a bus up (the ticket should be in the envelope given to you by the travel agency prior to your trip) and you should arrive at Machu Picchu by 9 AM.

If you choose to go in the afternoon, it's pretty much the same, but you will be leaving at around 9 AM instead, and you should be there by around 1 PM.

3. Outstay the Other Travelers

Don't be surprised if it is crowded in the morning. Most hiking trips arrive in the early morning and leave before the afternoon, that is why I recommend you to outstay the crowds by either staying the entire day or, if you don't want to pay for the ticket twice, come in the evening and be the last person to leave Machu Picchu.

There are several things you can do around Machu Picchu to kill time before the evening comes. If you are interested in history, you can stick to the tour guide, who will guide you through the ruins for 2 hours, explaining every important detail you want to know about Machu Picchu. Once the tour finishes, you will have another 2-3 hours left to explore the ruins by yourself.

If you prefer to walk at your own pace, you can excuse the tour and leave the group to walk around by yourself. The main site can take up to an hour for you to explore the ins and outs of it. The terraces are quite stunning from the bottom, so I would recommend that you spend some time around the main site.

Places in the main site that you should not miss are the Temple of the Sun, Sacred Plaza, Intihuatana Pyramid, and the Temple of the Condor.

For a nice view of Machu Picchu from afar, hike one hour up the Sun Gate, which is the highest vantage point of Machu Picchu, standing at 2,720m above sea level.

4. And Be the Last Person to Leave Machu Picchu

Now, the best time to get a nice photo of Machu Picchu is right when the gate is about to close, which should be around 4 PM or 5:30 PM, depending on which month you are there. The ruin is cleared of people at this time, and you will have the whole place to yourself. Since the last train leaves at 6 PM, you are one of the few people who can afford to be the last to leave Machu Picchu. That's when you will have the whole place to yourself.

There are plenty of awesome photo spots around Machu Picchu, such as the Sun Gate or the top of Machu Picchu mountain (which requires a separate ticket and your own time slot to visit). However, since the gate is about to close, you can't go very far, so stick to the area near the exit.

There is a ledge that is often crowded throughout the day where you can get the classic postcard photo of Machu Picchu. However, since the gate is about to close, the crowds should be dispersed by then, and you should be able to get that classic photo without anyone in it.

Once the gate is closed, make your way down by bus to Aguas Calientes and take the last train back to Ollantaytambo. In Ollantaytambo, there should be a transfer waiting for you, but if not, you can pay 10 PEN to get a minivan back to Cusco. You should be back in Cusco before 11 PM.

When to Visit Machu Picchu?

This is a hard question since the best time to visit is more often than not, the hardest time to avoid the crowds. May to October is considered to be the peak season, so I would recommend visiting either in November or April if you want to avoid the crowds. There is a chance of rain during these months, so try to align yourself with clear weather forecasted days.

How to Get to Cusco?

First, you will have to get yourself to Lima, the capital city of Peru. You can fly to Lima via Delta, United, or American Airlines if you are from the US, Air France, KLM, or British Airlines if you are from Europe or Asia, or Avianca or LATAM if you are within South America. To find the cheapest deal, be sure to browse through Skyscanner or Expedia and get a flight that works for your itinerary.

From Lima, you can fly domestically, which will take around an hour and cost you from 100 to 200 USD one way via LAN, StarPerú, or Peruvian Airlines. Booking in advance is recommended if you want to take this route.

You can also take an overnight bus, which should cost you no more than 50 USD, and take around 21 hours via the Ica/Nazca/Abancay route. To cut the trip short a bit, you can also stop in Ica/Nazca for a night and check out Huacachina and the Nazca lines along the way. From Nazca, the trip is cut to 15 hours, which is a bit more bearable than 21 hours.

For bus companies, I would recommend you to go with either Cruz del Sur or Oltursa for maximum comfortability with good seat and food services.

Keep in mind: Buses in Peru operate differently from those in other countries, as each bus company has its own bus terminal in a different location. Therefore, make sure you go to the right one.

How to Get to Machu Picchu from Cusco?

In order to see Machu Picchu at your own pace without having to stick to a schedule with others, it is important to avoid the crowds. One way to achieve this is by going with a travel agency that provides a round-trip transfer service, train tickets, Machu Picchu entry tickets, and a guided tour (don't worry, you can step away and explore the ruins yourself, as I did).

There are plenty of travel agencies around the Plaza De Armas Square that you can browse through for the best price. I got mine for 210 USD (use this price to negotiate with the shops), including everything, 2 days prior to my trip. So, if you want it cheaper, be sure to book in advance.

By going this route, you can choose the time you want to be there and the time you want to return, which is, again, a very important factor in avoiding the crowds in Machu Picchu. Inform the tour agency of the desired time, and they will organize a transfer from your hotel to Ollantaytambo, where you can catch the first train operated by IncaRail to Machu Picchu. The journey from Cusco to Machu Picchu should take around 4.5 hours, and the return trip should take about the same amount of time.

Machu Picchu Tickets and Best Time to Avoid Crowds

I would recommend getting there as early as you can and leaving as late as possible so that you have a whole day there, but since 2018, they have implemented a new regulation that divides the ticket into 2 periods: the morning (6 AM - 12 PM) and the afternoon (12 PM - 5:30 PM). Consequently, if you want to stay the whole day as I did, you will have to pay twice. Therefore, I would recommend you go for the afternoon one.

Despite what you read online elsewhere (everyone else probably read the same too), Machu Picchu is least crowded, NOT in the early morning, but in the late evening when the place is about to close (4 PM - 5:30 PM depending on which month you are there for).

When I was there, the early morning was the most crowded, and I had poor weather, so I didn't expect much. But as I was about to leave, the people cleared, and the sky opened up, allowing me to see Machu Picchu in its full gloriousness without the crowds.

What to Pack for Machu Picchu?

• Food and Water: If you are planning to spend the whole day, be sure to prepare your own lunch and have enough water with you since the food and drinks are extremely overpriced in Machu Picchu and Aguas Calientes. I always carry my 2-liter hydration pack, which I recommend so you don't have to stop to stay hydrated.
• Rain Jackets: Since you will be in a tropical area, it is good to have a rain jacket in case it rains when you are exploring Machu Picchu. The weather changes a lot up there, so be prepared. Here is a jacket I recommend you get for the trip: the beautiful orange Columbia outer-shell jacket.
• Cover yourself up: Whether it's with your clothes or insect repellent, if you don't want to get eaten alive because the number of sandflies up there is just ridiculous. The itchiness also lasts for days after you get bitten, so if you want to have the best experience up there, be sure to cover yourself with something.

Now that we have all the information we need, it's time to start planning your trip! Here are some resources to help you get going:

Flights: Skyscanner and Expedia are the best places to start looking for cheap flights and great deals from your home country.

Accommodation: Hostelworld, Booking.com, and Agoda.com are the ultimate go-to platforms to search for amazing hostels and hotels at affordable prices.

Travel Insurance: Heymondo covers theft, medical emergencies, cancellations, and more during your travels. Get a 5% discount if you sign up today.

Transportation: For buses, I always go with Omio when traveling in Machu Picchu, Peru while for trains, Omio is my go-to place to book all my train travels in advance.

Car Rental: DiscoverCars.com is a great and reliable platform to find rental cars.

Internet: Airalo is the best way to get a sim card and has reliable internet access for your trip. All you need is an esim compatible smartphone, install it on your phone prior to your trip, and you are all set.

VPN: To stay connected with people at home, I always make sure to have ProtonVPN, installed before traveling. It's FREE, and I can gain access to services that may be blocked in certain countries.

Day Trips & Tours: Viator, GetYourGuide and TripAdvisor are great platforms to search for trips and tours to join.

Tickets & Deals: Klook is always my go-to website when I want to find cheaper deals for entrance tickets to tourist attractions.

Are you planning to travel independently? Be sure to check out my guide on How To Plan A Backpacking Trip here.

Further Reading for Peru

Peru is my favorite country in South America, and there is a ton to do in the country. To better plan your trip to Peru, here is a selection of articles about Peru you might like:

• Looking for a complete travel guide for Peru? Here's a one-month backpacking itinerary for Peru.
• Looking for a complete backpacking guide to the entire South America continent? Here is the ultimate 6-Month Backpacking Itinerary for South America.
• First time in South America? Check out the 20 Best Places to Visit in South America.
• Packing for a trip to visit South America can be extremely daunting. Here's a packing guide to help you: What to Pack for South America
• Huaraz is one of the best places to visit in South America if you love hiking. It is like a little Nepal up there with a ton of rewarding trekking trails that range from one day to 15 days. Here’s a complete travel guide on adventurous things to do in Huaraz.
• One of the best treks you can do in Huaraz, if you have 4 days to spare, is the Santa Cruz trek. Here’s everything you need to know to trek the Santa Cruz trail independently.
• You can also watch my Peru travel video here: Purely Peru travel video.
• To see all articles about Peru, visit the Peru Travel Guide page.
• Looking for a place to go after Peru? How about Ecuador or Bolivia?
• Looking for more travel guides for South America? You can find more on my South America Travel Guide page.
• For more of my travel guides, visit my Destinations page.