Planning how to get from Lima to Machu Picchu?
Most typical tourists either overpay or miss the best parts of Peru along the way. DON’T be another one of them!?
Below we show you the best options between Lima and Machu Picchu for a once in a lifetime experience.
You cannot go directly from Lima to Machu Picchu..
You must:
The best way depends entirely on how much time you have and how you want to travel.
A. Short on time (less than 8 days in Peru):
Fly from Lima to Cusco and do a tour or trek from Cusco to Machu Picchu (we strongly recommend Yapa Explorers for this).
B. Have more time (more than 8 days in Peru):
Use the Peru Hop bus between Lima and Cusco to see places like Huacachina Desert Oasis, the 2nd deepest Canyon in the world (Colca Canyon) and the highest navigable lake in the world (Lake Titicaca).
Important: Taking this route makes it easier to acclimatize to altitude as you gradually ascend compared to flying direct to Cusco.
Make sure you book train tickets that match your allotted Machu Picchu entry time (tricky as 2 separate websites)
Avoid resale websites, even if they look ok - that are not the official website
Make sure you hire a local guide for Machu Picchu as it’s a once in a lifetime visit
Avoid altitude sickness if you fly to Cusco by visiting Sacred Valley before Machu Picchu (e.g. 2 day tour) as this will help you acclimatize to altitude
Make sure to discover places like Huacachina Oasis and Paracas National Reserve before leaving Peru
Make sure you book train tickets that match your allotted Machu Picchu entry time (tricky as 2 separate websites)
Avoid resale websites, even if they look ok - that are not the official website
Make sure you hire a local guide for Machu Picchu as it’s a once in a lifetime visit
Avoid altitude sickness if you fly to Cusco by visiting Sacred Valley before Machu Picchu (e.g. 2 day tour) as this will help you acclimatize to altitude
Make sure to discover places like Huacachina Oasis and Paracas National Reserve before leaving Peru
As already stated, it is strongly recommend to do a Machu Picchu tour or trek that includes everything as its easier and cheaper and guarantees you avoid issues.
Our advice: A tour or trek with a reputable company like Yapa Explorers is stress free as they will coordinate everything for you and will also save you money.
Traveling by bus from Lima to Cusco with stops helps acclimatise to altitude compared to flying as you slowly ascend the Andes. That’s why so many travelers go with Peru Hop – the #1 rated bus company in Peru.
If you must fly from Lima to Cusco, do a 2 day Machu Picchu tour with Sacred Valley. By going to the Sacred Valley first, you can drop down in altitude levels and so you can do this tour straight after landing in Cusco.
Machu Picchu Tours/Treks are usually all included, and work out cheaper than trying to organise everything yourself (and will save you a lot of stress). We recommend Yapa Explorers.
Huacachina Desert Oasis, the Golden Shadows in Paracas, and the Secret Slave Tunnels in Chincha are 3 of the hidden gems between Lima and Cusco that must be visited
You MUST book Machu Picchu in advance…entrance tickets sell out. Only buy with a reputable company like Yapa Explorers and don’t get fooled by “cheap” operators.
Flights do not need to be booked so far in advance, the important thing is booking Machu Picchu
Our local team based in Lima can tell you how to maximise your trip based on how much time you have and your budget.
You do not have to book with us, but use our knowledge for free to ensure you avoid making the same mistakes many tourists make when they come to Peru.
Peru Hop was founded by 2 Irish guys (who moved to Peru for love!) and partnered with local Peruvians to give travelers a way to discover the REAL Peru in a local authentic way.
Today, over 50,000 travelers a year use Peru Hop and they are the #1 rated travel company in Peru on sites like TripAdvisor, TrustPilot and more!
Over 20,000 people have taken time to review Peru Hop online, on top of various blogs, Youtube videos and more.
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