Bus to Machu Picchu

The bus ride takes about 20 min and costs for foreigners US$7 and for Peruvians US$ 5.25 –each way. The ride itself is spectacular as the narrow track winds its way up the mountainside. It can be a bit scary at times with almost vertical drops plunging down into the Vilcanota Valley below especially when you meet a bus coming in the other direction!
By the way the ride going up takes a bit longer than the way down, :P

If you look closely out of the window you can see splashes of pink and orange flowers - the orchid Wiñay Wayna. The buses are clean and modern with air-conditioning (the fleet were renewed in 2006).

You have to buy your bus ticket before you get on the bus in the morning. There is a small ticket office just opposite the departure point which opens at 5:15am. The first group of buses departs from Aguas Calientes around 5:20am then at 10 minute intervals throughout the day depending on demand until about 4pm. However if you really want to get to Machu Picchu early I would recommend arriving by about 5:10am since during the peak season there can be quite a queue by 5:30am!! You can buy your ticket for the way back in Machu Picchu. There’s a small ticket office right next to the bus stop. During the high season I’d recommend to do it just when you arrive to Machu Picchu, so when you are ready you can go straight to the bus.

The last buses depart Machu Picchu at 5:30pm, be sure to check the time of the last bus as it can be a long walk back to Aguas Calientes if you miss it (well about 1 hour if you follow the more direct route rather than follow the road) and of course you don't want to miss your train either...

Unless you are hiking up to Machu Picchu, a bus ticket is needed. These are sold at the bus station for $14 US round trip. The bus station is “below the second bridge” not far from the train station. It is highly recommended to buy them the night before if you can so you can catch the first round of buses. The first buses leave around 5 or 5:30 am and the ticket station is not open that early. If you lose your return ticket, or decide to walk one way and take the bus back, there is a little ticket kiosk at Machu Picchu. Buses leave from the bus station/ticket office about every 5-15 minutes and a line forms early. Several buses make the first round so don’t worry too much about being first in line. We arrived a little after 5:30 and had no problem getting on a bus – there were still about 4 more buses worth of people behind us. The earlier you arrive at Machu Picchu, the more time you'll have before the Cusco crowds arrive. You can often buy a little sandwich from a local entrepreneuring woman for about S/5 instead of paying three times as much at the ruins.