Is visiting Machu Picchu on a day trip from Cusco worth it? While some travelers choose to take on the multi-day Inca Trail or Salkantay Trail, others opt to visit the Machu Picchu Citadel for just a day. However, a day trip requires several hours of travel by bus and train each way. And what about the time spent at Machu Picchu itself? Will you have enough time to explore the site, or do you need more? Let's delve into this guide to determine if a Machu Picchu day trip is worth it.

How to Do Machu Picchu on a Day Trip from Cusco

While a day trip from Cusco to Machu Picchu makes for a long day, it remains a popular choice among visitors. Here's how it typically goes.

Firstly, you'll board a train from one of the departing stations to Aguas Calientes, also known as Machu Picchu Pueblo. Depending on the season, you might need to board a combination of bus and train, referred to as the 'bimodal' route to Machu Picchu.

Several departing stations are available, including San Pedro, Wanchaq, Poroy, and Ollantaytambo. It's crucial to verify which station your train departs from, as some are closer to Cusco's city center while others are farther away. The starting station also determines the duration of your train ride and, therefore, the length of your day trip.

On average, the train journey from Cusco to Aguas Calientes takes approximately 3.5 hours. From Aguas Calientes, you'll need to catch a shuttle bus to Machu Picchu, available at a bus ticket office in town. It's advisable to book your bus tickets on-site, with round-trip tickets costing around $24 USD. Buses depart every 5-10 minutes and the ride takes approximately 30 minutes, resulting in a total one-way journey time from Cusco city to Machu Picchu Citadel of approximately 4 hours.

Naturally, you'll need to repeat the journey in the opposite direction, meaning your total travel time will amount to nearly 8 hours.

Why You Should Do a Day Trip to Machu Picchu – Pro’s

We did a day trip to Machu Picchu from Cusco and have absolutely no regrets! It literally was the experience of a lifetime, and to be honest, I’m glad I didn’t do the hikes. As amazing as I’m sure they were, multi-day hiking and camping isn’t for everyone, and I was happy that I was able to witness this World Wonder without that extra effort.

These are the main reasons why we think you should do a day trip to Machu Picchu from Cusco:

• Easy to do, especially with a tour – The journey from Cusco to Machu Picchu is not that difficult to execute, especially if you go on a tour (you can also do this journey independetly, just be extra attentive to departure and arrival times).

• Plenty of time in the Machu Picchu Citadel – The average visitor will probably complete a loop of Machu Picchu in about 4-5 hours, taking in the views of the Andean mountains surrounding this Incan citadel. If you time your day trip right, you’ll still get plenty of time to explore Machu Picchu.

• Saves a day to do another day trip from Cusco – Going on a day trip to Machu Picchu from Cusco means that you’ll save time to do something else in Cusco the next day – and there are so many worth options! From Rainbow Mountain to Humantay Lake, every day you have in Cusco counts as an opportunity to see something unforgettable.

Why You Shouldn’t Do a Day Trip to Machu Picchu – Cons

Although we personally loved our day trip to Machu Picchu from Cusco, we understand that it won’t be for everyone. Here are the main reasons why maybe you should reconsider this day trip.

• Time consuming – the day trip from Machu Picchu to Cusco will take about 8 hours on the road, not to mention time at the Citadel. It is definitely quite a long day, and you should be prepared for that.

• If you want to go hiking – We’ve already discussed the option of multi-day hikes such as the Inca Trail and Salkantay Trail. If these have piqued your interest, then maybe a day trip isn’t the best option for you. But beyond that, popular hikes that start at Machu Picchu such as the Huayna Picchu and Machu Picchu Mountain hikes might be too difficult to do for day trippers. You’ll likely won’t have enough time to do these hikes and then return back to Cusco on the same day (although there is a rare tour that offers this option, please read below)!

• If you want to explore Aguas Calientes in depth – The town of Aguas Calientes is extremely small but pretty. Although we think a day trip will still spare you enough time to thoroughly explore the town, there are some attractions such as the Cascadas Allcamayo waterfalls that are a bit outside of the city and will require another day for you to fully explore.

Handpicked Machu Picchu Day Trip from Cusco Tours

There are plenty of tour providers offering the Machu Picchu from Cusco Day Trip, but not all of them are reputable. Take the guesswork and research out of choosing a tour, because we’ve handpicked only the best for you. Check these tours out:

• 5-Star Machu Picchu Day Trip from Cusco Tour – This is an all-inclusive day trip that includes round-trip hotel transport to Machu Picchu Citadel and back. Machu Picchu entrance tickets are included (very handy, as they are not cheap!)

• Small Group Tour to Machu Picchu from Cusco – This is a small-group tour with a maximum of 8 people, offering you a more intimate and personalised tour.

• Rare Huyana Picchu AND Machu Picchu Citadel from Cusco Full Day – This is an extremely rare tour that offers a day trip from Cusco, to both Huayna Picchu Mountain and the Machu Picchu citadel. This trip is all inclusive as well. The Huayna Picchu hike offers a truly stunning viewpoint that rewards hikers who get up early enough to do this day trip.

Final Verdict – Is a Machu Picchu Day Trip from Cusco Worth It?

Yes, we absolutely think a Machu Picchu Day Trip from Cusco is worth it. Although there are rare instances in which we wouldn’t recommend a day trip, the positives definitely outweigh the negatives on this one.

Planning on visiting Machu Picchu from Cusco? Have any questions for us? Let us know in the comments below!