Machu Picchu needs no introduction — but seen alongside Choquequirao it takes on new meaning. The two sites were built in the same era, in the same style, on similar dramatic ridges above rivers flowing to the Amazon. Machu Picchu is the restored, world-famous showpiece; Choquequirao is its wild, half-buried sibling.
You can visit Machu Picchu on a long day trip from Cusco by train, spend a night in Aguas Calientes, or arrive on foot at the end of the eight- or nine-day trek from Choquequirao. Entry is by timed ticket with daily limits, so book well ahead in the high season.
Top things to do at Machu Picchu
Take the train day trip
The simplest way to add Machu Picchu to a Choquequirao trip: train from Cusco (or Ollantaytambo) to Aguas Calientes, bus up and a guided tour. See our recommended day trip.
Walk in on the short Inca Trail
The two-day Inca Trail from km 104 passes Wiñay Wayna and enters through the Sun Gate. Permits are limited — book months ahead.
Arrive from Choquequirao
The 8–9 day traverse over the Vilcabamba range ends at Machu Picchu — the most rewarding way of all to arrive.
How to get to Machu Picchu
- From Cusco: by train from Poroy or Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes, then bus to the site.
- On foot: the Inca Trail, the Salkantay trek or the Choquequirao–Machu Picchu trek.
- Tours: compare options on our tours page.
Insider tips
- Buy entrance tickets and trains well in advance from May to September.
- Circuits inside the site are one-way and fixed; choose your ticket type carefully.
- Consider doing Machu Picchu after Choquequirao — the contrast is striking.
Best treks & tours for Machu Picchu
These top-rated experiences are the easiest way to see Machu Picchu:
Day trip from US$332 From Cusco: Full-Day Group Tour of Machu Picchu
Machu Picchu in one long, well-organised day from Cusco: transfer, train to Aguas Calientes, bus to the citadel, a guided tour and the journey back. The easy way to add Machu Picchu to a Choquequirao trip.
- Round-trip train along the Urubamba valley
- Bus up to the citadel and guided tour
- Entrance ticket handled for you
Trek from US$592 Machu Picchu 2-Day Inca Trail with Vistadome Train
The short Inca Trail: a day’s walk from km 104 past Wiñay Wayna to the Sun Gate, a night in Aguas Calientes and a guided visit to Machu Picchu. Permits are limited, so book early.
- Walk the last stretch of the Inca Trail
- Wiñay Wayna and the Sun Gate
- Guided Machu Picchu visit and Vistadome train
Multi-day trek from US$1380 Cusco: 8-Day Trek to Choquequirao and Machu Picchu
The epic traverse: from Choquequirao across the Vilcabamba range via Maizal and Yanama, over passes above 4,000 m and down through the cloud forest to Aguas Calientes and Machu Picchu. Remote, demanding and unforgettable.
- Two great Inca sites on one trek
- High passes, old mines and cloud forest
- Finishes at Machu Picchu
Multi-day trek from US$649 Machu Picchu: 5-Day Salkantay Trek with Panoramic Train
The most popular alternative route to Machu Picchu: from Soraypampa over the Salkantay pass and down through the jungle to Aguas Calientes, with a guided tour of Machu Picchu and a panoramic train back.
- Salkantay pass beneath a 6,271 m peak
- High lakes and cloud forest
- Guided Machu Picchu visit and panoramic train
