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Machu Picchu on a budget: how to do it well
Short answer
Machu Picchu is the expensive part of any Peru trip, but a budget is still possible with colectivos, the cheaper trains or the Hidroelectrica route, and hostels. A realistic daily minimum is about S/245 (roughly €60) per person sharing a room, with the citadel day costing more.
A realistic daily budget
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing) | S/50 | S/150 | S/600 |
| Food & drink | S/45 | S/100 | S/220 |
| Sights & tickets | S/90 | S/150 | S/280 |
| Local transport | S/60 | S/170 | S/400 |
| Per person, per day | S/245 | S/570 | S/1,500 |
Approximate 2026 prices, two people sharing a room. From our Machu Picchu day-cost table.
Free things to do
- Walking Cusco's Plaza de Armas and Hatun Rumiyoc street with the twelve-angled stone
- The San Blas neighbourhood and its viewpoints
- Walking up to Machu Picchu from Aguas Calientes instead of taking the bus
- Ollantaytambo's original Inca street grid and water channels
- Browsing Pisac market
- Walking along the Urubamba river in Aguas Calientes
Cheap eats
- Menu del dia set lunch in Cusco or the valley, often S/10-20
- Trout or quinoa soup in Urubamba or Pisac, S/30-50
- Empanadas and bread from market stalls, a few soles
- Fresh fruit juices at San Pedro market in Cusco, a few soles
- Coca tea, often free at hostels
Where to sleep for less
Budget travellers stay in hostels in Cusco's San Blas or in Aguas Calientes near the bus stop, about S/70-150 for a double, with dorm beds cheaper.
Getting around cheaply
Colectivos run from Cusco to Pisac, Urubamba and Ollantaytambo for S/10-20. The cheapest way to Aguas Calientes is a van to Hidroelectrica and a 2-3 hour walk along the railway; otherwise take the cheapest train from Ollantaytambo. From Cusco airport, a taxi to the centre costs about S/20-30.
A sample budget day
- Morning: colectivo from Cusco to Pisac (S/10-20) and the Pisac ruins on the Boleto Turistico
- Lunch: menu del dia in Pisac, about S/15-20
- Afternoon: colectivo to Ollantaytambo and a walk through the Inca streets (free)
- Evening: trout dinner in Ollantaytambo, about S/35
- Total: about S/245 including a shared hostel room; the citadel day costs more because of the ticket, bus and train
More ways to save
- Book the citadel ticket first, then match the train to your time slot.
- Leave big bags in Cusco; the train allows only small luggage.
- Take snacks and water; food inside and near the citadel is expensive.
- Choose early or late trains, often cheaper than mid-morning departures.
- Use colectivos instead of private transfers in the Sacred Valley.
- Travel in April-May or September-October for dry weather at lower prices than June-August.
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Common questions
Can you visit Machu Picchu on a budget?
Yes, with hostels, colectivos and the Hidroelectrica route; budget about S/245 a day, more on the citadel day.
Should I walk up to Machu Picchu or take the bus?
Walking takes about 1.5 hours and saves the US$24 bus fare; the bus takes 25 minutes.
Where should budget travellers stay?
Hostels in Cusco's San Blas or near the bus stop in Aguas Calientes, about S/70-150 for a double.