Machu Picchu, this ancient Inca city is one of Peru’s most precious treasures. It was built in the mid-fifteenth century. Its name means old mountain, and alludes to the place where it is located, about 2453 meters above sea level, in a rocky premonitory between Machu Picchu and Huayna Picchu. It’s usual that during the ascent travelers feel altitude sickness; but now if you want to know how to go from Lima to Machu Picchu stay with us.
At present, this Inca jewel is one of the country’s tourist attractions. Travelers go to Aguas Calientes to start the Inca route that Hiram Bingham, the Yale professor, popularized in the early twentieth century. The historic sanctuary of Machu Picchu is one of the seven new wonders of the modern world and was declared a World Heritage Site in 1983.
Location of Machu Picchu
Machu Picchu is an Inca citadel located high in the Andes Mountains of Peru, above the Urubamba River valley. It’s located in the southern hemisphere 13,164 degrees south of the equator. It is 80 kilometers (50 miles) northwest of Cusco, on the crest of Machu Picchu Mountain, situated about 2,430 meters above sea level, more than 1,000 meters lower than Cusco, which has an elevation of 3,400 meters. As such, it had a more Amazonian climate than the Andean Inca capital. The only way to reach Machu Picchu from Cusco is by train or on foot.
Distance between Lima and Machu Picchu
Machu Picchu is located 312.5,500 kilometers from Lima, the capital of Peru.
How to get to Machu Picchu from Lima?
To get to Machu Picchu you have the following options:
Travel from Lima to Cusco on buses
Cusco is almost 3,400 meters above sea level, which means that tourists who travel directly to Cusco from Lima are affected by altitude sickness. That is why experts recommend taking a bus to get to Cusco (with various stops along the way), to adjust the ascent.
There are two main routes to get to Cusco from Lima by bus:
- Route A: Lima – Nazca – Cusco (Direct, but not recommended):
This route takes you to the south of Peru, from Lima to Nazca before starting to climb the Andean Cordillera, passing through Abancay before reaching Cusco. It is approximately 22 hours of travel.
- Route B: Lima – Nazca – Arequipa – Cusco (Highly recommended):
This route takes you further south. From Lima to Arequipa and again north from Arequipa to Cusco. This route is much better, because it offers more to appreciate along the way. The recommended stops are Paracas, Huacachina, Arequipa and Puno, if you have time.
5. Tinajani Canyon, Puno
A mystical and amazing place made up of unique rock formations, narrow ravines and small rivers. The Tinajani Canyon also features funerary chullpas from ancient highland cultures. We recommend observing the landscape during sunset, when the colors of the sunset give the place a unique movement.
Travel from Lima to Cusco by plane:
If you take a plane instead of a bus to Cusco, you will need more time to acclimatise. One of the biggest drawbacks when traveling to Cusco from Lima is the height. The fact that you are at sea level (in Lima) and climb 10,000 feet in just two hours. This is not good for the body and is the reason why approximately 75% of tourists get sick from altitude sickness; keep this in mind when traveling.
Once in Cusco you will have these options to get to Machu Picchu:
By train
You can get to Machu Picchu from Cusco on the train that runs between Ollantaytambo and Aguas Calientes, also called Machu Picchu town. If you want more information visit Machu Picchu train.
By minibus and walking
If you choose this option you will have to go from Cusco to Hidroeléctrica in a shared minibus, and from there walk to Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu town).
