Quick Summary: Take the bus both ways; walk down only if you are fit and the path is dry. In October 2026 a foreign adult pays about US$12 one way or US$24 round trip with Consettur, or US$11 and US$22 with the newer operator San Antonio de Torontoy, and the road is still run on a temporary basis while a new tender is prepared. The first bus leaves about 05:30, and for a 06:00 entry most guides put you in the queue by about 05:00. This guide is for travellers who already hold a Machu Picchu ticket; for what happens at the gate, see our step-by-step entry process.
Who Runs the Bus in 2026
For about three decades the answer was simply Consettur. It no longer is. When Infobae reported on 23 September 2026, two companies were carrying passengers on the Hiram Bingham road and no final concession had been awarded. The second is Inversiones Sumaq Ayllu San Antonio de Torontoy, selling tickets at torontoy.com. Consettur's sales site now forwards to comprar.caminoalamaravilla.com, and two agency guides say its service is marketed as Camino a la Maravilla. The dates:
- Early September 2025: Consettur's 30-year contract ended (guides give 4 or 5 September) and the Urubamba municipality awarded the route to Torontoy. Protests followed, with about 1,400 tourists stranded by a rail blockade, a figure Infobae attributes to the BBC. The companies then agreed a contingency plan under government mediation (Infobae, September 2025; Infobae, November 2025).
- 30 December 2025: the municipality annulled Torontoy's temporary concession (resolution 218-2025-GM-MPU/C), saying it had not shown it had the 18 buses it offered. Consettur continued on a transitional basis, and Torontoy said it would go to court (Infobae, 6 January 2026).
- February 2026: local representatives agreed both could keep operating while a new concession is defined (Inkayni Peru Tours; Waman Adventures).
- April to September 2026: a tender for six ten-year concessions of four buses each was published in April and suspended from 18 May to 16 June (Infobae, April 2026; Infobae, May 2026). On 23 September, after objections from more than 40 companies, a committee began preparing a new one, with about 45 business days estimated to set its rules. Torontoy's situation still needs a ruling, the municipality says (Infobae, September 2026).
We found no news after 23 September. You may board either company's bus. One agency guide notes that a ticket from one operator is not stated to work on the other's buses, so check the seller and boarding point on yours. Guides that still call Consettur the only operator are out of date.
2026 Fares, Children and Round Trip vs One Way
The table shows one way / round trip per person. Torontoy's figures come from its own site. Consettur's come from PeruRail's guide and agency guides, and match the US$24 foreign and US$15 Peruvian round-trip fares Infobae reported. Consettur's own sales site blocked our automated check, so confirm there before you pay.
| Passenger | Consettur (US$) | Torontoy (US$) |
|---|---|---|
| Foreign adult | 12 / 24 | 11 / 22 |
| Foreign child (5–11) | 7 / 12 | 6 / 10 |
| Peruvian adult | 8 / 15 | 7 / 13 |
| Peruvian student (12–17) | 6 / 10 | 5 / 8 |
| Peruvian child (5–11) | 5 / 8 | 4 / 6 |
Cusco residents, Machu Picchu Pueblo residents and licensed guides pay lower fares in soles, and Peruvians should carry a DNI.
For foreign adults a round trip is exactly twice the one-way fare on both operators, so it saves nothing; Peruvians and children save US$1–2. We still suggest buying the round trip in advance, because you will ride down too and it keeps you out of a second ticket line. If you have already decided to walk down, buy one way; guides report you can also buy a return ticket outside the main gate.
Where and How to Buy
- Online, Consettur: comprar.consettur.com. Pay by card.
- Online, Torontoy: torontoy.com. Tickets are named and non-transferable, scanned by QR at boarding, and valid from one day before to two days after the date you choose (terms updated 23 February 2026).
- In Aguas Calientes: the Consettur booth on Avenida Hermanos Ayar, before Puente Ruinas, open from about 05:00–05:30 until 21:00–22:00 (sources differ). Pay in soles or US dollars.
- What you need: your passport or ID. A ticket reserves no seat or time.
Buy ahead in high season; the booth line is a second line. Our same-day guide shows how little slack a tight schedule has.
First Bus, Last Bus and Journey Time
- First bus up: about 05:30, then roughly every 5–15 minutes.
- Last bus up: about 15:30.
- Buses down: from about 06:00–06:30 to about 17:30–18:00.
- Ride time: 25–30 minutes up and about 20–25 down, longer in rain, mist or heavy demand. The road is roughly 8–9 km (sources differ) and climbs about 400 m (1,312 ft).
- At the gate: the Ministry of Culture's table of entry times runs hourly from 06:00 to 15:00.
These are Consettur's times, as reported by PeruRail, Inkayni Peru Tours and Waman Adventures. We found no Torontoy timetable; its terms bar boarding earlier than one hour before your entry time.
How Early to Queue, and How Long the Line Gets
The line is longest from about 05:30 to 08:00, with waits of 30–45 minutes common (Uros Expeditions). Inkayni Peru Tours suggests reaching the bus stop at these times, low season first and high season second:
- 06:00 entry: 05:00, or 04:45–05:00
- 07:00 entry: 06:00, or 05:30–05:45
- 08:00 entry: 07:00, or 06:30–06:45
- 09:00 entry or later: 45 minutes before, or 60 minutes before
Another agency says that from June to September the line for the 05:30 bus can start around 04:30. We found no official count of the queue. Remember the Ministry's late-entry tolerance is counted at the main gate, not the bus stop.
The Walk Up From Puente Ruinas, and Walking Down
The footpath starts at Puente Ruinas, the bridge over the Urubamba on the edge of town, about a 20-minute signposted walk from the main square (Tierras Vivas). It follows the bus road, with stone stairs cutting between the switchbacks. Our Aguas Calientes guide covers the town.
- Time up, free: plan on 1.5–2 hours from the bridge. One agency says 1–1.5 hours, but most sources say longer.
- Distance and climb: about 3.75 km, climbing roughly 400 m (1,312 ft) from Aguas Calientes at 2,040 m (6,690 ft) to Machu Picchu at about 2,430 m (7,972 ft).
- Opens: a travel wiki says the gate at the foot opens about 05:00. We found no official opening time.
- Checks: your Machu Picchu ticket and ID are checked at Puente Ruinas.
- Time down: about 1–1.5 hours, though some guides say up to 2. Steps are slippery when wet, and the path meets the bus road in places.
Four Ways to Do It, Side by Side
| Option | Time | Cost, foreign adult | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bus up and down | 25–30 min up, 20–25 down, plus queues | US$24 (Consettur) or US$22 (Torontoy) | Most visitors, and anyone with a 06:00–07:00 entry, rain or a tight schedule |
| Bus up, walk down | 25–30 min up, about 1–1.5 hours down | US$12 or US$11 | Fit visitors on a dry afternoon with good knees |
| Walk up, bus down | 1.5–2 hours up, 20–25 min down | US$12 or US$11 | Rarely: you spend your legs before the site |
| Walk up and down | 1.5–2 hours up, about 1–1.5 hours down | Free | Fit, budget-minded, entry 08:00 or later |
If You Miss Your Slot
The visit regulation, as amended by RM 207-2024-MC, allows entry at the main gate up to 30 minutes after your hour in low season and up to 45 minutes in high season (in 2026, count on the 45 minutes only from 19 June to 15 October and on 30 to 31 December, where the high season and the Ministry's older entry table agree). The Ministry's entry table says the mountain controls allow none. If you are running late:
- Go to the stop anyway. Tell the staff how close you are. They may sometimes help, but do not count on it.
- Do not try to walk. It takes 1.5–2 hours, longer than any tolerance window.
- Past the tolerance, we found no published rebooking or refund policy. Ask at the gate, contact your operator or hotel, and check whether later slots are on sale.
- Your bus ticket survives. Consettur's is valid for any bus in operating hours, and Torontoy's runs from one day before to two days after your date.
How to Choose
Our position: for most visitors, take the bus up and down. The climb is the harder half, it spends the energy you want for the site, and it barely fits a 06:00 entry: the trail is reported to open around 05:00, and a 1.5-hour walk then reaches the gate at 06:30, the end of the late-entry window. The ride down saves your knees after hours on stone steps, and it gets you to the train with time to spare. Walking down is a fair option if you are fit, the path is dry and you have no train to catch soon; it saves US$11–12 per adult.
Walk both ways only if you are fit and acclimatised, the weather is dry, and your entry is 08:00 or later, so you can leave town at least two hours before your slot. Skip the walk in rain, with a 06:00–07:00 entry, or if your knees dislike stairs. For how the bus fits your total budget, see our cost breakdown.
FAQ
Is Consettur still the only company that runs the Machu Picchu bus?
No. Two companies were running buses in September 2026, Consettur (also marketed as Camino a la Maravilla) and San Antonio de Torontoy, under temporary arrangements. We found no later news, so check the seller on your ticket.
How much is the bus to Machu Picchu in 2026?
A foreign adult pays about US$12 one way and US$24 round trip with Consettur, or US$11 and US$22 with Torontoy.
How early should I join the bus queue for a 06:00 entry?
Guides put you at the stop at about 05:00, or 04:45–05:00 in high season. The first bus leaves about 05:30, and Torontoy's terms bar boarding more than an hour before your entry time.
What time is the last bus down from Machu Picchu?
About 17:30, with some sources saying 18:00. One agency suggests leaving the citadel by about 17:00 and says the path stays open if you miss the bus, but we could not confirm that officially.
Do children pay for the Machu Picchu bus?
Yes, at a reduced fare. A foreign child aged 5–11 pays about US$7 one way and US$12 round trip with Consettur, or US$6 and US$10 with Torontoy. We found no published fare for under-5s, so ask at the counter.
Limitations
Everything here is as of October 2026. Fares, timetables and late-entry rules can change with little notice, and the operator situation is unsettled: a new tender is being prepared, and a municipal or court decision could change who sells tickets. Consettur's fares come from third-party guides, as its sales site blocked our check. Work-around: before you book, open the seller's own site (comprar.consettur.com or torontoy.com), compare the fare and boarding point, check the entry table on machupicchu.gob.pe, and ask your hotel or tour operator which company's tickets they use.