Budget Route via Hidroelectrica
Machu Picchu by Car 3 Days: A Full Day at Machu Picchu on a Budget
The Machu Picchu by Car 3 Days tour follows the budget route via Hidroelectrica: you travel overland from Cusco to Hidroelectrica and walk along the river to Aguas Calientes, with 2 nights there so you can enjoy a full day at Machu Picchu without rushing back.
This Machu Picchu budget tour 3 days costs USD 160 per adult (students USD 140, children 3 to 17 USD 130). It includes round-trip transport from Cusco to Hidroelectrica (about 6 hours each way), 2 hotel nights in Aguas Calientes, lunch, dinner and breakfast, your Machu Picchu ticket (usually 6:00 AM) and a 2 to 2.5-hour guided tour. You walk about 11 km each way and are back in Cusco around 10:00 PM on Day 3.
It is the best way to visit Machu Picchu without train fares in 3 days and 2 nights: ideal for backpackers who want a relaxed, affordable trip with time to add Huayna Picchu.
Duration3 days / 2 nights
PriceFrom USD 160
Walking2 × 11 km
Hotel2 nights, Aguas Calientes
DifficultyModerate
A Full Day at Machu Picchu
Enter at 6:00 AM, with a guided tour and time to explore or hike a mountain.
2 Nights in Aguas Calientes
Rest before and after your visit, with no same-day return.
Scenic Overland Route
The Andes, the cloud forest and a walk along the Vilcanota River.
Best Circuit Available
We always book Circuit 2 first, with the classic postcard view.
Read the full Machu Picchu by Car 3 Days description
On Day 1 we leave Cusco at 6:30 AM and drive about 6 hours to Hidroelectrica. After lunch, you walk about 11 km to Aguas Calientes for dinner and your first hotel night.
Day 2 is all about Machu Picchu: a guided tour at 6:00 AM, an optional mountain hike and a free afternoon in town. On Day 3 you walk back to Hidroelectrica, where our car leaves at 3:00 PM for Cusco, arriving around 10:00 PM.
Short on time? See our Machu Picchu Tour by Car 2 Days.
Availability & Booking
How to Book Your Machu Picchu by Car 3 Days Tour
01
Click Book Now, choose your date on our real-time calendar and book online.
02
Receive a confirmation email with your booking and payment details.
03
We buy your included Machu Picchu ticket and book your hotel nights.
04
Get your tickets, hotel details and entry time within 24 hours.
Your Machu Picchu Ticket Is Included
The Machu Picchu entrance ticket is included in the price of the Machu Picchu by Car 3 Days tour. You don’t need to buy it yourself: our team buys it for you as soon as you book.
We always book the best circuit available at the time of your booking, following a clear order of priority. Our 1st choice is always Circuit 2 · Route 2-A, the best way to visit Machu Picchu. If it is sold out, we book Route 2-B as the 2nd choice, then Circuit 1 as the 3rd choice, and finally Circuit 3 as the 4th choice:
1
Circuit 2 · Route 2-A Classic designed route Best option
1st choice. Classic Machu Picchu viewpoint and the most complete tour of the citadel.
Map · Video
2
Circuit 2 · Route 2-B Lower terrace route
2nd choice. Also includes the classic viewpoint, with a slightly different route through the citadel.
Map · Video
3
Circuit 1 · Panoramic Route 1-B, 1-C or 1-D
3rd choice, only if Circuit 2 is sold out. Panoramic views from the upper section, without access to the citadel.
Map · Video
4
Circuit 3 · Machupicchu Realeza Route 3-B or 3-D
4th choice, only if Circuits 2 and 1 are sold out. Lower section of Machu Picchu only, without the classic viewpoint.
Map · Video
Want Circuit 2-A for sure? Book at least 4 months in advance, as the best circuits sell out first. You can check live availability on the official Machu Picchu ticket website, the same platform we use.
No availability, or already have a ticket? We have flexible options for both cases. Ask us on WhatsApp.