Lake Titicaca in the Andes Mountains | NASA.

The lake lies on the high Andes plateau, along the border between Peru and Bolivia. It is the highest major body of navigable water in the world (3,800 meters or 12,500 feet in elevation) and the largest lake in South America. Lake Titicaca is one of the most popular tourist attractions in South America.

Lake Maracaibo

Lake Titicaca is the largest freshwater lake in South America and the highest of the world’s large lakes. Titicaca is one of less than twenty ancient lakes on earth, and is thought to be there million years old. Lake Titicaca sits 3 810 m above sea level and is situated between Peru to the west and Bolivia to the east.

Titicaca orestias

70 ($19) per day on your vacation in Lake Titicaca (Puno), which is the average daily price based on the expenses of other visitors. Past travelers have spent, on average, S/. 24 ($6.35) on meals for one day and S/. 1.96 ($0.52) on local transportation.

approximately 10 hours 30 minutes

447 km

Train is the only way to get to Machu Picchu besides hiking the Inca Trail. Peru Rail offers three classes of trains running from just outside Cusco to the Machu Picchu citadel. Peru Rail also has trains running between Cusco and Puno, making it easy for tourists to commute from Machu Picchu to Lake Titicaca.

Spend two days in the hidden city of Machu Picchu, walking through its mysterious ruins and the surrounding cloud forests. Then travel to the world’s highest navigable lake. At 12,500 feet above sea level, Lake Titicaca is one of the Andes’ most impressive natural wonders.

The distance by road, however, is almost twice as long (684 miles or 1101 kilometers). You can drive from Lima to Cusco (often spelled Cuzco) or take a 21-hour bus, but the fastest and easiest way to get between the two is by flying.

332 km

375 km

The easiest way to get from Cusco to Machu Picchu is to take the train to Aguas Calientes. It’s a scenic 3.5-hour trip each way along tracks that run right along the Urubamba River in the Sacred Valley, with dramatic canyon walls on either side.

The quickest way to get from Cusco to Arequipa is to fly which costs $35 – $150 and takes 1h 21m. Is there a direct bus between Cusco and Arequipa? Yes, there is a direct bus departing from Cusco and arriving at Arequipa. Services depart three times a day, and operate every day.

To get from Lima to Arequipa, the best option is to take a plane. The second option, also popular, is to take a private transfer or bus via road.

Even though visiting this historic Inca site site requires a certain degree of planning, it turns out that it’s entirely possible to visit Machu Picchu in a single day. For the tour of Machu Picchu itself, you have two options: organize the excursion yourself, or book a tour.

Can you go to Machu Picchu without a tour? Indeed you can, but you will not be hiking the Inca Trail to get there. You can see Machu Picchu via a rushed day trip from Cusco, or stay in one of the towns near Machu Picchu and walk or bus up to the ruins.

How Much Does a Trip to Machu Picchu Cost?

3 days

An official in-person ticket to the Machu Picchu site is $60 (USD) and a ticket that also gives you access to the Machu Picchu or Huayna Picchu mountain during any of the two time-slots is $80. Online prices are generally higher, but they also offer sales and specials at various times of the year.

Now, one of the lesser but essential costs of visiting Machu Picchu is purchasing entrance tickets to the ruins. This must be done before arrival at the site, as tickets are not sold at Machu Picchu itself. There are several ways to purchase your tickets.