Is There A Machu Picchu Airport? 

Once you’ve decided to visit one of Peru’s most important ancient sites, your next task will be making your way to Machu Picchu.

However, given it’s located up within the Andean mountains, it can sometimes be confusing as to which airport is best to fly into, or if there is even a suitable option nearby.

In this guide we’ll explore if there is a Machu Picchu airport, and whether there is one close to the ancient citadel. We’ll also answer any other related questions you may have in our FAQ section.

Is There A Machu Picchu Airport?

Quick Answer: At this current time of writing, there is no airport located in or in the immediate surroundings of Machu Picchu.

The first reason is due to the difficult geography, given Machu Picchu is located in a high valley surrounded by dense jungle vegetation and rising cliffs. The town of Aguascalientes nearby also faces similar issues, and there has been no conclusive talks about building an airport here.

So far the closest airport for travelers looking to visit Machu Picchu will be Cusco Airport. There are plans to build another, closer airport within the Sacred Valley, so we’ll need to keep checking back for any updates on this.

How To Get To Machu Picchu By Air

Given the closest airport is located in the city of Cusco, we’ll first need to make our way here. All flights to this Andean city are only domestic, meaning we’ll first need to arrive into Peru before flying here (such as from Lima).

Once you are in Cusco, you’ll then need to make your way overland to Machu Picchu. There is public transport, including buses that take you to the hidroeléctrica path (the train tracks) where you then walk or take the train (in total between 6-9 hours from Cusco). 

Those who like having everything planned for them will prefer an organized tour instead, given there will be less time wasted waiting for the right bus to show up – as well as having a solid itinerary that gets followed.

cusco airplane

Machu Picchu Airport FAQ

Below we’ll now answer some of the biggest questions we get from readers regarding the existence of a Machu Picchu airport, or if there is a suitable alternative.

Do You Fly Into Lima To Go To Machu Picchu?

Whilst Lima remains the easiest way to arrive into Peru from abroad, it’s still very far from Machu Picchu. The overall distance is roughly 700 km between the two, making a day trip difficult even with expert planning and using flights. It’s much better to fly into Cusco and spend a day, before waking up early to visit the archaeological site the next day.

Where Can I Find The Best Machu Picchu Airport Flights?

There are many great comparison sites for finding flights to Peru such as Skyscanner and Expedia, and in our experience it’s best to book between 3-6 months in advance for the best prices. The great thing is that once you are in Lima, flights to Cusco are cheap and rarely vary throughout the year (at this current time a one-way flight costs between $35-50 without baggage included)

How Long Is The Train From Lima To Machu Picchu?

It is a common misunderstanding that a train runs directly from Lima to Machu Picchu. Instead, these trains (which are operated by PeruRail and IncaRail) depart from Cusco instead. They leave multiple times each day from the Poroy Station just outside Cusco, and take roughly 3.5 hours to reach Aguascalientes which is located just beneath the ruins.

short inca trail train

Summary Of Whether There Is A Machu Picchu Airport

And that’s all for our guide on whether there exists an airport near Machu Picchu. 

This jaw-dropping Incan site remains one of the must-see attractions in Peru. Now whilst there is no airport directly within Machu Picchu or in the immediate surroundings, there are other options of getting her without breaking the bank or travelling for very long periods.

Heading on an organized tour is one of the most efficient ways of getting to Machu Picchu once you’ve arrived into Cusco. Be sure to explore our various Machu Picchu Tours, where we handle all logistics for you whilst ensuring a memorable experience.

can we help you?