Peru opens a new electric tram line connecting Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu Citadel on August 5. The 3.2 km route takes 12 minutes and replaces the current bus service for 60 percent of visitors. Each tram carries 120 passengers with a daily capacity of 4,800.
Tickets cost 12 USD one-way and must be purchased with the Machu Picchu entry ticket. The tram operates from 05:30 to 17:30 daily. Peruvian authorities built the line to reduce traffic and emissions on the steep mountain road.
Machu Picchu welcomed 1.4 million visitors in 2025. The site limits daily entries to 4,500 to protect the ruins.
What this means for you
Reserve tram tickets at the same time as Machu Picchu entry through the official government portal. Arrive at Aguas Calientes the night before to catch the first 05:30 tram and avoid midday crowds.
Pack light because storage space on trams is limited to small daypacks. The new service eliminates the previous 25-minute bus ride on narrow switchbacks.