Recommendations for picking a cheap hotel in Machu Picchu and what you have to look for

Cheap hotels in Machu Picchu Machu Picchu can be an expensive place. The entrance ticket alone costs 126 Soles (50 US-Dollar). Add the train (another 100 US-Dollar) and you will soon get to realize that the lost citadel of the Incas is anything but an ideal place for budget travelers. And there I didn’t even mention all the special items you might want to pack for Machu Picchu (<< read my guide!). You can save most by getting a cheap hotel in Machu Picchu. Here are your options.

Choosing the cheapest hotel in Machu Picchu

The urban sector of Machu Picchu and Wayna Picchu in the background

If you take a look at booking.com or other hotel booking sites, you will find a multitide of options for staying a night in Machu Picchu.

Hotels are by no means scarce. From luxury to super-cheap, you will basically find an accommodation for every need and budget. Before you pick a hotel for your stay in Machu Picchu, you really should ask yourself if you actually need a hotel. If the answer is yes, you should absolutely read my guide on the best hotels in Machu Picchu. Still, here are some important facts to consider:

1. There is only one (luxury) hotel inside Machu Picchu (the Belmond Sanctuary hotel; 1,000 USD per night); all other hotels are located in Aguas Calientes, some 30 minutes by bus away

2. It is possible to see Machu Picchu on a day trip from Cusco or better Ollantaytambo. If you take the very first train in the morning and leave with the last train, there is no need to spend a fortune on accommodations in Aguas Calientes

3. There are a couple of decent hostels in Aguas Calientes; oftentimes way cheaper than the hotels

4. There is a camping site below Machu Picchu if you really want to see the Inca ruins and got an extremely tight budget

That being said, picking a true hotel or an excellent hostel in Machu Picchu does have its merits. You will spend a lot of time hiking inside the ruins (especially if you arrive by Inca Trail). This means sweating a lot, but also sharing the trail with hundreds of other tourists. So having the opportunity to take a long warm shower, eating a good breakfast, and sleeping in a plush bed will be well worth it. Here are some options for you.

Adelas Hostal

rooms at the Adelas hostel Machu Picchu

Another good and cheap option is the Adelas Hostal. The rooms are quite spacious, the breakfast good and the location very good (very close to the train station). Rooms start around 45 US-Dollar per night.

Get the price here

Casa Machu Picchu

The Casa Machu Picchu hostel in Aguas Calientes - the cheapest hostel

If you are looking for dead-cheap and bunk beds, then you will find heaven in the Casa Machu Picchu. The traditional hostel has over a thousand reviews on booking.com and offers starting from 7 US-Dollar a night in a 4-bed dormitory room.

Get the price here

Hostal Angie’s

Hostal Angie’s frequently scores the best rankings on booking.com and is booked the most. The charming little hostel is dead cheap but offers the luxury of booking double or twin rooms. There are even family rooms.

Get the price here

Guesthouse El Tambo

The El Tambo Guesthouse Machu Picchu is another dead cheap alternative for staying in Machu Picchu. Now don’t expect the world for a price around 30-40 US-Dollar per night, but we wouldn’t recommend the hotel, without the more than 1,000 positive reviews it has.

Get the price here

Further advice on picking a cheap hotel in Machu Picchu / Aguas Calientes

The sacred plaza around the Intihuatana stone in Machu Picchu

Aguas Calientes is not a big town. In fact, it is somewhat tiny. Still, we wouldn’t recommend picking a hotel too far away from the train station, as it sometimes is not too easy to find your way in the back alleys. Don’t worry if your hotel is close to the train tracks (as most hotels are). First of all Aguas Calientes is little else but a few houses scattered around the train tracks. And secondly, the last train leaves early the evening and will not disturb you.

There are some bars and there is the main square, but not much of a nightlife. Most people are just weary from the day’s hike, the high altitude, and humidity, and go to bed early. In essence, that means: pick whatever hotel that suits your budget and looks clean. There is so much to explore in Machu Picchu, there are a couple of nice restaurants and bars in Aguas Calientes, and all you will do in your hotel is sleep and shower.

That being said, your cheapest and the quietest alternative for staying a night in Machu Picchu is probably the camping site (only around 5 US-Dollar per night & person).

Should I book my hotel in Machu Picchu in advance?

The iconic view on Machu Picchu, Peru

Many backpackers shy away from booking hotels in advance. They like that extra bit of flexibility and hate to commit to a set itinerary. Now for large parts of Peru, this might be a valid approach, even if you do have to know that booking on site is in 99 percent of all cases way more expensive than booking online in advance (via booking.com and the like).

Actually, this rule applies to almost any transaction, since people are willing to accept less money as a downpayment for a service in the further since they can actually use the money right now (this is why loans actually cost money). That being said, it is always recommended to book your hotels for Machu Picchu way in advance to score a cheap price.

As for lost flexibility: You will have to book your tickets, train tickets, and/or Inca trail tickets months in advance anyhow. So there really is no reason whatsoever to waste precious time erring around Aguas Calientes looking for a free room (which can be hard, as the town is usually packed during the summer months).

Disclaimer: I had no association with the hotels features in this article whatsoever when writing this review. My opinions are my own. 

4 COMMENTS

  1. WOW, your guides are SO great!! I am going with some friends, and we’re coming to a bit of confusion on how to plan. We’re experienced travelers. We have limited time, (Arrive in Cusco on the August 11th and Leave Cusco on the 14th) and I am of the opinion that we should plan everything ahead (flights, trains, hotels, entry tickets) so we are sure we can get in. They want to just get to Cusco and purchase everything there. They think they will be able to get a better deal than booking ahead. I am imagining everything will be sold out if we don’t book ahead. Can you help us choose between booking ahead or not?

    • Hey Kathy,
      generally speaking, planning ahead is almost always cheaper than deciding once you are there. Prices are way lower a year or 6 months before. That’s a general market rule – even beyond travel (after all, the business can use your money and invest it to make more money, way before they actually need it to cover the expenses of your stay). Plus you won’t spend precious vacation time to find ticket booths and tourist agencies. If you only got 2 full days in Cusco, that’s probably the most limiting factor.
      In some parts of South East Asia, things certainly work that way. But comparing SEA with Peru is a bit hm…strange. At a minimum, you’d have to get your tickets for Machu Picchu and your hotel. the rest could be sorted out once you are tehre, though I still don’t see the benefit in doing so.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
*

That's okay for me

Please enter your name here