Cusco - Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu) and back for 50 Soles
Boycott of the monopoly Peru Rail

Do you want to be badly treated and ripped off? Then go to Peru Rail.
Or you prefer a cheaper and beautiful variant. Here comes the solution, possible in 4-5 days.

To go:
1. From Cusco with a bus toward Quillabamba, departure 7 p.m., 13 Soles. Step out in Sta. Maria, there is waitung a mini bus to Sta. Teresa, duration 2 hours, 5 Soles.
2. Sta. Teresa is reached by sunrise. Time for breakfast and buying stuff (cheap tiendas).
3. 6km walk to Central Hidroelectrica. The way is flat, beautiful view into the valley, or maybe you get a ride with a truck of the workers "central Hidroelectrica". Costs: 1-2 Soles.
4. From the railway station a local train goes in 40 minutes to Aguas Calientes, 5 Soles for tourist (2 Soles for locals) at 3:20 p.m..
Or you walk on the railwaytrack for 11km to Aguas Calientes (2-3 hours).

Way back:
1. At 6 a.m. walk from Aguas Calientes back to Sta. Teresa. From there a bus goes at 10 a.m. to Sta. Maria. Arrival against 12 p.m. Than take a bus to Cusco at 1 p.m., arrival Cusco between 7 and 8 p.m..
Variant: With the local train at 12:10 p.m. back to Sta. Teresa, there is a hostal to stay, continue on the next day at 10 a.m. with the bus to Sta. Maria, than see above.

Greetings from Manaus, Brasil