I've written about this route before, but things are changing quickly in our region and it's worth updating a few things.
Starting in Cusco you can grab a bus (about 17 soles) or a minivan (30 soles) to Santa Maria on the way to Quillabamba (details on our website with PDF maps to download quellomayo.com) Once in Santa Maria take a cab either to the Inca trail or to the trail head above Quellomayo (both 10 soles per person normally - full details and maps on our website).
Yellow River is a chance to meet a local family (my wife's family have farmed here for generations) and relax. We serve home cooked meals, catering for vegetarians and vegans when requested in advance and you can chat with us about life as coffee farmers in this region and even see the farm if you are interested in a tour. There are some lovely local hikes and even beautiful thermal springs just over an hour's walk from our home. Aguas Calientes is a busy, touristy town, so many people prefer to stay with us to enjoy the region before battling through the crowds up at the ruins; it makes the experience of visiting Machu Picchu a little less stressful and is ideal for families with kids as they get to play, climb trees and get outside after lots of buses and hotels.
Once you leave us at Yellow River you have lots of transport options for getting to Aguas Calientes which can range from free (you walk the entire way over a day) or as little as ten soles per person (taking a couple of taxis to cut out about 3 hours of walking) and then an optional expensive train for the last part of the trip. Those wanting to spend their money on nice things might consider staying with us and splashing out on our full board package (all meals included) and then save money on getting to the ruins. It all depends on your budget and time constraints.
We have detailed instructions on how to plan your trip (even if you don't stay with us at Yellow River) on our website and the resources are free for you to download to your phone and share with your friends.
This itinerary deals with getting to Aguas Calientes and not paying for the ticket to Machu Picchu or return travel to Cusco. However, if you wish to return to Cusco cheaply and don't mind changing taxis etc. then you can re-trace your steps back to Santa Maria via hydroelectric and Sta Teresa before taking a minivan from Sta Maria to Cusco. This saves money but takes longer and if you get travel sick or are very tired after your trip to the ruins you might want to splash out on the comfortable yet expensive train option.
Feel free to contact us with questions if the website can't answer them for you. We are true believers in local sustainable tourism so are hoping you will support local traders and salespeople when you pass through. Try to buy fruit from local farmers and cooperatives/associations (there's a great women's association on the main road just above Quellomayo where the Inca trail re-joins the main road - they sell fresh fruit from their farms and even coffee and honey). Lots of multinational firms in Aguas Calientes will take your money out of the region back to Lima and we want to buck this trend by offering local goods for responsible travellers.
Many thanks for reading.