Of the three ways to go to Machu Picchu, the train trip is the fastest, safest and most comfortable. The other two are the Hidroelectrica route (5-hour bus ride with a 2-hour hike), as well as the famous 4-day Inca Trail (hiking route with camping along the historic qhapac ñan). The train trip offers different types of services in the only two companies available: Peru Rail and Inca Rail. What are the trains like? Learn more about the types of trains on the trip to the Wonder of the World!

• The train trip from Cusco city to Machu Picchu
• The types of trains of the company Peru Rail
• The types of trains of Inca Rail company
• The comfort of traveling by train to Machu Picchu
• Other trains in Cusco
• Questions and answers about the train ride to Machu Picchu

Train heading to Aguas Calientes station

Machu Picchu off the Unesco list
When planning the trip to Machu Picchu, if there is something as important as the entrance tickets, it is the train tickets, because unless you are planning to enter Machu Picchu by the Inca Trail or by the Hidroelectrica route, you will also have to book the train tickets in advance. Otherwise you may have to go to the Inca city through the Hidroelectric route, which includes 6 hours of travel and 2 more hours of walking to reach the town of Aguas Calientes. Train tickets have limited availability. And the best way to make your visit is to buy your ticket one or two months in advance. The purchase can be made on the websites of Peru Rail and Inca Rail. You can also make the purchase in person in the city of Cusco. However, you run the risk of not finding availability.

The train trip from Cusco city to Machu Picchu

The trip from Cusco to Machu Picchu can be done in three ways. The first, the most preferred by visitors, is with the train trip from the various stations, such as Ollantaytambo (the most used by tourists).

The second option is the adventurous route through the Hidroeléctrica station. This route consists of two stages. The first is a trip in a tourist minivan from Cusco to Hidroeléctrica passing through the jungle of Cusco (5 hours trip on average). The second part is a two-hour hike from Hidroeléctrica to Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu village).

The third option is with the 4-day Inca Trail tour. This trekking route, one of the best in the world, covers 39 kilometers on foot, a part of the immense Inca network of the qhapac ñan (royal Inca roads). The final destination is Machu Picchu as the Incas did it, passing through the Intipunku, the Sun Gate.

Of the three options, most visitors prefer to travel by train because it offers a faster trip, a safer route, a comfortable experience and shows such as dance performances. Some trains even offer a gourmet menu and music show on board.

To make the trip by train you must choose between two types of train companies: Peru Rail or Inca Rail. Both complete the trip to Machu Picchu by minivan (Cusco – Ollantaytambo route) and train (Ollantaytambo – Aguas Calientes). In all cases, after arriving at the town of Aguas Calientes, you must take a bus that in 30 minutes takes the visitor to the entrance gate of Machu Picchu.

Map of the routes to Machu Picchu village

The types of trains of the company Peru Rail

Peru Rail offers up to five types of tourist services to Machu Picchu:

• Local train to Machu Picchu – Train service for Peruvian visitors only, especially for locals who need this service on a daily basis. The train is not a tourist train, so there is no service on board, no snacks, drinks or any kind of show. The cost is very economical as it costs only 12 Peruvian soles.
• Expedition Train – Economy but tourist class train service with all the amenities on board such as large windows, tables, on board service, music with tourist information, as well as snacks and beverages for sale. The train is the most economical for tourists. It has an approximate cost of US$50 per leg (one way or return).
• Vistadome Train – Tourist train service that includes comfortable seats, panoramic upper and side windows, tables, as well as complimentary snacks and beverages. On the return trip, it includes a dance show and a parade of alpaca garments. It has an approximate cost of 70 dollars per leg (one way or return).
• Vistadome Observatory Train – High quality tourist train service that, in addition to tourist services such as comfortable seats, tables, 360 panoramic windows, offers an observatory car with a view and a balcony outside. There is also an on-board music show. It also includes complimentary snacks and drinks, as well as a dance show and a parade of alpaca garments. The train has an approximate cost of US$90 per leg (one way or return).
• Hiram Bingham Train – Luxury service that offers an unforgettable experience on the way to Machu Picchu. The trains offer dining cars, observatory car (with open-air balconies) and bar car with live music show. In addition, it offers gourmet menu, complimentary drinks, bus and tour guide service at the archaeological site.

Vistadome Observatory Train – Peru Rail

The types of trains of Inca Rail company

The Inca Rail company offers up to five types of tourist services to Machu Picchu:

• The Voyager Train – Inca Rail’s most economical tourist train. It offers comfortable seats, large windows, tables, tourist information during the trip, as well as staff on board and sale of snacks and drinks. The train also offers the Ollantay drama musical show, characterized by the staff on board. The train costs US$50 per leg (one way or return).
• The 360 Train – Inca Rail’s most requested tourist train. It offers comfortable seats, panoramic side and upper windows, tables, tourist information during the trip, as well as complimentary snacks and drinks. The train also offers the Ollantay drama musical show, characterized by the staff on board. The train costs US$80 per leg (one way or return).
• The Premium & Lounge Train – An Inca Rail executive service that offers comfortable seating, panoramic side and top windows, as well as an open-air balcony observatory car. The train ride also offers complimentary snacks, desserts and beverages. The Ollantay drama musical show is also offered during the trip. The train costs US$130 per leg (one way or return).
• The First Class Train – The First Class train is a luxurious Inca Rail service that offers comfortable seating, large windows, tables and luxury cars such as the observatory car (with open-air balcony), dining car and bar car with live music show. The trip includes a selection of beverages. This is a luxury service with the option of adding the entrance fee to Machu Picchu, as well as the guide and transportation service.
• The Private Train – The Private train is a luxury service that operates only at the request of the tourist, his/her partner, group of friends or family up to 8 people. It includes all the amenities on board, as well as dining car, observatory car (with open-air balcony), bar car with live music show and a selection of drinks included. This is a luxury and exclusive service for a small group of people.

Interior of The First Class train

The comfort of traveling by train to Machu Picchu

Both Peru Rail and Inca Rail will make new trains available to visitors. This is to decongest the already congested route to Machu Picchu and to improve their service.

It will put into operation 6 carriages, equivalent to 252 additional seats on the trains to Machu Picchu, which will operate at sunset, thinking of people who wish to spend the night in Aguas Calientes before their visit to Machu Picchu.

All services are tourist services. That is, no visitor goes standing, all in their respective seats and enjoying the comfort on board. This is one of the best experiences when visiting Cusco and Machu Picchu.

Attention inside the trains

Other trains in Cusco

• Luxury train from Cusco to Puno – Peru Rail’s luxury train service that offers one or two nights aboard a train with comfortable single or double rooms, a space to appreciate the scenery with an open-air balcony and even a bar car with free drinks. The final destination is the Puno station where you will visit Lake Titicaca and its main tourist attractions.
• Luxury Train from Cusco to Arequipa – Peru Rail’s luxury train service offering two or three nights aboard an exclusive train with comfortable connecting single, double or family rooms, an observatory car with open-air balcony, dining car and bar car with live music and free drinks. The final destination is Arequipa station. Puno is also visited on the route.
• Optional train from Hidroeléctrica to Aguas Calientes – Peru Rail’s economical service that connects the Hidroeléctrica train station with the town of Aguas Calientes. The trip takes only 30 minutes. Instead of taking this train, many people prefer to make the 2 hour (10 km) hike parallel to the train tracks. This is the economical route to Machu Picchu via Hidroeléctrica.

Belmond Andean Explorer Train

Questions and answers about the train ride to Machu Picchu

• 1) Which are the companies that offer the train trip to Machu Picchu?

  There are two companies that offer the train trip to Machu Picchu: Peru Rail and Inca Rail.

• 2) What is the train to Machu Picchu for Peruvians?

  The local train is a social service for Peruvians, especially for local people who need to travel the route Machu Picchu – Cusco or vice versa.

• 3) What is the most economical tourist train of Peru Rail?

  The Expedition train is the most economical service for tourists offered by Peru Rail.

• 4) What is the most economical Inca Rail train?

  The Voyager train is the most economical service for tourists offered by Inca Rail.

• 5) What is Inca Rail’s luxury train?

  The Private luxury train is Inca Rail’s most VIP service.

• 6) What is Peru Rail’s luxury train?

  The Hiram Bingham luxury train is Peru Rail’s most exclusive service.

• 7) How long does it take to travel by train from Cusco to Machu Picchu?

  The trip from Cusco to Machu Picchu takes 4 hours on average. It is usually done in three stages: from Cusco to Ollantaytambo by minivan, from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes by train and from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu by bus.

• 8) Where to take the train to Machu Picchu?

  The train to Machu Picchu departs from several stations, the most used being the Ollantaytambo station. They also depart from the same city of Cusco.

• 9) What is the train from Hidroeléctrica to Machu Picchu?

  It is an economic service of Peru Rail that connects the train station of Hidroeléctrica with the town of Aguas Calientes. The trip takes only 30 minutes. Instead of taking this train, many people prefer to make the 2 hour (10 kilometers) hike parallel to the train tracks. This is the economical route to Machu Picchu via Hidroeléctrica.

• 10) Which train gets you to Machu Picchu the fastest?

  All types of trains use the same route and are the fastest way to go to Machu Picchu. These are the Peru Rail and Inca Rail trains.

Advice from people who have been there

Machu Picchu

By: Gina Z.

“Machu Picchu“

“The attention, the tour through the beautiful Sacred Valley of the Incas, the service on board... everything added up to make our experience in Machu Picchu unforgettable! The staff is very friendly and the snacks are delicious, you just have to book the tickets in advance, otherwise you may have problems getting to Machu Picchu.“

By Ticket Machu Picchu – Last updated, November 6, 2024