The train trip is the way most visitors arrive to Machu Picchu. The train departs from different stations in Cusco, such as: San Pedro station, Wánchaq station, Poroy station or Ollantaytambo station. The latter is the most used because it allows more daily departures. The trip from Ollantaytambo is 1 hour 45 minutes to the final station of Aguas Calientes, also called Machu Picchu village because it is only ten kilometers from the Inca site. Know 10 things you should know about the train to the Inca citadel.

• The train route to Machu Picchu
• The booking of train tickets
• The only two train companies to Machu Picchu
• The train stations to Machu Picchu
• The Ollantaytambo station, the most used
• The train route on your own
• Cancellation of train ticket
• The train journey in a wheelchair
• Lateness or absences on the train trip to Machu Picchu
• The trip to Machu Picchu without a train

Traveling by train through the Cusco jungle

Why choose to travel by train to Machu Picchu?
The train ride to Machu Picchu travels through the Sacred Valley of the Incas to Aguas Calientes, the village at the foot of the mountain where Machu Picchu is built. This short train route is considered among the most amazing in the world, but it is also the fastest way to get to Machu Picchu and the best alternative for people who wish to avoid the four-day hike along the Inca Trail or the 8 hours through the alternative route by Hydroelectric.

The train route to Machu Picchu

• The train route to Machu Picchu is the way most tourists arrive to the famous Inca city from the city of Cusco in Peru.
• The train route departs from different stations in the city of Cusco or in the town of Ollantaytambo, in the Sacred Valley of the Incas.
• The train journey from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes takes 1 hour 45 minutes on average. The distance between the two points is approximately 40 kilometers. The train travels at approximately 30 kilometers per hour. There are some stops along the way to allow other trains to pass, as well as for visitors doing the 2-day Inca Trail to get off.

This is the route to Aguas Calientes from Cusco

The booking of train tickets

• Many train services sell out weeks in advance, so the best time to book is immediately after booking your Machu Picchu tickets.
• Also, keep in mind that if you book Machu Picchu tickets that include the mountains in the first groups, it is best to arrive in the town of Aguas Calientes one day before your visit.
• Book round-trip train tickets, the cheapest train services often sell out many weeks in advance.
• It is recommended to first purchase tickets to Machu Picchu online. Then, depending on the time of your visit to the Inca city, you should purchase train tickets.
• It is not recommended to buy train tickets at the last minute, as there is a risk of not finding availability.

The only two train companies to Machu Picchu

• There are two companies that provide train services to Machu Picchu: Peru Rail and Inca Rail.
• Peru Rail is the oldest and offers different services at many times; and, depending on the service you choose, you can board your train at one of the different stations.
• Its services are: local train (economical for Peruvians), Expedition train, Vistadome train, Vistadome Observatory train and Hiram Bingham luxury train.
• Inca Rail is the other company that provides train service to Machu Picchu, and like the previous one, it has various services and schedules; from tourist class to the presidential service aboard the Inca princess.
• Its services are: The Voyager train, The 360 train, The Premium & Lounge train, The First Class train and the luxury train The Private.

Inca Rail company train heading to Machu Picchu town

The train stations to Machu Picchu

• Most services of both train companies will depart from Ollantaytambo station; however, some services will depart from alternative stations in the cities of Poroy or Cusco.
• In the city of Cusco, Peru Rail has two stations: San Pedro Station and Wánchaq Station. Both stations, in addition to train departures, offer daily bus services to Ollantaytambo, known as bimodal services.
• In the town of Poroy, located 15 kilometers (35 minutes from the city of Cusco), there is a train station. Some of the most luxurious services depart from there, such as the Hiram Bingham train.
• The most frequent trains leave from Ollantaytambo station every day. That is why most tourists choose this station. From Cusco, Ollantaytambo is reached by road in an average of 1 hour and 45 minutes.

The Ollantaytambo station, the most used

• The Ollantaytambo train station is the most used by tourists as it has the highest number of daily departures. The main services of both Peru Rail and Inca Rail depart from there.
• Ollantaytambo is 61 kilometers from the city of Cusco. You can get there with a train ticket that includes a bus (Bimodal service) or with a public transport service.
• You can reach the city of Ollantaytambo by taking buses, cars or minivans that leave from Pavitos Street in the historic center of the city of Cusco.
• These vehicles charge around 12 soles and will take you in approximately 1 hour 45 minutes to the city of Ollantaytambo.
• If you choose to travel on the Bimodal service of either Peru Rail or Inca Rail, you will need to go to their main stations in the city of Cusco. Peru Rail has its bus station in the town of Wánchaq. Inca Rail has its bus station on El Sol Avenue, one of the main avenues in the city of Cusco.

The train route on your own

• If you decide to come to Machu Picchu on your own, remember to plan your time very carefully. The train schedule you choose must match the type of ticket to Machu Picchu you have chosen.
• You need to be in Machu Picchu at 7am if you booked the tickets that include the mountains in the first group. If this is the case, we recommend booking the train tickets for a day in advance, and spending the night in the town of Aguas Calientes.
• The final station for the trains to Machu Picchu is in the town of Aguas Calientes, the town at the foot of the mountain where the Inca city is built. And just two blocks away is the bus station to Machu Picchu, which takes tourists to the gates of the Inca archaeological site in 30 minutes.
• That is to say, to organize the trip to Machu Picchu on your own you need to buy up to three tickets: the entrance to Machu Picchu, the train ticket and the final bus ticket to the Inca city.

Tourists at the Ollantaytambo train station

Cancellation of train ticket

• If you want to cancel your train tickets, do so at least 30 days in advance. The closer the day of your trip, the higher the cancellation penalty will be. And if you do not do it in time, you will lose your train tickets.
• The train ticket is non-transferable and cannot be changed once purchased. Only in cases of emergency such as natural disasters or social protests, flexibility can be granted for cancellation or change of date of the train trip.
• Cancellation is only possible by the ticket holder. The penalty for cancellation is 10% of the ticket value (for administrative costs). A ticket cannot be cancelled within twenty-four hours before the train journey.
• If you made the purchase through a travel agency, you must coordinate the cancellation of the ticket with them.

The train journey in a wheelchair

• Travelling by train for a wheelchair user is possible. Tourists must indicate their travel needs in their reservation. Visitors in wheelchairs are assigned a special seat in the carriage.
• However, to be honest, trains are not designed to provide space and comfort for a visitor in a wheelchair. Although there are no ramps for access to the trains, the tourist assistance staff will provide you with the necessary support to access the train.
• After the train ride, you will have to board the buses that will take you to Machu Picchu. These buses also do not have ramps or spaces inside for people in wheelchairs. However, the bus staff will provide you with the necessary support for this task.
• Once in Machu Picchu, there is a special route for wheelchair users. This includes the entrance to a special viewing point where you can contemplate the splendid landscape of Machu Picchu and its main Inca buildings.

Lateness or absences on the train trip to Machu Picchu

• In case of delay or failure to travel by train, there is no refund. The train departs punctually on the day and at the time shown on the ticket.
• In case of illness, an exception can be made by sending a doctor’s note as soon as possible. Even better, if it is sent before the trip.
• Events such as strikes, natural disasters and others beyond the control of the company may cause delays or cancellation of the service if it is believed that your safety and that of the rest of the group is at risk.
• You can change the date of your train ticket up to 24 hours before your trip; after this time there is no possibility of cancellation or change of any kind.

The trip to Machu Picchu without a train

• Travelling by train is not the only way to visit Machu Picchu. There are also two other routes: the 4-day Inca Trail hiking route or the alternative route via the Hydroelectric Station in the Cusco jungle.
• The Inca Trail to Machu Picchu is a 4-day hiking route in its classic version (there is also a short version of only 2 days). This route is through the historic Inca roads, the qhapac ñan. Therefore, it can only be done through a tour organized by a tourism agency, which provides the necessary permits.
• The alternative route via Hidroeléctrica allows you to travel to the town of Aguas Calientes through the Cusco jungle, via the Hidroeléctrica train station, located 10 kilometers from Machu Picchu town. The first bus ride from the city of Cusco takes between 5 and 6 hours. Then, there is a 2-hour walk to reach Aguas Calientes.
• The 4-day Inca Trail to Machu Picchu is a tour that costs approximately $500 per visitor. The Hidroeléctrica route, on the other hand, is considered the most economical route to Machu Picchu.

On the way to Machu Picchu via Hydroelectric

Advice from people who have been there

Vistadome Train

By: Gabriela U.

“Perfect trip“

“We booked our seats on the Vistadome train from Perurail, I travelled with a friend and it was a great experience, it has windows on the roof and this is very useful in a place like the Sacred Valley. There was dancing, music and a fashion show which enhanced our incredible visit to Machu Picchu.“

By Ticket Machu Picchu – Last updated, December 18, 2024