The train ride to Machu Picchu
The train trip to Machu Picchu is a journey full of comfort, beautiful landscapes and quality service. The route begins in several stations, the main one being located in the town of Ollantaytambo. The train ride from there takes 2 hours. The final destination is in the town of Aguas Calientes, located just 10 kilometers from the Inca city of Machu Picchu. Train tickets can be purchased online through the Peru Rail or Inca Rail companies.
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The trip to Machu Picchu
The trip to Machu Picchu begins in the city of Cusco, located in southern Peru at 3,399 meters above sea level.
From Cusco to Machu Picchu there are approximately 100 kilometers of distance. This route is carried out in three parts: first in a bus trip to the town of Ollantaytambo, second in a train trip to Aguas Calientes and finally in a bus section to Machu Picchu.
The train ride can be taken at various stations. Most of the daily departures depart from the town of Ollantaytambo. However, there are also a few departures from the city of Cusco. In this case, the first section to Ollantaytambo is no longer made.
The trip from Cusco to Machu Picchu takes approximately 4 hours.
Peru Rail and Inca Rail companies
There are only two companies that make the train trip to Machu Picchu: Peru Rail and Inca Rail.
Peru Rail makes daily departures from different stations: Cusco, Poroy, Urubamba and Ollantaytambo.
Inca Rail makes daily departures from different stations: Cusco and Ollantaytambo.
Both companies have sales locations in the city of Cusco and in the different train stations. However, it is best to purchase tickets on the websites of both companies: www.perurail.com and www.incarail.com.
Train services available
Peru Rail trains:
- Expedition Train – The cheapest tourist service. Includes comfortable seating with tables and large windows. The service on board offers sale of snacks and drinks. Andean music will accompany you along the route.
- Vistadome Train – This service offers comfortable seats with tables and panoramic windows on the sides and on the roof of the car. It also offers complimentary snacks and drinks. On the return trip there is a dance show and parade with alpaca clothes.
- Sacred Valley Train – This service is the only one that departs from the Urubamba station. It is characterized by its luxury car with large windows, comfortable seats, a refined style as well as an observatory and dining car. Offer gourmet lunch or dinner.
- Hiram Bingham Train – This train is one of the most luxurious in the world. It offers a sophisticated design with dining car, observatory car and bar car. Includes courtesy toast, gourmet lunch (or dinner on the return trip), open bar, live music as well as bus, entrance fee and tour guide in Machu Picchu.
- Local train – This service is not touristy. People travel in seats or standing. It is intended for local people who need to move daily around the towns around Machu Picchu. It is also allowed for Peruvians. It is very inexpensive compared to other services.
Inca Rail trains:
- The Voyager Train – The cheapest service that Inca Rail offers for tourists. It has comfortable seats, tables and large windows. There is music during the trip. Also service on board with sale of snacks and drinks.
- The 360 Train – Service that is characterized by offering a pleasant journey with wagons with side and upper windows (as in 360 degrees). It also offers sale of drinks, snacks and even handicrafts.
- The First Class Train – First class train that includes a welcome cocktail, gourmet lunch or dinner. It also offers a train with dining car, observatory car and more. It serves in high tourist season (from April to August) as well as on special dates.
- The Private Train – Exclusive luxury train for a tourist and their private group (couple, family or friends). It has wagons with dining room, bar, observatory and more. It also includes an open bar, gourmet lunch or dinner and a specialized service. The capacity is for a maximum of 8 people.
Train stations
These are the stations from where the trains are boarded:
- Cusco Station (San Pedro) – Station located in the historic center of the city of Cusco (next to the temple and market of San Pedro). From there the trip to Aguas Calientes takes approximately 3 hours and 30 minutes. It offers about 3 daily departures on average.
- Poroy Station – Station located in the town of Poroy, just 20 minutes by car from the city of Cusco. From there the trip to Aguas Calientes takes approximately 3 hours. It offers about 4 daily departures on average.
- Urubamba Station – Station located in the town of Urubamba, in the Sacred Valley of the Incas. You get there from Cusco on a 1 hour drive. It offers only 2 daily departures. It does not operate in the rainy months (from January to April). The trip to Aguas Calientes takes 2 hours 30 minutes on average.
- Ollantaytambo Station – The station most used by tourists as it offers about thirty daily departures. You get there from Cusco in a 1 hour 40 minute drive. It operates all year round. The trip to Aguas Calientes takes almost 2 hours.
The schedules
Trains leave every day at strict times. Visitors must be at the station at least 30 minutes before. If the trains leave without the tourist, there is no right to a refund. These are the schedules of both the Peru Rail and Inca Rail companies.
Peru Rail trains schedule* | ||
|---|---|---|
| Route: Cusco (San Pedro) – Machu Picchu | ||
| Service | Departure time | Arrival time |
| Expedition | 6.40 am. | 10.52 am. |
| Vistadome | 6.40 am. | 10.52 am. |
| Expedition | 7.30 am. | 12.11 pm. |
| Vistadome | 7.30 am. | 12.11 pm. |
| Route: Poroy – Machu Picchu | ||
| Expedition | 6.40 am. | 9.54 am. |
| Vistadome | 6.40 am. | 9.54 am. |
| Expedition | 7.35 am. | 10.52 am. |
| Vistadome | 7.35 am. | 10.52 am. |
| Expedition | 8.25 am. | 12.11 pm. |
| Vistadome | 8.25 am. | 12.11 pm. |
| Hiram Bingham | 9.05 am. | 12.24 pm. |
| Route: Urubamba – Machu Picchu | ||
| Vistadome | 6.50 am. | 9.25 am. |
| Sacred Valley | 10.30 am. | 1.34 pm. |
| Route: Ollantaytambo – Machu Picchu | ||
| Expedition | 6.10 am. | 7.40 am. |
| Vistadome | 7.05 am. | 8.27 am. |
| Expedition | 7.45 am. | 9.15 am. |
| Vistadome | 8 am. | 9.25 am. |
| Expedition | 8.29 am. | 9.54 am. |
| Vistadome | 8.53 am. | 10.29 am. |
| Vistadome | 9.15 am. | 10.52 am. |
| Vistadome | 10.32 am. | 12.11 pm. |
| Sacred Valley | 11.52 am. | 1.34 pm. |
| Expedition | 12.55 pm. | 2.25 pm. |
| Vistadome | 1.27 pm. | 2.50 pm. |
| Expedition | 1.27 pm. | 2.50 pm. |
| Vistadome | 3.37 pm. | 5.02 pm. |
| Expedition | 7 pm. | 8.45 pm. |
| Expedition | 9 pm. | 10.45 pm. |
* Referential hours. For exact information visit: www.perurail.com.
Inca Rail train times* | ||
|---|---|---|
| Route: Cusco – Machu Picchu | ||
| Service | Departure time | Arrival time |
| The Voyager Bimodal (bus + train) | 4.10 am. | 8.01 am. |
| The 360 | 5 am. | 8.48 am. |
| The Voyager | 8.28 am. | 12.41 pm. |
| The First Class | 8.28 am. | 12.41 pm. |
| The Voyager Bimodal (bus + train) | 8.40 am. | 12.41 pm. |
| The 360 Bimodal (bus + train) | 10.16 am. | 2 pm. |
| The Voyager Bimodal (bus + train) | 4.15 pm. | 9.09 pm. |
| Route: Poroy – Machu Picchu | ||
| The 360 | 5.55 am. | 8.48 am. |
| Route: Ollantaytambo – Machu Picchu | ||
| The Voyager | 6.40 am. | 8.01 am. |
| The Private | 6.40 am. | 8.01 am. |
| The 360 | 7.22 am. | 8.48 am. |
| The Voyager | 11.15 am. | 12.45 pm. |
| The First Class | 11.15 am. | 12.45 pm. |
| The Private | 11.15 am. | 12.45 pm. |
| The Voyager | 11.30 am. | 1.06 pm. |
| The 360 | 12.36 pm. | 2 pm. |
| The Voyager | 4.36 pm. | 6.09 pm. |
| The Private | 4.36 pm. | 6.09 pm. |
| The Voyager | 7.27 pm. | 9.09 pm. |
* Referential hours. For exact information visit: www.incarail.com.
Prices
The prices of train tickets vary according to the type of service and the time of year. Foreign visitors can only purchase tickets for tourist services (they cannot buy the local train ticket which is available only for Peruvians).
Price of trains to Machu Picchu “Peru Rail” | ||
|---|---|---|
| Service | One way trip | Round trip |
| Expedition | 60 USD | 120 USD |
| Vistadome | 80 USD | 160 USD |
| Sacred Valley | 180 USD | 360 USD |
| Hiram Bingham | 480 USD | 960 USD |
| Local train | 12 S/. | 24 S/. |
* Reference prices. For exact information visit: www.perurail.com.
Price of trains to Machu Picchu “Inca Rail” | ||
|---|---|---|
| Service | One way trip | Round trip |
| The Voyager | 60 USD | 120 USD |
| The 360 | 80 USD | 160 USD |
| The First Class | 180 USD | 360 USD |
| The Private | 480 USD | 960 USD |
* Reference prices. For exact information visit: www.incarail.com.
The purchase
Train tickets can be purchased on the websites of Peru Rail (www.perurail.com) and Inca Rail (www.incarail.com).
Another option, not recommended, is to buy the tickets at one of the agencies of these companies located at these addresses:
Peru Rail:
- Malecón de la Reserva 610 (Larcomar Shopping Center in Miraflores – Lima).
- Street Portal de Carnes 214 (just in front of the Main Square in Cusco).
- Avenue El Sol 409, Cusco.
- Avenue Pachacutec s/n, Wanchaq – Cusco).
- Street Cascaparo s/n, Cusco (Wanchaq station).
Inca Rail:
- Street Portal de Carnes 105 (right in front of the Main Square in Cusco).
- Avenue El Sol 843, Cusco.
- Street Cascaparo s/n, Cusco (Wanchaq station).
- Avenue Velasco Astete s/n (Cusco city airport).
The purchase must be made weeks in advance. Otherwise you run the risk of not finding availability.
More information about the train trip to Machu Picchu
Children under 3 years of age can travel for free on trains as long as they do so in the same seat as their parents. Children from 3 to 12 years old have discounts of 50% of the value of the ticket.
Tourists, in addition to the train ticket, must present their identity document or passport when boarding the train.
You cannot board the train in an alcoholic state or under the influence of drugs.
It is recommended to buy the entrance to Machu Picchu first and then the train ticket. Thus the tourist will know exactly what time to choose (depending on the date of his visit to Machupicchu).