Everything You Need to Know About the Trains to Machu Picchu

December 2, 2015 Pirwa

The majority of travelers reach the ruins of Machu Picchu Citadel not by the Inca Trail, nor by an alternative trek, but by taking one of the trains which run from Cusco and the Sacred Valley and the town of Aguas Calientes. The trains aren’t just a necessary part of most trips; they’re a delight in themselves. They descend into the Sacred Valley (where Ollantaytambo station is located) and the Andean foothills, following the Urubamba River for some time. You’ll see traditionally-dressed locals as they tend to their llama or sheep herds, and will pass colorful mudbrick villages. The scenery of the river gives way to the stunning greenery of the high-altitude jungle as you enter the protected zone known as Machu Picchu Sanctuary, in which the town of Aguas Calientes and the ruins of Machu Picchu are found. Occasionally, you’ll even see the odd Inca ruin or agricultural terraces.

If you sit on the left-hand side on the train going to Machu Picchu, or on the right-hand side on the train returning from Machu Picchu, you’ll get the best views! You can’t request a side, but you are permitted to change sides if there are empty seats…

Choose Your Departure Point

There are two train operators offering daily transport to and from Aguas Calientes, Peru Rail and Inca Rail. These offer service from three possible starting points:

Poroy: Located 8 miles / 20 minutes outside of the city of Cusco. You can take a taxi to Poroy for just 20 Peruvian soles (approximately US$6). The route from Poroy to Aguas Calientes is 54 miles.
Ollantaytambo: Located in 56 miles / from Cusco, in the Sacred Valley of the Incas. The route from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes is 24 miles and takes about an hour and a half. You can reach Ollantaytambo easily and cheaply by taking a colectivo, a shared van. These leave Pavitos Street throughout the day from 3am onwards, and charge about 15 Peruvian soles. Another popular option is to arrange for a tour of the Sacred Valley, but stay in Ollantaytambo to catch your train rather than finishing the tour with a stop in Chincheros and a return to Cusco.
Cusco: Cusco city proper has its own historic station located in the Wanchaq District, but it often goes out of service due to track damage caused during the rainy season. If you purchase a ticket that leaves from Cusco and it turns out the train will not be running from this location, a shuttle will be called into service to get you to the first working station along the line, either Poroy or Pachar.

Choose Your Train Service

If you opt to go with Peru Rail because it has more departures and arrivals, there are different train classes from which to choose. The cheapest is the Expedition, which offers transport from Poroy or Ollantaytambo at about US$50-60 roundtrip. (The price varies slightly not just due to the departure station but also to the departure time.) It’s basic but comfortable, with panoramic windows and a buffet car with snacks and alcoholic drinks available for sale.

The mid-range option is the Vistadome, which offers transport from Poroy or Ollantaytambo at US$74 roundtrip. Complimentary snacks and non-alcoholic drinks are offered to you in your seat, and the train has a set of diesel railcars with completely panoramic windows, allowing for better views of the scenic route.

The most expensive option is the super-deluxe Hiram Bingham, which offers first-class comfort, food, drink, and entertainment. US$385.50 roundtrip gets you a gourmet brunch on the way out and dinner on the way back, cocktails and Peruvian wine, in-car live music and dance entertainment, your entrance ticket to Machu Picchu, and a guided tour of the ruins. Rather than narrow rows of seats like the configuration you see in an airplane, the Hiram Bingham has square tables with a seat facing it on either side.

Inca Rail is the newer company, with less trains coming and going than Peru Rail. It offers three classes: Machu Picchu Class is the economical option, Executive is the mid-range option, and First-Class is the deluxe option.

If you plan on visiting Machu Picchu Citadel all in one day, spending the night before and after in Cusco, then you’ll want to leave as early as possible. In that case, consider the first train to arrive in Aguas Calientes each morning, which departs Poroy at 6:53am and Ollantaytambo at 8:40am, arriving at Machu Picchu at 10:38am. If you are planning on spending the night in Aguas Calientes and visiting the ruins of Machu Picchu on the second day of the excursion, then it’s easier to take an afternoon train.

Buy Your Machu Picchu Entrances First

Make sure to check for both train availability and Machu Picchu entrance availability before purchasing either one- you don’t want one of the tickets to be rendered useless! If you have your heart set on climbing Huayna Picchu in order to enjoy that famed view overlooking the entirety of the ruins of Machu Picchu, be aware that this is a separate ticket and it is much more limited than Machu Picchu tickets in order to protect the trail. On the Machu Picchu website (www.machupicchu.gob.pe), select the ticket you want, with or without Huayna Picchu. If the website doesn’t allow you to make the purchase, as happens with some international credit cards, then you should contact a hostel, hotel, or travel agency in Cusco for assistance. Once your ticket is secured, then proceed to buy the train ticket.

You can purchase train tickets and Machu Picchu entrance tickets in Cusco during your trip, but you should only do this if your itinerary is flexible and won’t be upset by you staying a day or two longer than expected in Cusco or Aguas Calientes. At the least, try and book several days in advance. his last-minute option is great if you’re traveling during the touristic low season, but if you plan on visiting in June, July or August it’s risky, as this is when Cusco and Machu Picchu experience the highest demand.

Another option, of course, is to purchase a full 2-day package tour of Machu Picchu, which includes bus and train transport, entrances, a professional guide, dinner and breakfast, lodging in Aguas Calientes, etc.

Machu Picchu Station in Aguas Calientes

Firstly, you should know that Aguas Calientes is the colloquial name, older name for the town from which one can access the ruins, while Machu Picchu Pueblo is the newer, legal name. Both names are commonly used, but they’re the same town.

Aguas Calientes isn’t much more than a one-street town. It’s so tiny that there aren’t taxis- it’s all foot traffic. The hotels and hostels in Aguas Calientes offer free pickups from the train station in order to help you find them (and to protect you from the touts who try to divert passengers to unreserved hotels and hostels to earn a commission). Despite the small size of the town, travelers do have issues locating the hostel sometimes. Make it easy on yourself and let your hostel know your train number, or the train’s departure station and departure time. They’ll send someone to wait outside the station with a sign with your name on it.

You can walk from Aguas Calientes to the ruins of Machu Picchu Citadel. It’s technically only 5 miles away, but it will take you one to two hours because the path you need to follow is a steep, zig-zagging route. Or, you can catch a bus. They leave every 30 minutes, take 20 minutes to arrive, and cost US$24 round-trip.