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…