Traveling by train to Machu Picchu from Cusco
If you plan to visit Machu Picchu on your own, it is important that you know that most tourists choose to take a combined bus and train trip to reach the Inca City. This mode of transportation is the fastest and easiest way to get there. In addition, the train trip is a fascinating experience due to the impressive landscapes that can be seen during the journey.
How to get to Machu Picchu by train?
- To visit Machu Picchu, tourists must first arrive in the ciudad de Cusco, which has an airport.
- From Cusco, there are three train stations to get to Machu Picchu: Poroy, Valle Sagrado and Ollantaytambo, the latter being the most popular due to its many daily departures.
- To get to Ollantaytambo from Cusco you need to take public transportation for a distance of 79 kilometers.
- From Ollantaytambo you board the train that leads to Aguas Calientes, the town near Machu Picchu.
- Once in Aguas Calientes, you can take a bus that takes about 30 minutes to get to the entrance of Machu Picchu.
- In total, the entire journey from Cusco to Machu Picchu takes approximately 4 hours.
How to buy train tickets and tickets for Machu Picchu?
- To purchase train tickets, you need to choose the departure station (Poroy, Ollantaytambo or Sacred Valley) and the date you want to travel. For Machu Picchu tickets, you must select the date and time you want to visit the site.
- Once you have the tickets in your possession, you must arrive at the corresponding train station and board the train that will take you to the town of Aguas Calientes, from where you can take a bus to the entrance of Machu Picchu.
- It is important that you plan ahead for your train trip to Machu Picchu so that you can ensure that you obtain the necessary tickets and enjoy an unforgettable experience at this world-renowned archaeological site.
This is how you can get the tickets to visit Machu Picchu.
- Due to the high demand for tickets to Machu Picchu, the number of visitors who can access the archaeological site has been limited.
- There are four types of tickets available, each one with a different experience in Machu Picchu and with specific entry times.
Next, we show you the four types of tickets and their respective access times.
- Ticket Machu Picchu Only: It has nine income groups, starting from 6 in the morning until 2 in the afternoon.
- Ticket Machu Picchu + Huayna Picchu: It has four entry groups and each group has an entry time to Huayna Picchu, which varies from one hour depending on the entry group to Machu Picchu.
- Ticket Machu Picchu + Mountain: tiene dos grupos de ingreso y cada uno tiene un horario de ingreso a la Montaña.
- Ticket Machu Picchu + Huchuy Picchu: It has six entry groups and each group has an entry time to Huchuy Picchu.
How to buy train tickets
There are two train companies available to travel:
- Peru Rail and Inca Rail.
- Each company offers four different types of services.
- Peru Rail has the Expedition, Vistadome, Vistadome Observatory and Hiram Bingham services, while Inca Rail offers Voyager, 360º, First Class and The Private.
To buy train tickets, you must access the Peru Rail or Inca Rail website.
- In it, you must select the date of travel, the type of train and the departure time.
- Afterwards, the payment of the train ticket must be made with a Visa, MasterCard, PayPal credit or debit card, among other available options.
- Once the purchase process is completed, the tickets must be printed or picked up in the city of Cusco, Peru.
- Finally, on the day of travel, the ticket must be presented on the train in order to board.
The car tour from Cusco to Ollantaytambo
- The start of the trip is a drive from Cusco to the town of Ollantaytambo.
- To board the vehicle, it is necessary to go to Pavitos street, although if your accommodation is near the Plaza de Armas, you can walk there.
- The price of the trip ranges between 10 and 15 Peruvian soles (3 to 5 USD).
- During the journey, you will cross the winding roads of the Sacred Valley of the Incas, enjoying a landscape of green fields, Andean mountains and the Urubamba River, which will accompany you throughout the journey to Ollantaytambo.
The train journey from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes.
- Once you are in the town of Ollantaytambo, you will have to go to the train station to board the train.
- It is recommended to arrive at the station at least 30 minutes before the scheduled departure time and make sure you have pre-booked tickets.
- The cost of the train ticket varies depending on the type of service you choose, with prices ranging from $50 to $500 for the deluxe service.
- The train trip from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes lasts almost two hours and is considered one of the most beautiful train routes in the world.
- During the journey you will be able to enjoy impressive landscapes, as well as Andean towns and their cultivated fields.
The bus ride from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu.
- Bus transportation from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu is an important part of the trip to the famous Inca citadel. The buses run regularly from early morning to late afternoon, with a frequency of every 10 to 15 minutes.
- The trip lasts around 20 to 30 minutes and is an exhilarating experience due to the steep and curvy roads that are crossed to reach the entrance of Machu Picchu.
- The cost of the bus is approximately 12 dollars each way, and tickets can be purchased in the town of Aguas Calientes or online in advance.
