Machu Picchu is the most famous Inca city and attracts millions of tourists every year. It is probably the star of every trip to Peru.
It is a global trend to visit the best places in the world forgetting the agencies and organized tours, and if this is the way you chose to travel, it will be very important that you know how to get to Machu Picchu. There are 3 ways to get to Machu Picchu: Through the Inca Trail and alternative hikes, second with the long route through Hydroelectric and by train (Machu Picchu by car). If you are not one of the people who enjoy outdoor hiking, you should choose the train ride. The train from Cusco to Machu Picchu is a beautiful journey through the Sacred Valley of the Incas to Aguas Calientes (Machupicchu village), at the foot of the Wonder of the World.
Machu Picchu Tours 2023 & 2024
There are many ways to get to Machu Picchu, but if you’re on a budget we recommend taking the best train from Cusco to Machu Picchu! Breathtaking views, Peruvian specialties and traditional music played by the resident. Imagine a trip to Machu Picchu like the luxury train such as Hiram Bingham train Luxury or Vistadome train Machu Picchu and 360 train Incarail, these two last train mentioned are panoramic trains is within your grasp.
There are two train companies in Cusco. “IncaRail and Perurail” and you can choose the best service train to Machu Picchu for your trip to the lost city of the Incas. These two companies offers differents services train from Cusco to Machu Picchu. The trip is an incredible experience, the route through the Sacred Valley of the Incas is considered one of the most amazing short train journeys in the world, but if you want to do it on your own, the first thing you should do is get the Machu Picchu tickets.
The best season is to do it in the dry season, which covers the months April to the end of September. In October the rains begin and you can find Machu Picchu covered by clouds. If you travel in June, we recommend you to book the Inti Raymi 2023 Tour that takes place in June 24th, and also hike the Palcoyo Mountain Tour, which is an incredible Rainbow Mountain located in the Andes.
If you have already purchased the Machu Picchu tickets and have little time before the day of your visit, book the train tickets. What’s more, we recommend booking them immediately after knowing the day you will enter Machu Picchu, many of the services usually run out weeks before.
There are two companies with authorization to travel the train from Cusco to Machu Picchu, and vice versa.
Both train companies have adequate services for tourists. Below we detail what each of them includes.
Peru Rail is the oldest company, authorized to operate the Machu Picchu route, it has different services. His website is www.perurail.com
Inca Rail is a Peruvian company that offers rail transportation services from Ollantaytambo to Machu Picchu. Its website is www.incarail.com
You can choose the best train from Cusco to Machu Picchu for your trip. Below you can view the schedules of the Peru Rail and Inca Rail train companies.
RELARED: VISTADOME VS 360 TRAIN
SERVICE | FREQUENCY | |
THE VOYAGER BIMODAL | 41 | 04:20 |
THE VOYAGER BIMODAL DOOR TO DOOR | 41 | 04:20 |
THE 360° BIMODAL | 61 | 04:50 |
THE VOYAGER BIMODAL | 43 | 08:30 |
THE VOYAGER PREMIUM & LOUNGE BIMODAL | 43 | 08:30 |
THE VOYAGER BIMODAL | 65 | 09:55 |
THE VOYAGER BIMODAL | 45 | 13:30 |
THE VOYAGER BIMODAL | 67 | 16:15 |
SERVICE | FREQUENCY | |
THE VOYAGER | 41 | 06:20 |
THE 360° | 45 | 07:22 |
THE VOYAGER PREMIUM & LOUNGE | 43 | 11:15 |
THE VOYAGER | 41 | 11:15 |
THE VOYAGER | 43 | 12:36 |
THE VOYAGER | 65 | 16:36 |
THE VOYAGER | 45 | 19:27 |
SERVICE | FREQUENCY | |
THE VOYAGER | 41 | 08:30 |
THE VOYAGER | 62 | 10:32 |
THE VOYAGER | 44 | 14:30 |
THE 360° | 64 | 16:12 |
THE VOYAGER | 43 | 12:36 |
THE VOYAGER | 65 | 16:36 |
THE VOYAGER | 46 | 19:00 |
THE VOYAGER | 68 | 21:30 |
SERVICE | FREQUENCY | |
THE VOYAGER BIMODAL | 42 | 08:30 |
THE VOYAGER BIMODAL | 62 | 10:32 |
THE VOYAGER BIMODAL | 44 | 14:30 |
THE VOYAGER BIMODAL DOOR TO DOOR | 44 | 14:30 |
THE 360° BIMODAL | 64 | 16:12 |
THE 360° BIMODAL DOOR TO DOOR | 64 | 16:12 |
THE VOYAGER BIMODAL | 46 | 19:00 |
THE VOYAGER BIMODAL DOOR TO DOOR | 46 | 19:00 |
THE VOYAGER BIMODAL | 68 | 21:30 |
SERVICE | DEPARTURE | ARRIVAL | |
EXPEDITION | 33 | 03:20 | 07:40 |
VISTADOME | 301 | 04:20 | 08:27 |
VISTADOME | 83 | 05:10 | 09:15 |
EXPEDITION | 83 | 05:10 | 09:15 |
VISTADOME | 33 | 05:40 | 09:54 |
EXPEDITION | 33 | 05:40 | 09:54 |
RELATED: PERU RAIL CUSCO MACHU PICCHU
SERVICE | DEPARTURE | ARRIVAL | |
EXPEDITION | 203 | 07:30 | 12:11 |
VISTADOME | 203 | 07:30 | 12:11 |
SERVICE | DEPARTURE | ARRIVAL | |
EXPEDITION | 33 | 06:40 | 09:54 |
VISTADOME | 33 | 06:40 | 09:54 |
VISTADOME | 203 | 08:25 | 12:11 |
EXPEDITION | 203 | 08:25 | 12:11 |
SERVICE | DEPARTURE | ARRIVAL | |
VISTADOME INT | 601 | 06:50 | 09:24 |
SERVICE | DEPARTURE | ARRIVAL | |
EXPEDITION | 71 | 05:05 | 06:35 |
EXPEDITION INT | 81 | 06:10 | 07:40 |
VISTADOME INT | 301 | 07:05 | 08:27 |
VISTADOME INT | 83 | 07:45 | 09:15 |
EXPEDITION INT | 83 | 07:45 | 09:15 |
VISTADOME | 601 | 08:00 | 09:25 |
VISTADOME INT | 33 | 08:29 | 09:54 |
EXPEDITION INT | 33 | 08:29 | 09:54 |
EXPEDITION INT | 203 | 10:32 | 12:11 |
VISTADOME INT | 203 | 10:32 | 12:11 |
EXPEDITION | 91 | 11:52 | 13:34 |
EXPEDITION | 73 | 12:55 | 14:25 |
VISTADOME | 73 | 12:55 | 14:25 |
VISTADOME | 303 | 13:27 | 14:50 |
EXPEDITION | 603 | 15:37 | 17:02 |
VISTADOME | 603 | 15:37 | 17:02 |
EXPEDITION | 75 | 19:04 | 20:45 |
VISTADOME | 75 | 19:04 | 20:45 |
EXPEDITION | 51 | 21:00 | 22:45 |
SERVICE | DEPARTURE | ARRIVAL | |
EXPEDITION | 50 | 05:35 | 07:44 |
EXPEDITION | 72 | 08:53 | 10:52 |
VISTADOME | 302 | 10:55 | 12:32 |
VISTADOME | 204 | 13:27 | 15:04 |
EXPEDITION | 74 | 14:55 | 16:31 |
VISTADOME | 74 | 14:55 | 16:31 |
VISTADOME INT | 34 | 15:20 | 17:08 |
EXPEDITION INT | 34 | 15:20 | 17:08 |
VISTADOME INT | 304 | 15:48 | 17:29 |
VISTADOME INT | 504 | 16:22 | 18:10 |
EXPEDITION INT | 504 | 16:22 | 18:10 |
EXPEDITION INT | 32 | 16:43 | 18:31 |
VISTADOME INT | 32 | 16:43 | 18:31 |
VISTADOME | 604 | 17:23 | 19:02 |
EXPEDITION INT | 84 | 18:20 | 20:05 |
VISTADOME INT | 84 | 18:20 | 20:05 |
EXPEDITION | 86 | 20:50 | 22:20 |
VISTADOME | 76 | 21:50 | 23:35 |
EXPEDITION | 76 | 21:50 | 23:35 |
SERVICE | DEPARTURE | ARRIVAL | |
EXPEDITION | 34 | 15:20 | 19:05 |
VISTADOME | 34 | 15:20 | 19:05 |
VISTADOME | 32 | 16:43 | 20:23 |
EXPEDITION | 32 | 16:43 | 20:23 |
SERVICE | DEPARTURE | ARRIVAL | |
EXPEDITION | 32 | 16:43 | 21:23 |
VISTADOME | 32 | 16:43 | 21:23 |
SERVICE | DEPARTURE | ARRIVAL | |
EXPEDITION | 34 | 15:20 | 19:45 |
VISTADOME | 34 | 15:20 | 19:45 |
VISTADOME | 304 | 15:48 | 20:05 |
EXPEDITION | 504 | 16:22 | 20:30 |
VISTADOME | 504 | 16:22 | 20:30 |
EXPEDITION | 84 | 18:20 | 22:30 |
VISTADOME | 84 | 18:20 | 22:30 |
SERVICE | DEPARTURE | ARRIVAL | |
EXPEDITION | 72 | 07:54 | 08:35 |
EXPEDITION | 504 | 14:50 | 15:34 |
SERVICE | DEPARTURE | ARRIVAL | |
EXPEDITION | 71 | 06:45 | 07:29 |
EXPEDITION | 07 | 13:15 | 13:46 |
RELATED: BUS FROM CUSCO TO HYDROELECTRIC
There are 3 boarding stations for the train from Cusco to Machu Picchu.
The duration of the train trip (one way) depends on the station where the train is approached:
The distance from Poroy station (Cusco) to Aguas Calientes is approximately 65.8 kilometers. The route crosses the beautiful landscapes of the Sacred Valley of the Incas. The train trip from Cusco to Machu Picchu takes 3 hours and 15 minutes approximately.
The distance from Urubamba to Aguas Calientes is 47.6 kilometers. The route is parallel to the Vilcanota River and the mountains. The trip lasts 2 hours and 30 minutes, approximately.
The distance from the Ollantaytambo station to Aguas Calientes is approximately 30.5 kilometers. The train from Cusco to Machu Picchu runs through the beautiful and green Sacred Valley of the Incas along the banks of the Urubamba River. The trip lasts a little less than 2 hours.
You must follow the following instructions to board the train from Cusco to Machu Picchu without complications:
Passengers over 45 years old who take the bimodal service (departure from Cusco) must present the complete vaccination dose.
Passengers over 18 years will be able to embark the train if they show their certificate of vaccination against COVID-19 with full dose. Otherwise they must show a negative molecular test within the 72 hours prior to embark.
Passengers over 18 years will be able to entry to Peru Rail Inca Rail’s station, ticket office, waiting lounge and other closed spaces to attend the public, showing their digital or printed certificate of vaccination against COVID-19 with full dose.
CONTROLS AT THE ENTRY – STATION AND WAITING ROOMS
CONTROLS WHEN BOARDING
CONTROLS INSIDE THE TRAIN
CONTROLS AT DISEMBARKING
CARRIAGE CLEANING
Many are the routes that take you to Machu Picchu, but none is like the Inca Trail Tours, the most famous pedestrian path in the Americas. After flying from the capital of Perú, Lima, you will arrive in Cusco to walk for four days along a path through forests and dense fog, millenary stone steps and discovering the ruins of ancient fortifications and Inca cities, and all the time enjoying majestic views.
If you want to visit Machu Picchu, we recommend you to book your Machu Picchu Ticket in advance, so you will enjoy your Vacation in Machu Picchu without any problem. Tierras Vivas offers the best Machu Picchu tours for you, you can browse our website
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