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 2025 & 2025
How to get from Cusco to Machu Picchu?
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.
When is the best season to visit to Machu Picchu?
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 2025 Tour that takes place in June 24th, and also hike the Palcoyo Mountain Tour, which is an incredible Rainbow Mountain located in the Andes.
Book train tickets
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.
Peru Rail or Inca Rail - Which one to choose to travel by train to Machu Picchu?
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
Peru Rail is the oldest company, authorized to operate the Machu Picchu route, it has different services. His website is www.perurail.com
- Vistadome: It is a train with wide wagons, with panoramic windows in the roof and the sides that will allow you to take photographs of the entire route through the valley.
- Expedition: The Expedition has wagons totally covered by panoramic windows and service on board, snacks and Peruvian food.
- Sacred Valley: This train links Urubamba with Machu Picchu on a luxurious journey through the beautiful landscapes of the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Includes lunch (or dinner) in the observatory car or the dining car.
- Belmond Hiram Bingham: It is one of the most luxurious trains in the world, exclusive and with service on board. It has 4 choches, dining car, car bar, gourmet dinner, transportation and tickets to Machu Picchu.
Inca Rail
Inca Rail is a Peruvian company that offers rail transportation services from Ollantaytambo to Machu Picchu. Its website is www.incarail.com
- The Voyager: The cars have comfortable seats, folding tables and panoramic windows. Set with Latin American music. There is on-board service and a selection of drinks made with Andean fruits and herbs.
- The 360º: They have large panoramic windows, set with Latin American music, on-board service, with a selection of hot and cold beverages, as well as selling handcrafted products on board.
- The First Class: It has ambient music, natural flowers and covered tables. You will be served a welcome cocktail, lunch and / or gourmet dinner. Serves only in high tourist season (from April to October) and special dates.
- The Private: With capacity for 8 people. The car, known as the 'Princess Inca' is of the presidential class. The car has many details in its decoration, food on board, free bar. This train operates only by request.
Train tickets from Cusco to Machu Picchu
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.
INCA RAIL: TRAIN TIMETABLES & SERVICE
PERURAIL: TRAIN TIMETABLES & SERVICE
- Cusco to Machu Picchu
- Cusco to Machu Picchu (Departure from San Pedro train station)
- Poroy to Machu Picchu
- Urubamba to Machu Picchu
- Ollantaytambo to Machu Picchu
- Machu Picchu to Ollantaytambo
- Machu Picchu to Poroy
- Machu Picchu to Cusco (Arrival to San Pedro train station)
- Machu Picchu to Cusco
- Hidrolectrica to Machu Picchu
- Machu Picchu to Hidrolectrica
RELARED: VISTADOME VS 360 TRAIN
CUSCO TO MACHU PICCHU
| 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 |
OLLANTAYTAMBO TO MACHU PICCHU
| 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 |
MACHU PICCHU TO OLLANTAYTAMBO
| 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 |
MACHU PICCHU TO CUSCO
| 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 |
CUSCO TO MACHU PICCHU
| 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
CUSCO (SAN PEDRO TRAIN STATION) TO MACHU PICCHU
| SERVICE | DEPARTURE | ARRIVAL | |
| EXPEDITION | 203 | 07:30 | 12:11 |
| VISTADOME | 203 | 07:30 | 12:11 |
POROY TO MACHU PICCHU
| 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 |
URUBAMBA TO MACHU PICCHU
| SERVICE | DEPARTURE | ARRIVAL | |
| VISTADOME INT | 601 | 06:50 | 09:24 |
OLLANTAYTAMBO TO MACHU PICCHU
| 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 |
MACHU PICCHU TO OLLANTAYTAMBO
| 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 |
MACHU PICCHU TO POROY
| 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 |
MACHU PICCHU TO CUSCO (SAN PEDRO TRAIN STATION)
| SERVICE | DEPARTURE | ARRIVAL | |
| EXPEDITION | 32 | 16:43 | 21:23 |
| VISTADOME | 32 | 16:43 | 21:23 |
MACHU PICCHU TO CUSCO
| 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 |
HIDROLECTRICA TO MACHU PICCHU
| SERVICE | DEPARTURE | ARRIVAL | |
| EXPEDITION | 72 | 07:54 | 08:35 |
| EXPEDITION | 504 | 14:50 | 15:34 |
MACHU PICCHU TO HIDROLECTRICA
| SERVICE | DEPARTURE | ARRIVAL | |
| EXPEDITION | 71 | 06:45 | 07:29 |
| EXPEDITION | 07 | 13:15 | 13:46 |
RELATED: BUS FROM CUSCO TO HYDROELECTRIC
Where to board the train from Cusco to Machu Picchu?
There are 3 boarding stations for the train from Cusco to Machu Picchu.
- Ollantaytambo station: Av. Ferrocarril s / n, Ollantaytambo, Sacred Valley (Cusco).
- Poroy Station: Roldan Street s / n, District of Poroy, Cusco.
- Urubamba station: Av. Ferrocarril s / n, Urubamba, Sacred Valley (Cusco).
How long does it take to travel by train from Cusco to Machu Picchu?
The duration of the train trip (one way) depends on the station where the train is approached:
- From Poroy station (Cusco): The trip takes 3 hours and 15 minutes approximately.
- From the Urubamba station: The trip lasts 2 hours and 30 minutes, approximately.
- From the Ollantaytambo station: The trip lasts a little less than 2 hours.
How is the train trip from Cusco to Machu Picchu?
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.
Conditions to board the train from Cusco to Machu Picchu
You must follow the following instructions to board the train from Cusco to Machu Picchu without complications:
- When boarding the train, you must show your travel ticket and your identity document or passport.
- The railway company will check your ticket before and during the trip.
- If you can not prove that you own the ticket, you will be prevented from boarding the train, with no option to claim.
- They will not let you board the train if your health condition is delicate. So also women in a state of gestation greater than or equal to seven months.
- They will prevent you from boarding the train if you are in an obvious state of drunkenness or under the influence of other substances.
- Young children must be accompanied by their parents or legal guardians.
Cusco to Machu Picchu tours
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.
- Salkantay Trek
- Hiking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu 5 days
- Inca Quarry Trail 4 Days
- 2 Day Inca Trail Tour
- 2 Day Inca Trail with Camping
- 3 Day Inca Trail
- Vilcabamba Hike to Machu Picchu 6 days
- Choquequirao trek to Machu Picchu 9 days
- Ausangate trek 7 days
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
