If you plan to visit Machu Picchu on your own, know that most tourists do so on a train trip. This method combines bus and train rides. It’s the fastest and easiest way to reach the Inca City. In addition, the train journey is an incredible experience due to the beautiful landscapes along the way.

• How to go to Machu Picchu by train?
• How to buy train tickets and Machu Picchu entrance tickets?
• How to buy Machu Picchu entrance tickets
• How to buy train tickets
• The car trip from Cusco to Ollantaytambo
• The train trip from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes
• The bus trip from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu
• Questions and answers about the train trip to Machu Picchu

If you travel on your own, don’t forget to buy your Machu Picchu ticket (2 months in advance) and your train ticket (weeks before) online through the Boletomachupicchu website. However, if you book a full tour, everything will be included and you’ll only need to worry about enjoying the experience.

How to go to Machu Picchu by train?

• All tourists who want to visit Machu Picchu must first arrive in the city of Cusco, as this is where the wonder of the world is located. Machu Picchu is more than 100 kilometers away from the city of Cusco.
• To go from Cusco to Machu Picchu, you must take a train from one of the 3 stations: Poroy, Sacred Valley, or Ollantaytambo. The latter is the most frequented, as it has the greatest number of daily departures.
• Cusco is 79 kilometers from the Ollantaytambo station, and the car ride takes approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes.
• In Ollantaytambo, you board the train that will take you to the town of Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu town); the trip takes about 2 hours..
• Once you arrive in Aguas Calientes, you only need to board one of the buses that, in 30 minutes, will take you to the entrance gate of the Machu Picchu Historic Sanctuary.
• In total, the entire trip from Cusco to the entrance gate of Machu Picchu can take approximately 4 hours and 30 minutes..

Beautiful landscapes on the way to Machu Picchu

How to buy train tickets and Machu Picchu entrance tickets?

• If you want to travel to Machu Picchu by train on your own, the first thing you must do is get your train tickets and Machu Picchu entrance tickets.
• Both tickets have limited availability, so they must be purchased online and in advance.

How to buy Machu Picchu entrance tickets

• The high demand for Machu Picchu tickets means you must book your entrance at least one month in advance, although if you want one of the most popular ones, you should do it two or three months ahead.
• There are a total of 10 types of tickets, and each one includes one of the 3 circuits that divide the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu.

These are the 10 types of tickets and their respective entry times:

To purchase your Machu Picchu entrance ticket online, you must visit the official website of the Ministry of Culture or buy it through Boletomachupicchu to secure your spot at the wonder of the world. Each ticket also offers discounts for children, university students, and members of the Andean Community of Nations (Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, and Colombia). Children under 3 years old enter for free.

How to buy train tickets

• There are 2 train companies that provide transportation services: PeruRail and Inca Rail.
• Peru Rail offers 4 types of services: Expedition, Vistadome, Vistadome Observatory, and Hiram Bingham.
• Inca Rail offers 4 types of services: Voyager, The 360°, First Class, and The Private.

The purchase of train tickets is done online as follows:

• Go to the Peru Rail or Inca Rail website.
• Select your travel date, train type, and schedule.
• Make your train ticket payment using Visa, MasterCard, PayPal, etc.
• Print your tickets or pick them up once you are in Cusco, Peru.
• Present your ticket on the day of your train trip.
• You can also purchase your train tickets through the Boletomachupicchu website.

The car trip from Cusco to Ollantaytambo

• If you are traveling to Machu Picchu on your own, you will need to take several means of transportation before arriving.
• The first leg of the trip is by car from Cusco to the town of Ollantaytambo.
• You will need to board a vehicle from Pavitos Street. If you are staying near the city’s Main Square, you can get there on foot.
• The price ranges from 10 Peruvian soles (3 USD) to 15 Peruvian soles (5 USD).
• The route passes through the winding roads of the Sacred Valley of the Incas. The scenery includes green fields, Andean mountains, and the roaring Urubamba River accompanying you throughout the journey to Ollantaytambo.
• The travel time from Cusco to Ollantaytambo is approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes.

The train trip from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes

• Upon arriving in the town of Ollantaytambo, you must head to the train station, which is just a few minutes from the main square.
• To board the train, you must have your tickets reserved in advance; a couple of weeks beforehand is usually sufficient.
• It is recommended to arrive at the station up to 30 minutes before the train departure.
• The train fare depends on the type of service you choose: it ranges from 50 USD to 500 USD (luxury service).
• The journey from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes takes just under 2 hours.
• The route is considered one of the best train rides in the world. You’ll see stunning landscapes, as well as Andean villages and their agricultural fields.

Book your train tickets as soon as you have your Machu Picchu tickets

The bus trip from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu

• Once in Aguas Calientes, you must purchase your bus ticket to Machu Picchu; no prior reservation is required..
• Although it is also possible to walk the 8.7 kilometers separating Aguas Calientes from Machu Picchu, the bus ride is the simplest and fastest way to get there.
• The bus station is located on the town’s main street: Hermanos Ayar Avenue. You can reach it on foot since the town is very small (the only vehicles allowed are the buses to Machu Picchu).
• The bus ticket from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu costs 12 USD (one way).
• The trip takes approximately 30 minutes.
• If you wish to experience more of the natural surroundings of Machu Picchu, you can return on foot via a stairway trail that descends continuously (1 hour downhill walk).

Questions and answers about the train trip to Machu Picchu

• 1. What are the other ways to get to Machu Picchu besides the train trip?

  You can also reach Machu Picchu through the Inca Trail (a 4-day hike) or via the alternative route through Hydroelectric (an 8-hour bus trip, approximately).

• 2. Is the train trip safe?

  Yes. The train journey is the safest way to reach Machu Picchu. Most tourists visiting the Inca City choose to travel by train from Ollantaytambo.

• 3. What does the train trip include?

  All train services are tourist-oriented and include: onboard service, comfortable seats, large windows, tables, snacks, and onboard music. Some services include lunch, dinner, an observation car, a dining car, and a bar.

• 4. What can you do in Ollantaytambo before boarding the train?

  In Ollantaytambo, besides the train station, there is an archaeological site famous for its Inca constructions of great historical significance. If you wish to visit this fortress, you will need to purchase the Cusco Tourist Ticket.

• 5. What is the bus ride from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu like?

  The bus ride from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu is an ascent along the Hiram Bingham Road. The journey takes 30 minutes, during which visitors can appreciate the lush vegetation surrounding the Inca City. Once at the entrance, you must present your printed entry tickets.

• 6. Can I buy the train ticket once in Cusco?

  Yes, it is possible to buy train tickets once in Cusco, Peru. However, due to limited availability, it is likely that no seats will be left. The most advisable option is to purchase the tickets online in advance.

• 7. Can I go to Machu Picchu by train and return to Cusco the same day?

  Yes, a one-day visit to Machu Picchu is possible by taking an early train. The Cusco – Machu Picchu – Cusco route takes approximately 8 hours. However, the best option is to book the Full Day tour to simply enjoy the experience without any inconvenience.

• 8. Can I travel by train directly from Cusco to Aguas Calientes?

  Yes, the Poroy station (just 30 minutes from the city of Cusco) offers four daily morning departures. The journey from Poroy to Aguas Calientes takes about 3 hours and 30 minutes. The fastest option is to travel from Ollantaytambo.

• 9. How far in advance should I buy train tickets?

  It is most advisable to do so one month in advance to secure your preferred service and schedule. You can still find available seats if purchased a few weeks before, although this does not guarantee the desired schedule.

• 10. Are trains available from the Hydroelectric Station?

  Yes, these trains depart only twice a day. However, since the distance is short—only 10 kilometers—most tourists prefer to walk this stretch.

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Train to Machu Picchu Photos





































































Advice from people who have been there

Machu Picchu

By: Josefina F

“Everything in Machu Picchu is beautiful“

“I’m 19 years old, and I couldn’t have chosen a better place to start checking off destinations from my bucket list. It’s incredible, wonderful, and full of all the adjectives you can imagine to describe such a fantastic place from any angle. But it’s not just the constructions—it’s everything: the setting they chose, the journey to get there, and the energy you can actually feel. Literally, you can feel the energy in Machu Picchu. It’s my dream come true, although I’ll return to enter through the Inca Trail.“

 

By Ticket Machu Picchu – Last updated, October 20, 2025