How to Get to Machu Picchu by Train: PeruRail vs. IncaRail (2026 Guide)
There are exactly two ways how to get to Machu Picchu by rail, and they both run on the same tracks. The real decision is about departure point, service class, and whether you’re willing to pay $500 for a 90-minute train ride with a live band.
PeruRail vs. IncaRail: Which Train Operator Is Better?
Both companies are safe, modern, and use the same railway from the Sacred Valley up to Aguas Calientes (also called Machu Picchu village). The difference is mostly schedule availability and service class offerings.
PeruRail runs more daily departures (8–10 vs. IncaRail’s 4–6), which gives you more flexibility matching your Machu Picchu entry ticket time. They’re the bigger operator and the one most people end up on.
IncaRail has fewer departures but comparable service tiers. Their trains are slightly newer in some cases. Neither is inherently better.
For most travelers, the best choice is whichever has the departure time that lines up with your Machu Picchu ticket.
Best Departure Station: Ollantaytambo vs. Cusco (Poroy)
Ollantaytambo (recommended)
- 1.5 hours to Aguas Calientes
- Direct train, no transfers
- Ollantaytambo itself is worth a visit: Inca ruins, cobblestone streets, a functioning town, not a tourist trap
- If you’re staying in the Sacred Valley, this is the obvious choice
Cusco (Poroy Station)
- About 3 hours total
- It’s a bus + train combo, not a direct rail departure
- You take a bus/taxi from Cusco to Poroy station, then the train
- Only worth it if you’re based in Cusco and don’t want to transit to Ollantaytambo
Which Train Station Is Better for Altitude Acclimatization?
There’s a secondary reason to start from Ollantaytambo that has nothing to do with price or schedule. It’s about 600 meters lower than Cusco. That’s a real difference when you’re still adjusting to the altitude. The standard advice is to sleep low and go high. Land in Cusco, transfer straight to the Sacred Valley, do Machu Picchu from there, and save Cusco for last. (I did the opposite. I felt it.) If you’re flying in from the Americas and don’t have serious jet lag, you can skip the Cusco buffer day entirely.
My recommendation: Base yourself in Ollantaytambo for the night before or stay in the Sacred Valley. The 1.5-hour direct train is simpler and the town is better than you’d expect.
Machu Picchu Train Classes & Ticket Costs Explained
Budget Tier: PeruRail Expedition vs. IncaRail Voyager
Cost: $60–$85 one way per person
What you get: Reclining seats, basic snacks, a functional train that gets you there. The seats are comfortable enough. The service is minimal.
Important caveat on the cars: Some Expedition trains have clear-roof panoramic panels. Mine did. So don’t assume you’re escaping the glass roof by booking the cheapest ticket. I sat in an Expedition car with a full clear roof, getting cooked by the sun for 90 minutes. The car turned into a literal greenhouse, and I ended up sitting on the floor next to the bathroom for nearly the entire 90-minute ride just to escape the direct sun. If you book an Expedition car with panoramic roof panels, pack extra water, wear a hat, and do not expect the air conditioning to save you.
My experience: $81 per person each way, booked months in advance. It’s a train. It works. The seats are fine. The snacks are minimal. Bring your own food and water.
Luggage warning: I had two different experiences on the same service class. First time, our large luggage was fine. Second time, they made us pay a luggage fee (x2). Meanwhile, people with backpacks the same size boarded without issue. The policy seems to be inconsistently enforced based on who’s working the gate. Hard-sided suitcases get targeted. Backpacks don’t. It isn’t cheap and just another way you’re gouged getting to Machu Picchu.
Best strategy: Leave your big luggage in Ollantaytambo or Cusco. Pack a small bag for one or two nights in Aguas Calientes. The town is small and cobblestoned anyway – you don’t want to drag a roller bag through it.
Panoramic Mid-Tier: PeruRail Vistadome vs. IncaRail 360
Cost: $85–$120 one way per person
What you get: Same glass roof concept as some Expedition cars, but with bigger windows, better onboard service, and slightly more comfortable seating. The views of the Urubamba Valley are genuinely impressive. But the same greenhouse problem applies. If anything, the Vistadome might be worse because the windows are bigger and let in more direct sun.
Luxury Class: Belmond Hiram Bingham vs. IncaRail First Class
Cost: $400–$500+ one way per person
What you get: White tablecloths. A three-course meal with wine. A bar car. Live music. It’s genuinely a nice experience if you treat the train ride as part of the destination rather than just transportation.
Is it worth it? That’s $500 for 90 minutes. You eat a nice meal, listen to someone play a charango, watch the valley go by through a window that costs more than most people’s rent. Unless spending 500 dollars on a 90-minute ride is pocket change to you, skip the Hiram Bingham. The standard Expedition or Voyager trains travel the exact same tracks and arrive at the exact same station. Take the 400 dollars you save and put it toward an extra night at an upscale Sacred Valley hotel or a top-tier private ruins guide.
The Complete Route: Train, Consettur Bus, and Entry Tickets
How to get to Machu Picchu is a three-step process:
- Train to Aguas Calientes (1.5 hours from Ollantaytambo)
- Shuttle bus up the mountain to the entrance (30 minutes, switchback road)
- Timed entry ticket to the site (booked via the Ministry’s “Tu Boleto” system)
The train doesn’t take you to the ruins. It drops you in Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu Village), a small town in the valley. From there, you take a bus (Consettur) up the mountain to the actual entrance. The bus ride is 30 minutes of tight switchbacks. If you get motion sick, sit in the front. Be prepared to wait 1.5 hours to get on the bus at your designated time. It’s wild.
When and How to Book Your Machu Picchu Train Tickets
Book early. Peak season (June–August) sells out 6–8 weeks in advance. The Hiram Bingham can sell out months ahead. I booked my Expedition tickets months ahead and still paid $81 each way.
Match your train to your ticket slot. Your Machu Picchu entry ticket has a specific time window. Your train needs to arrive in Aguas Calientes early enough to get the bus up and make your entry time. Don’t book a 2 PM train for a 1 PM entry slot. This seems obvious, but people do it.
If you don’t want to coordinate train + bus + ticket yourself, these combo tours handle it.
What to Pack for the Train to Aguas Calientes
- Snacks and water. The onboard options are overpriced and limited. Bring your own.
- A light jacket. It gets cooler as you go into the valley and if it is cloudy the air conditioning on some cars is aggressive.
- Sunscreen and a hat if it is sunny and if you’re in a panoramic car. The glass roof amplifies the sun.
- Your passport. You need it to board the train. They check it at the station.
What I pack for all my trips.
Rail Delays and Strikes: Why You Need Travel Insurance
The train system to Machu Picchu is fragile. It’s one track through a mountain valley. If something goes wrong – a protest, a landslide, a maintenance issue…you’re stuck in a small town with limited options.
In September 2025, a dispute over the bus company contract led to protesters blocking the tracks with rocks and logs. Tourism Minister Desilu Leon said 1,400 tourists had been evacuated on Monday, but 900 remained stranded in Aguas Calientes. PeruRail’s local unit said “third parties” had excavated part of the rail route, affecting track stability. The protest lasted days.
This isn’t a regular occurrence, but it’s a risk. Travel insurance, flexible bookings, and a backup plan are worth the effort.
Total Cost Breakdown: How Much Does the Machu Picchu Train Cost?
| Item | Cost (per person) |
|---|---|
| Expedition/Voyager one way | $60–$85 |
| Vistadome/360° one way | $85–$120 |
| Hiram Bingham/First Class one way | $400–$500+ |
| Shuttle bus (Aguas Calientes to entrance) | ~$12 each way |
| Machu Picchu entry ticket | ~$40–$60 |
| Total (budget, round trip + entry) | ~$200–$300 |
| Total (luxury, round trip + entry) | ~$900–$1,100+ |
Best Hotels Near the Train Stations (Ollantaytambo & Cusco)
- Ollantaytambo hotels: El Albergue Ollantaytambo Proximity: Literally inside the train station. Like, you walk off the platform into the hotel.
- Historic property opened in 1925, 16 rooms, gardens with hummingbirds, no TVs in the rooms (which is a feature, not a bug). You wake up, walk 30 feet, and board your train. It’s the most convenient possible option and the kind of old-world character that fits your aesthetic.
- Cusco hotels: Palacio del Inka Proximity: Near Plaza de Armas, walkable to everything, tour pickups are easy. Housed in a historic building, recently renovated, has a spa, sauna, jacuzzi – useful for recovery after the altitude and hiking. More importantly, it’s centrally located so you can store your big luggage here, walk to restaurants, and catch a taxi to Ollantaytambo or Poroy station when you’re ready to head out.
- Aguas Calientes hotels; Jaya Machu Picchu Boutique Hotel Proximity: Steps from the train station, across the river from the bus terminal up to the ruins.Modern rooms, comfortable, reasonable price point for what it is. The location is the selling point – you get off the train, walk two minutes, drop your bag, and you’re a 5-minute walk from the bus queue for the morning. No dragging luggage through cobblestone streets.
FAQ: Taking the Train to Machu Picchu
The bottom line: Book Expedition or Voyager, leave from Ollantaytambo, travel light, bring snacks, buy tickets early, and get travel insurance. The upgrades are nice but not necessary. The train is the most expensive part of the trip that isn’t the trip itself. Just accept it, budget for it, and move on.
Full disclosure: Some links here are affiliate links. If you use them, I get a tiny kickback at no cost to you, which keeps this site running and fuels my travel coffee habit. I only recommend tools I actually used.
