Taking the Train to Machu Picchu

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Cusco to Machu Picchu by Train

Before we tell you how to buy tickets for the train to Machu Picchu we need to clarify as couple of issues. First of all, there is no train station at Machu Picchu! The nearest train station is in the town of Aguas Calientes. Regular buses run between Aguas Calientes and Machu Picchu, the journey takes about 20 minutes and costs US$7 each way. Secondly, as from the beginning of 2009 trains no longer run from the train station in Cusco! Trains now depart from the station in Poroy. Poroy is a small village about a 20 minute taxi ride from Cusco. In fact very few trains depart from Poroy. The vast majority of trains to Machu Picchu actually depart from the station in the beautiful Inca town of Ollantaytambo which is located about 65 kilometres from Cusco. Don't worry we'll tell you how to get to Ollantaytambo a bit later.

At the moment the only company operating trains to Machu Picchu is Peru Rail. Since there's no competition the prices are quite high but the service is generally good. Details of the train services, departure times and prices can be found on their website www.perurail.com. Peru Rail is part owned by Orient-Express Hotels Ltd. Orient Express is an international company who also run the 5 star Hotel Monasterio in Cusco and the US$973 a night Sanctuary Lodge in Machu Picchu.

During the peak months of May to September all of the train tickets to Machu Picchu can be sold out several days in advance. If you are on a tight schedule it is absolutely essential that you make you train reservations as far in advance as possible. Do not wait until you arrive in Cusco to buy your train tickets. Peru Rail have improved their online reservation system and it is now fairly easy to make a booking and pay online using a VISA card. Their website allows you to check availability and search for the cheapest service available. Once you have bought your ticket online don't forget to print out your E-ticket and bring it with you to Peru. Before boarding the train you will have to check-in at the train station and change your E-ticket for an embarkation ticket. Try to arrive at the train station at least an hour before the train departs.

(i) Poroy (Cusco) to Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu) and back.

By far the simplest method of getting to Aguas Calientes is to buy a round-trip train ticket from Poroy. Peru Rail currently offers only 2 departure a day to Machu Picchu from the station in Poroy, one departure on the Vistadome service and 1 departure on the ridiculously high priced Hiram Bingham service. Tickets for the Vistadome service often sell out many weeks / months in advance.

The Vistadome service has large windows and also windows in the roof. This sound a bit strange but much of the last hour and a half of the journey is through a mountain valley so the windows in the roof help you to appreciate the scenery. A snack and hot drink are included with the Vistadome service. There is also a table in front of you and a little more leg room although I actually thought the seats in the backpacker class were slightly more comfortable.  You have to arrive at the station 30 minutes before the departure time.

Vistadome Service

Hiram Bingham Train: Poroy (Cusco) to Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu)

 

Departure	Arrival	Service*	Price (one way)
09:00	12:25	Hiram Bingham	US$ 334

 
Hiram Bingham Train: Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu) to Poroy (Cusco)

 

Departure	Arrival	Service*	Price (one way)
17:45	21:11	Hiram Bingham	US$ 307

 

A round-trip ticket on the Hiram Bingham service costs US$588 and includes pre-dinner cocktails, live entertainment, brunch served on outward journey and 4-course dinner with wine on return, all bus transfers, a guided tour of Machu Picchu, entrance tickets to Machu Picchu and afternoon tea at the Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge.

 

Hiram Bingham Service

 

The Hiram Bingham train is the most luxurious way to journey between Cusco and Machu Picchu. The carriages are painted a distinctive blue and gold while interiors are luxurious, warm and inviting with elegant decoration in the style of the 1920's Pullman trains. As passengers step on board they are encompassed in a world of polished wood, gleaming cutlery and glittering glass. The train consists of two Dining Cars, an Observation Bar Car and a Kitchen Car, and can carry up to 84 passengers.

(ii) Ollantaytambo (Ollanta) to Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu) and back.

This involves a combination of bus/taxi between Cusco and Ollantaytambo and then train between Ollantaytambo and Aguas Calientes.

The round-trip service on the Vistadome service between Poroy (Cusco) and Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu) tends to fill up pretty quickly so if they're full you'll have to travel by road from Cusco to Ollantaytambo and then take the train between Ollantaytambo and Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu). Ollantaytambo is about 65 kilometres from Cusco along a scenic paved road. You can take a taxi from Cusco to Ollantaytambo which takes about 1 hour 45 minutes and costs about US$25. Alternatively you can take a local bus from Cusco to Urubamba and another local bus from Urubamba to Ollantaytambo which takes about 2 hours 30 minutes in total and costs about US$3 per person. Trains between Ollantaytambo and Aguas Calientes take about 1 hour 30 minutes.  You have to arrive at the station 30 minutes before the departure time.

Just to confuse things Peru Rail, on their website, refer to Ollantaytambo as Ollanta and the information about "Routes & Timetables" between Ollantaytambo and Aguas Calientes can be found under the heading "Sacred Valley - Machu Picchu."

 
Vistadome Train: Ollantaytambo (Sacred Valley) to Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu)

Backpacker Cerrojo: Ollantaytambo (Sacred Valley) to Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu)

 

Departure	Arrival	Service*	Price (one way)
05:37	07:01	Economy	US$ 31
06:10**	07:38	Premium	US$ 43
08:53	10:23	Premium	US$ 43
12:10	13:36	Regular	US$ 34
18:58**	20:32	Economy	US$ 31
20:35	22:10	Economy	US$ 31

 
Vistadome Train: Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu)to Ollantaytambo (Sacred Valley)

 

Departure	Arrival	Service*	Price (one way)
08:30	10:10	Economy	US$ 43
10:32	12:08	Regular	US$ 53
10:55	12:30	Regular	US$ 53
12:26**	13:50	Regular	US$ 53
13:37	14:57	Regular	US$ 53
15:55	17:21	Premium	US$ 60
16:20**	17:44	Premium	US$ 60
16:50	18:13	Premium	US$ 60
17:25	18:51	Premium	US$ 60
19:00	20:25	Economy	US$ 43

 

Backpacker Cerrojo: Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu)to Ollantaytambo (Sacred Valley)

  

Departure	Arrival	Service*	Price (one way)
05:35	07:44	Economy	US$ 31
09:30	11:27	Economy	US$ 31
13:58**	15:38	Regular	US$ 34
14:26	16:02	Regular	US$ 34
18:03	19:35	Economy	US$ 31
21:20**	22:58	Economy	US$ 31

 
** Only available from April to October

 

For description of the Vistadome service see above.

 

The Backpacker trains are the most economical way to travel on the route between Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu) and Ollantaytambo (Sacred Valley). This service is ideal for our adventure passengers or for those seeking comfort and security, without all the frills. Snacks are served at an additional cost and additional storage space is available for backpacks.  You have to arrive at the station 30 minutes before the departure time.

 

Backpacker Service

   

*The above timetable and prices were taken from the Peru Rail website on 01 September 2009 and are valid until the end of the year. Details may be subject to change. The information refers to arrival & departure times at Aguas Calientes station. Walking from the train station to where the buses depart for Machu Picchu plus the bus ride can add another 30 minutes to you journey assuming that you don't have to queue for either your bus ticket or your entrance ticket. Booking online is a similar process to booking flights. After you have paid for your ticket online you can then print out two copies of an E-ticket which you will have to bring with you to Cusco. The E-tickets will have to be exchanged for embarkation tickets at the train station so try to arrive at the station at least an hour before departure.