About this experience

For many visitors to Peru and even South America, a visit to the Inca city of Machu Picchu is the long-anticipated highpoint of their trip. In a spectacular location, it’s the best-known archaeological site on the continent. This awe-inspiring ancient city was never revealed to the conquering Spaniards and was virtually forgotten until the early part of the 20th century.

At a glance

Duration: 15 hr

Choose your tour option

Select a date and travellers to compare current prices and departure times.

Ultimate 1-Day Machu Picchu Adventure by Train

Pickup included

Plan your experience

Time on the tour15 hr

Getting therePickup offeredSee pickup details

Guide languagesEnglish (live guide), Spanish (live guide)

Set aside 15 hr for the experience itself, with additional time to reach your meeting or pickup point.

Before you go

Suitable for all physical fitness levels

Local guides to help you plan

Choosing the Right Train to Machu Picchu

PeruRail or IncaRail, Vistadome or Expedition, Ollantaytambo or Poroy. The trade-offs nobody explains until you're already at the station.

Machu Picchu Train From Cusco Guide

Plan the Machu Picchu train from Cusco with clear advice on bimodal routes, entry tickets, train classes, timings, baggage, and booking order.

Machu Picchu Day Trip From Cusco

A Machu Picchu day trip from Cusco is possible, but it requires advance entry tickets, carefully matched transport, and a very early start. Use this practical guide to choose a circuit, build a realistic schedule, compar

What is included

Bus from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu and back
Ticket to enter Machu Picchu
Train ticket Ollantaytambo – Aguas Calientes Ollantaytambo
Guided tour to Machu Picchu
Transport – Cusco – Ollantaytambo and back
Hotel Pickup with in the historical center of Cusco.
Professional bilingual tour guide

Not included

Meals

Itinerary and highlights

Hotel Pickup (3:55am)

At 3:55am, hotel pick-ups will begin, so make sure you're up early and ready to go. You’ll be picked up from your hotel and driven to the train station in Ollantaytambo.

Ollantaytambo Train Station (6:40am)

Upon arrival at the Ollantaytambo train station, you’ll catch the 6:40am train, which will take you to Aguas Calientes. The journey will take about 1.5 hours, and you'll arrive in Aguas Calientes around 8:00am.

Aguas Calientes (8:00am)

Once you arrive at the train station in Aguas Calientes, your guide will meet you and take you to the bus for the ride to Machu Picchu. The bus ride is about 30 minutes, and you should arrive at the entrance to Machu Picchu around 8:45am.

Machu Picchu Arrival (Around 8:45 AM)
You’ll arrive at Machu Picchu around 8:45 AM. After entering, your bilingual guide will take you on a tour of the ancient city, covering all major areas, lasting about 2.5 to 3 hours.

Free Time at Machu Picchu
After the tour, you’ll have free time to explore on your own. Wander and enjoy the views. If you wish, exit for a snack at the café and re-enter. Your ticket is valid all day, so explore at your leisure.

Optional Huayna Picchu Hike
If you'd like extra adventure, hike the Huayna Picchu mountain (tickets must be booked when purchasing Machu Picchu entry). The hike takes 1.5 to 2 hours round trip and is unguided. The entrance window for Huayna Picchu is from 10:00 to 11:00 AM, so if you choose it, your guided tour will be quicker to finish in time.

Return to Aguas Calientes
Once you’ve finished exploring Machu Picchu, you'll descend back to Aguas Calientes, the town named for its hot springs.

Return Train to Cusco or Ollantaytambo
After your time in Aguas Calientes, you have two options for returning:

You can take the 4:12 PM train directly to Cusco.

Alternatively, you can take the 7:00 PM train to Ollantaytambo (the journey is approximately 1 hour and 40 minutes).
If you take the 7:00 PM train to Ollantaytambo, a mini-bus will be waiting to take you to Cusco. The drive takes about 90 minutes.

Meeting and pickup information

We will be picking you up from your hotel within the historic centre of Cusco. Please Note: This service doesn't include pick up in private residencies, example; Airbnb or hotels that are outside the historic centre.

Languages and tickets

English — Guide
Spanish — Guide
Mobile Only

Tour operator

Minka Peru Expeditions

Accessibility and practical details

Suitable for all physical fitness levels

Cancellation policy

All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.

Questions about this experience

How long is this experience?

The supplier lists a duration of 15 hr.

What are the pickup arrangements?

We will be picking you up from your hotel within the historic centre of Cusco. Please Note: This service doesn't include pick up in private residencies, example; Airbnb or hotels that are outside the historic centre.

Which guide languages are listed?

English (live guide), Spanish (live guide).

What ticket format is listed?

Mobile ticket.

What ticket age bands are listed?

Child tickets: age 3–9; Youth tickets: age 10–17; Adult tickets: age 18+; Senior tickets: age 66+. Check the practical details for participation requirements.

What is the cancellation policy?