About this experience

Discover the ancient Inca site of Machu Picchu on a full-day tour from Cusco, featuring scenic train travel and a fascinating guided exploration of this UNESCO World Heritage Site. Begin your adventure with an early hotel pickup for a transfer to Ollantaytambo train station. Board a comfortable train for approximately 1 hour and 40 minutes of breathtaking views of the Andes and lush landscapes before reaching Aguas Calientes. After a 30-minute bus ride to the citadel, enjoy a guided tour highlighting the Temple of the Sun, agricultural terraces, and the iconic Intihuatana stone. Afterward, explore Aguas Calientes before returning to Cusco.

At a glance

Duration: 14 hr

Choose your tour option

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

Full-Day Train Tour to Machu Picchu from Cusco

Pickup included

Plan your experience

Time on the tour14 hr

Getting therePickup offeredSee pickup details

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

Set aside 14 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

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.

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 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

Round-trip Tourist Train Tickets
Hotel Pick-up and Drop-off in Cusco
Tour Assistance
Professional Bilingual Tour Guide
Round-trip Bus Tickets to Machu Picchu
Entrance Ticket to Machu Picchu (Circuit 02)

Not included

Lunch in Aguas Calientes
Personal Expenses

Itinerary and highlights

Your journey begins very early in the morning with hotel pickup in Cusco between 03:30 and 04:10 a.m. Our tourist transport will take you to the train station located in Ollantaytambo, traveling through the scenic landscapes of the Sacred Valley.

During the drive, you will pass through traditional Andean villages and beautiful mountain scenery while heading toward the Sacred Valley. This transfer ensures you arrive on time to board the train to Machu Picchu.

At approximately 06:10 a.m., you will board the tourist train operated by PeruRail or Inca Rail, typically the Voyager or Expedition service.

The train ride lasts around 1 hour and 40 minutes, following the course of the Urubamba River while passing through spectacular Andean landscapes, lush cloud forests, and dramatic mountain scenery. This railway journey is considered one of the most beautiful train routes in South America.

Around 07:50 a.m., you will arrive at the town of Aguas Calientes. Your guide or local representative will meet you at the train station and escort you to the bus station.

You will then board the official shuttle bus operated by Consettur, which takes about 30 minutes to ascend the mountain through a winding road leading to the entrance of the Machu Picchu sanctuary.

At approximately 09:00 a.m., your guided tour of Machu Picchu begins. You will explore the archaeological site following Circuit 2 Machu Picchu, considered the most complete and panoramic route within the citadel.

During the 2 to 2.5-hour guided visit, your professional guide will explain the history, architecture, and cultural significance of this UNESCO World Heritage Site. You will visit important sectors of the citadel, including agricultural terraces, the Main Plaza, the Temple of the Sun, the Temple of the Three Windows, ceremonial areas, and ancient residential sectors.
You will also enjoy breathtaking panoramic views of the entire citadel and the surrounding mountains, with the Urubamba River flowing far below the canyon.

After the guided tour, you will take the bus back down to Aguas Calientes. Here you will have free time to enjoy lunch at a local restaurant (lunch included), explore the small town, visit the local handicraft market, or relax before boarding the train back to the Sacred Valley.

In the evening, you will return to the train station around 17:50 to board your return train departing approximately at 18:20.

During the return journey, you will once again travel along the scenic railway following the Urubamba River while enjoying the beautiful Andean landscapes as the sun begins to set over the mountains.

Upon arrival at the Ollantaytambo train station (around 20:05–20:20), our transport will be waiting to transfer you back to Cusco.

The drive back to the city takes approximately 1 hour and 40 minutes, with arrival at your hotel expected around 22:30

Meeting and pickup information

Pick-up service is available from hotels located in the historic center of Cusco and nearby areas. If your accommodation is located outside the pick-up zone, an additional transfer fee may apply. Since the tour starts very early in the morning (between 03:30 and 04:10 a.m.), travelers are kindly requested to wait in the hotel reception or at the main entrance of their accommodation at least 10 minutes before the scheduled pick-up time. It is important to provide the name of your hotel and an active contact number (preferably WhatsApp) at the time of booking in order to properly coordinate the pick-up time.

Languages and tickets

English — Guide
Spanish — Guide
Mobile Only

Tour operator

Planet Odysseys

Meeting points and locations

Accessibility and practical details

Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Important Booking Notice This tour includes the highly requested Circuit 2 Machu Picchu, which offers the classic panoramic viewpoint and the most complete visit inside Machu Picchu. Due to limited daily availability, we strongly recommend booking at least 3 months in advance to secure this circuit. Once Circuit 2 tickets are sold out, only alternative circuits may remain, which do not include the classic Machu Picchu viewpoint, or tickets may be completely sold out. Last-minute reservations (within a few days) may still be possible depending on ticket availability, but the itinerary, circuit, or price may differ from this listing.

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 14 hr.

What are the pickup arrangements?

Pick-up service is available from hotels located in the historic center of Cusco and nearby areas. If your accommodation is located outside the pick-up zone, an additional transfer fee may apply.

Since the tour starts very early in the morning (between 03:30 and 04:10 a.m.), travelers are kindly requested to wait in the hotel reception or at the main entrance of their accommodation at least 10 minutes before the scheduled pick-up time.

It is important to provide the name of your hotel and an active contact number (preferably WhatsApp) at the time of booking in order to properly coordinate the pick-up time.

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 5–11; Youth tickets: age 12–17; Adult tickets: age 18+; Senior tickets: age 65+. Check the practical details for participation requirements.

What is the cancellation policy?