Peru · TRAIN EXPERIENCES

The 15 Best Train Journeys to Machu Picchu

46 tours  ·  from $170

The line runs from Ollantaytambo down the Urubamba to Aguas Calientes, and the seat class changes the day more than anything else. These 15 compare services, panoramic carriages and the packages that bundle entry and the bus up.

Cusco: Machu Picchu 2-Day Inca Trail with Panoramic Train - Chachabamba and Wiñaywayna add real depth
2-Day Experiences, Inca Trail Treks, Machu Picchu Tours, Tour Reviews, Train Experiences

Cusco: Machu Picchu 2-Day Inca Trail with Panoramic Train

1.Machu Picchu 2-Day Inca Trail with Panoramic Train

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 260 reviews · 2 days · from $582Our pick

This two-day trip combines a demanding Inca Trail hike from Km 104 with sunset at Machu Picchu, a sunrise guided visit, and a Vistadome train ride. Guides such as Gilbert, Jason, Alejandro, and Abelardo are praised for patient pacing and strong local knowledge. Expect an early start, fresh trail meals, one night in Aguas Calientes, and a group of up to 16 people.

“Our guides were literally the best! We couldn’t have asked for better! The only thing we would recommend to improve on. My husband and I train tickets were not seats next to eachother and the whole group was on different trains on the ride back. The bag drop off and transportation back to our hotels process could improve. There was a lot of waiting around and extra steps that seems could be done more streamlined and organized especially when participants are tired and ready to go back to their hotels. Thank you!!”

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The First Class Machu Picchu Train by Inca Rail - Beginning in Cusco at the VIP waiting room
Machu Picchu Tours, Tour Reviews, Train Experiences

The First Class Machu Picchu Train by Inca Rail

2.The First Class Machu Picchu Train by Inca Rail

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 182 reviews · 2 to 4 hours (approx.) · from $855

Ride Inca Rail First Class from Cusco toward Machu Picchu with an observatory carriage, three-course meals, drinks, live music, a certified guide, and private bus transfers to the citadel. You’ll use a VIP waiting room in Cusco, though hotel-to-station transport is not included and luggage rules need checking.

“From the very first moment, the passion and commitment to excellence are unmistakable. Every detail reflects the care, professionalism, and heart with which Brian Bendezu leads his team, creating a level of service that is both impeccable and deeply human.”

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From Cusco: 1-day Machu Picchu Tour by Train - Ollantaytambo station and the tourist train
1-Day Tours, Day Trips in Machu Picchu, Machu Picchu Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours, Train Experiences

From Cusco: 1-day Machu Picchu Tour by Train

3.1-day Machu Picchu Tour by Train

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 138 reviews · 12 hours · from $360

Travel from Cusco to Machu Picchu by tourist train, enjoy Andes views, ride the bus to the citadel, and join a two-hour guided visit. Guides such as Richard, Eric, Miguel, and Juan Carlos Quiño bring Inca history to life. Your package includes transport, train, bus, entry, and return transfer, but not meals.

“We were abit anxious about the 15hrs day trip but Libertrek Peru Travel arranged a very good itinerary for the day. The highlight of course was visiting Machu Picchu. Our guide Richard and driver Yuri were very helpful making sure our trip went smoothly. Richard was very accommodating and gave us a pretty good briefing about this historical site and took us to the best locations for photos. The scenic ride with PeruRail was also another highlight. Highly recommended. Richard is your man..”

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2-Day Machu Picchu Tour by train from Cusco ( All included ) - The Expedition train and the Urubamba River
2-Day Experiences, Machu Picchu Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours, Train Experiences

2-Day Machu Picchu Tour by train from Cusco ( All included )

4.2-Day Machu Picchu Tour by train from Cusco ( All included )

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 85 reviews · from $485Top rated

You’ll travel from Cusco through the Sacred Valley by private vehicle and train, stay one night in Aguas Calientes, and tour Machu Picchu for two hours with an English-speaking local guide. Guides such as Luis and driver Gonzalo have been praised for friendly, careful service. Mountain tickets cost extra.

“Excelente experiencia hicieron hasta lo imposible para acomodar nuestras necesidades muy complacidos éramos cuatro y todos estamos muy contentos, nuestro guía Luis super professional, muy amable y con mucho conocimiento. El conductor Gonzalo respetuoso, educado y muy profesional. Lo recomendamos 100%”

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From Cusco: Sacred Valley & Machu Picchu 2-Day Tour by Train - Day one begins with Chinchero and living textile traditions
2-Day Experiences, Machu Picchu Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours, Train Experiences

From Cusco: Sacred Valley & Machu Picchu 2-Day Tour by Train

5.Sacred Valley & Machu Picchu 2-Day Tour by Train

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 79 reviews · 2 days · from $499

You’ll visit Chinchero, Moray, the Maras salt mines, Urubamba, and Ollantaytambo before taking the train to Aguas Calientes. On day two, a guide leads you through Machu Picchu, then you return to Cusco by train and minibus. Expect groups of up to 10, hotel pickup, several hotel categories, and English, Spanish, or Portuguese guiding.

“Great tour. Great guides whom I could easily understand. Took care of all the moving pieces and multiple tickets. Circuit 2 classic at Machu Picchu is the highlight. Could improve on the hotel. It is very basic with limited towels and pillows. I do recommend this tour.”

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Machu Picchu: 5-Day Salkantay Trek with Panoramic Train - Day One: Humantay Lake and a High Camp Under the Stars
5-Day Experiences, Hiking & Trekking, Hiking Tours in Machu Picchu, Machu Picchu Tours, Salkantay Treks, Tour Reviews, Train Experiences

Machu Picchu: 5-Day Salkantay Trek with Panoramic Train

6.5-Day Salkantay Trek with Panoramic Train

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 79 reviews · 5 days · from $655

Hike from Cusco through Humantay Lake, Salkantay Pass, cloud forest, coffee farms, and Llactapata, then enter Machu Picchu at sunrise. You get small-group guiding in English or Spanish, camping, glamping, hearty chef-prepared meals, a Pachamanca experience, and a Vistadome or 360° train back to Cusco.

“An amazing experience with Trexperience. The service was amazing and we had two amazing guides, Renato and Miguel. The horseman and chefs worked so hard to make sure our food and bags were on time. The trip itself is full of incredible views and scenery. From ice capped mountains to jungle rainforest. Seeing Machu Picchu at the end was a dream. Everything you need is included and Trexperience is no doubt the best company to go with!”

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Machu Picchu 2-Day Adventure by Train with Overnight Stay - The train from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes
2-Day Experiences, Machu Picchu Tours, Tour Reviews, Train Experiences

Machu Picchu 2-Day Adventure by Train with Overnight Stay

7.Machu Picchu 2-Day Adventure by Train with Overnight Stay

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 70 reviews · 2 days (approx.) · from $597

Travel from Cusco through the Sacred Valley by minibus and train, sleep one night in Aguas Calientes, then enter Machu Picchu early with a private English or Spanish-speaking guide. You get the train, park entry, shuttle bus, breakfast, and return transport. The afternoon before your visit is free for hot springs or the museum.

“I cannot say enough about how great Heidi Travel is! We had made a reservation with a different company who canceled on us the day before we were arranged to leave (looking at you Machu Picchu USA). In a panic, we tried desperately to find another company who could get us into Machu Picchu on a two-day notice. This is where Heidi worked her magic. Her and I arranged to combine our Machu Picchu tour with a Sacred Valley tour, which we planned on taking later in our vacation anyway. She booked those tours together (staying in Ollaytantambo instead of returning to Cusco in order to begin our Machu Picchu…”

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Tour To Machupicchu 2 Days by Train - Day one: Cusco to Ollantaytambo and the train to Aguas Calientes
2-Day Experiences, Machu Picchu Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours, Train Experiences

Tour To Machupicchu 2 Days by Train

8.Tour To Machupicchu 2 Days by Train

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 64 reviews · 2 days (approx.) · from $399

Travel from Cusco to Machu Picchu by train, sleep one night in Aguas Calientes, and enter the citadel early with a guide. The package includes transport, train tickets, entrance fees, dinner, and breakfast. Carlos and Nixon may help coordinate your plans, while guides such as Jorge have led the Machu Picchu visit.

“This was the trip we bought from Viator when they last-minute-cancelled our original trip to Machu Picchu with them. We booked with them from London. We then based everything around it: Buying our flights to Cusco from Lima. Our trains, our accommodation. and plans. We were so excited. The night before our trip to Machu Picchu I saw a notice on my calendar and checked it out. To my amazement, it was a ‘cancelled’ line through my diary entry of Machu Picchu. I actually thought it must be a mistake. I contacted Viator only to discover they really had cancelled our booking, apparently due to being unable to obtain tickets…”

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4 Day Classic Inca Trail to Machu Picchu by 360° Train - Day 1: KM-82, Llactapata, and Ayapata
4-Day Experiences, Inca Trail Treks, Machu Picchu Tours, Tour Reviews, Train Experiences

4 Day Classic Inca Trail to Machu Picchu by 360° Train

9.4 Day Classic Inca Trail to Machu Picchu by 360° Train

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 62 reviews · 4 days (approx.) · from $820

You hike from KM-82 to Machu Picchu over four demanding days, crossing Dead Woman’s Pass at 4,215 meters and visiting Llactapata, Runkurakay, Sayacmarca, Phuyupatamarca, Inti Pata, and Wiñay Wayna. A small group, camp meals, private tents, permits, and the return train are included.

“The Inca trail is amazing but this tour operator will do all to destroy fun of it for you - 1) no pick up even though it’s promised 2) you need to carry your rented sleeping bag plus linen or you pay 150 soles / 40 USD/EUR per day 3) the guide doesn’t even intruduce himself , drinks alcohol to the point of loosing consciousness and is also touching / kissing participants without permission 4) you don’t know the plan - you will need to ask for everything and solve your problems 5) and if you provide the feedback they will tell you that they could not accept you to…”

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Tour to Machupicchu By Train Full-Day - A 4:00 am start from Cusco
Full-Day, Machu Picchu Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours, Train Experiences

Tour to Machupicchu By Train Full-Day

10.Tour to Machupicchu By Train Full-Day

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 56 reviews · 18 to 20 hours (approx.) · from $360

Travel from Cusco to Machu Picchu in one very full day by minivan, bus, and train. A bilingual guide leads a two-hour visit inside the ruins, while the operator handles transport and major tickets. Expect a 4:00 am start, an evening return, and possible confusion over entrance-ticket timing and final drop-off.

“I booked this full-day tour for September 02, 2023. This is not a typical tour with A "tour guide" who will be with you throughout the trip. This is the kind of tour that the tour operator, Mega Expedition, will assist in booking the train tickets and hotel pickup to the train stations. When you get to Machu Picchu, the local guide will only meet you somewhere in the town or by the entrance. Once the tour is booked, the operator will send you the e-tickets for trains and buses. The beginning of the trip can be very confusing. Before the trip, someone from Mega Expedition - the tour operator,…”

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2-Day Sacred Valley Machu Picchu by Train with Llama Experience - Pisac: terraces, stonework, and an early start
2-Day Experiences, Machu Picchu Tours, Tour Reviews, Train Experiences

2-Day Sacred Valley Machu Picchu by Train with Llama Experience

11.2-Day Sacred Valley Machu Picchu by Train with Llama Experience

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 55 reviews · 2 days (approx.) · from $457

Travel from Cusco through Pisac and Ollantaytambo, then take a Voyager or Expedition train to Machu Picchu. You spend one night in Aguas Calientes and return to Cusco the next day. The small group may include guides such as Michael or Roy, with a llama experience possible depending on the confirmed program.

“I’ve been to Peru before to visit family but never had the chance to see the wonders of this country. After Meeting with Veronica when we landed in Cusco, I felt like I was in good hands. She took us out to a lovely restaurant and let us roam as we wished. The next day, we meet up with Michael and made our way to the sacred valley. The way he gave an honest and truly authentic explanation to the various sights assured me that we were getting the true Cusco Experience.”

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2-Day Sacred Valley & Machu Picchu by Train - Small Group Tour - Leaving Cusco for the Sacred Valley
2-Day Experiences, Machu Picchu Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours, Train Experiences

2-Day Sacred Valley & Machu Picchu by Train – Small Group Tour

12.2-Day Sacred Valley & Machu Picchu by Train – Small Group Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 54 reviews · 2 days (approx.) · from $599

Travel from Cusco through the Sacred Valley, stopping at Awana Kancha, Pisac, Urubamba, and Ollantaytambo before taking the train to Aguas Calientes. The next morning, a guide leads you through Machu Picchu. Groups are capped at nine, with guides such as Ruben and Elvis praised for clear explanations and kind help.

“Amazing tour and super helpful! Incredible views and experience! Elvis is very recommended and we had an amazing day! 100% worth it!”

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Machu picchu one day by train all included - The pre-dawn road from Cusco to Ollantaytambo
1-Day Tours, Day Trips in Machu Picchu, Machu Picchu Tours, Tour Reviews, Train Experiences

Machu picchu one day by train all included

13.Machu picchu one day by train all included

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 53 reviews · 16 hours (approx.) · from $315Best value

Spend about 16 hours traveling from Cusco to Machu Picchu by train, with hotel pickup, Ollantaytambo transfers, Expedition or Voyager rail tickets, bus transport, Circuit 2 admission, and a two-hour English or Spanish guided visit. You will have to buy your own breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and the return train may leave late.

“Amazing service. Once I booked this tour I did not have to worry about a thing. All of my transportation and tickets were booked and covered.”

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Full Day Tour to Machu Picchu by Train - Aguas Calientes gives you a short pause
Full-Day, Machu Picchu Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours, Train Experiences

Full Day Tour to Machu Picchu by Train

14.Full Day Tour to Machu Picchu by Train

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 52 reviews · 16 hours (approx.) · from $379

Leave Cusco around 3:00 a.m. for Ollantaytambo, ride the train to Aguas Calientes, and tour Machu Picchu with a guide. The package includes transport, train tickets, entry, and the uphill bus. Ask about guide assignments, train class, and ticket availability before booking.

“Estoy sumamente agradecida, de verdad que fue una experiencia inolvidable. Desde el acompañamiento de Ricardo al organizar, la guía Yeni yen Machu Pichu te explican todo y el guía Jhoel dentro de Machu Pichu una gran persona conocedora, profesional. Te explica cada dato, te habla de toda la historia y hay espacio para responder dudas. Encima te toma unas fotografías geniales y videos. Sin duda volveria a reservar con ellos nuevamente. De los mejores viajes. En el tren es una vista espectacular, lleva chamarra de frío, gorra y lentes. Agua, snacks y efectivo porque te piden en todos lados efectivo no tarjeta.”

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Short Inca Trail 2 Day Hike to Machu Picchu with Permits & Train - Chachabamba gives the hike a proper beginning
2-Day Experiences, Hiking & Trekking, Hiking Tours in Machu Picchu, Inca Trail Treks, Machu Picchu Tours, Tour Reviews, Train Experiences

Short Inca Trail 2 Day Hike to Machu Picchu with Permits & Train

15.Short Inca Trail 2 Day Hike to Machu Picchu with Permits & Train

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 51 reviews · 2 days (approx.) · from $795

This two-day small-group trip follows the Short Inca Trail from Km 104 to Machu Picchu, with stops at Chachabamba, Wiñay Wayna, and Inti Punku. A guide leads the hike and citadel visit, while trains, buses, meals, permits, and one night in Aguas Calientes are arranged. Guides named in past trips include Abel, Andy, Alwyn, Gabriel, Daniel, Samuel, and Jorge.

“I was keen on hiking the real Inca Trail of 4 days but eventually ended up hiking this as the permit for the other was sold out. Overall this was a nice experience. There were a few Inca ruins along the way. The guide knew them well and spoke fair English too.”

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