Machupicchu tour by tourist train in 2 days

Machu Picchu arrives by stages on this two-day train trip: a road transfer from Cusco, a scenic rail journey through Andean and jungle scenery, then a guided visit to the Inca citadel. I like the small group limit of 12 and the fact that transport, entrance, buses, and the guide are bundled together. I also like having a free afternoon in Aguas Calientes instead of rushing straight into the ruins.

The main caution is timing. Your second day includes a fixed sequence of buses, the Machu Picchu visit, lunch, train, and road transfer back to Cusco. One poorly managed visit had too much time spent on photographs early in the tour and a stressful rush near the end, so stay alert to the guide’s schedule.

Key points at a glance

• Two days from Cusco: Leave your hotel at 9:00 a.m. and return to Cusco at about 8:30 p.m. the next evening.
• Scenic train route: Ride from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes through Andean and jungle scenery.
• Small group setting: The group is limited to 12 participants, with guiding in English or Spanish.
• Machu Picchu essentials included: Your package covers entrance, round-trip buses, train tickets, road transfers, and a professional guide.
• Aguas Calientes free time: Walk around town or pay separately to visit the hot springs on the first afternoon.
• Bring your passport: Passport details are required at booking, and you must carry your passport or ID.

Why the train route makes sense from Cusco

This is a practical choice if you want to see Machu Picchu without committing several days to a trek. The first morning starts with hotel pickup in Cusco at 9:00 a.m., followed by a roughly two-hour drive to Ollantaytambo train station.

That road transfer is not the glamorous part, but it connects Cusco with the rail line and keeps the trip simple. Once you board the train, the journey becomes part of the experience. You can watch the scenery change from Andean surroundings toward the greener, more tropical setting around Aguas Calientes. The trip also gives you a chance to see local plant life and wildlife from your seat.

The train is a good fit if you want scenery without a long walk. You are not carrying out a multi-day hike, and you do not need to arrange separate rail tickets or station transfers. The tradeoff is that the day still involves several changes of transport, so keep your passport, water, medication, and cash somewhere easy to reach.

Day one: Cusco to Aguas Calientes

Pickup begins at your Cusco hotel at 9:00 a.m. You should wait in the lobby about 10 minutes before the scheduled time. The drive to Ollantaytambo takes around two hours, after which you board the train to Aguas Calientes, also called Machu Picchu town.

The train trip is one of the pleasant parts of the schedule. Instead of treating the rail journey as dead time, use it to watch the scenery and take photographs. The route passes through changing natural surroundings, and the trip gives you a visual sense of the move from highland Cusco toward the warmer zone below Machu Picchu.

After arriving in Aguas Calientes, the afternoon is free. This flexibility is useful because the town gives you somewhere to slow down before the early, highly organized visit to the ruins. You can walk around, find a meal, or pay to visit the hot springs. The hot springs are not included, and neither is your hotel, so you need to arrange and pay for both separately.

That hotel detail matters. The price of $345 per person covers the main transport and entrance arrangements, but it is not the full cost of the trip. You will also need money for food, snacks, accommodation, a possible hot springs visit, and personal purchases.

At night, the guide will meet you to provide information about the Machu Picchu visit. Treat this meeting as an important briefing, not a casual courtesy. Confirm your departure time, bus arrangements, meeting point, and return plan. The next day has little room for confusion.

Aguas Calientes: useful pause, not a full resort stay

Aguas Calientes is mainly your base for reaching Machu Picchu. The free afternoon gives you a chance to walk around the town and prepare for the next morning, but your hotel is not selected or paid for as part of this package.

If you want the hot springs, bring swimwear. The activity notes also recommend sunscreen, insect repellent, a hat, sunglasses, and comfortable clothing. Those items make sense for both the town and the ruins, where you may encounter strong sun and insects.

Bring cash as well. Meals and snacks are not included, and a free afternoon can lead to extra spending. The package does not include lunch on either day, so plan for food rather than assuming the tour price covers it.

Day two: the Machu Picchu visit

The second morning begins at a time set by the guide. You go to the bus station in Aguas Calientes and ride for about 30 minutes to the Machu Picchu Sanctuary. The bus ticket is included in both directions, which removes one of the bigger practical tasks from your hands.

At the citadel, the guide leads you through the main areas listed for the visit:

• The Guardian’s Enclosure
• The Temple of the Sun
• The Intiwatana
• The Temple of the Three Windows
• The Sacred Plaza
• The Temple of the Condor

These names give you a good idea of the tour’s focus. This is not simply a scenic viewpoint visit. The guide is expected to explain the key structures and their place within the Inca city, while you move through the controlled visiting route.

You also get some free time for photographs. That is valuable at Machu Picchu, but it needs discipline. The site is large, the route is regulated, and the return transport follows a timetable. Spending too long at one photo stop can leave you hurrying later.

A previous visit associated with this service became stressful because too much time was used at one location and the final part was rushed. There was also confusion around bus boarding, including conflicting instructions about which bus to take. I would not treat that as proof that every departure will go badly, but it is a clear reason to listen carefully, keep your group in sight, and ask the guide to confirm the exact return procedure.

What the guide adds, and what to watch

A professional guide is included, with English and Spanish available. That is important at Machu Picchu because the ruins can look like a series of impressive stone walls if you walk through without context. The guide gives the structures names, connects them to the wider site, and helps you understand what you are seeing.

The service is associated with Ruth for organizing and Richard as a guide. Richard has been praised for making the visit memorable, and Ruth’s team has been credited with handling a late booking smoothly. Names do not guarantee that either person will lead your particular departure, so confirm who will meet you during the arrangements.

The guide’s handling of time matters just as much as historical explanation. You need enough time for the important places and photographs, but you also need to return to Aguas Calientes for lunch and the afternoon train. Ask early about the exact time you must leave the citadel and where you will regroup.

The group limit of 12 is a welcome middle ground. It is more personal than a large coach tour, while usually costing less than a fully private arrangement. Still, a small group does not automatically fix timing problems. Everyone needs to return together, so be ready to move when the guide calls time.

Returning to Cusco by train and road

After the Machu Picchu visit, you take the bus back to Aguas Calientes. You then have free time for lunch in town, which you pay for yourself. This pause is useful, but keep one eye on the clock. Your train back to Ollantaytambo leaves in the afternoon.

Once you arrive at Ollantaytambo, ground transport takes you back to Cusco. The expected arrival is about 8:30 p.m. This is a long return day, especially after walking around the citadel, so wear comfortable clothes and keep water and personal medication with you.

The return setup is one of the tour’s strongest practical features. You do not need to find a taxi at Ollantaytambo or arrange a separate ride back to your hotel in Cusco. The package links the train and road transfers together.

The downside is limited control. You cannot choose to stay longer at Machu Picchu, linger over lunch, or change your train time without affecting the rest of the group. If flexibility is your top priority, a private trip may suit you better.

What the $345 price really covers

At $345 per person, this is not a bargain-basement day trip. It is also not an all-inclusive holiday. The value comes from combining several expensive and important components into one arrangement:

• Hotel pickup in Cusco
• Road transport to Ollantaytambo
• Round-trip train tickets
• Round-trip bus tickets between Aguas Calientes and Machu Picchu
• Entrance to the Machu Picchu Sanctuary
• A professional guide
• Transport from Ollantaytambo back to Cusco

You still pay for one night in Aguas Calientes, food, snacks, and hot springs. Add those costs before comparing this trip with other Machu Picchu packages.

I see the price as reasonable for someone who wants the main transport and entrance work handled together. The package reduces the chance of buying the wrong ticket or missing a separate connection. Its value is less convincing if you already have accommodation, train tickets, or transport arranged independently.

The included entrance ticket is particularly important because access to Machu Picchu is controlled and date-specific. Your passport details are required at booking, and you should carry the same passport or ID used for the reservation.

What to pack for the two days

Pack lightly but sensibly. You need clothes for a full day of walking, changing temperatures, sun, and possible insects.

Bring:

• Passport or ID card
• Water
• Sunscreen
• Sunglasses
• Hat
• Comfortable clothing
• Insect repellent
• Camera
• Personal medication
• Cash
• Swimwear if you plan to use the hot springs

Selfie sticks, tripods, umbrellas, walking sticks, alcohol, and drugs are not allowed. The restrictions mean you should keep your camera setup simple. A small camera or phone is more practical than bulky equipment.

Do not rely on buying snacks at the last minute. Food is not included, and your transport schedule may give you little time to search for supplies. Keep enough cash for lunch, drinks, accommodation expenses, and the optional hot springs.

Who should book this Machu Picchu trip?

I would choose this tour if you want a straightforward train visit from Cusco and prefer having the major logistics handled for you. It suits first-time visitors who want a guide, a small group, included entrance, and linked transport without planning each ticket separately.

It also works well if you want an afternoon in Aguas Calientes. That pause makes the trip less frantic than a single-day schedule, even though the second day remains tightly timed.

You may want another option if you dislike fixed departures, want to spend longer at each section of Machu Picchu, or prefer complete control over meals and accommodation. The experience is also not the cheapest way to visit the citadel once you add the hotel and meals.

The 4.5 rating from seven reviews points to a generally strong experience, with especially high praise for smooth organization and the memorable guiding connected with Richard. The lower score highlights a real weakness: time management and bus coordination can affect your mood at the end of an otherwise excellent day.

Should you book it?

Book this two-day Machu Picchu train tour if convenience, a small group, and a guided visit matter more to you than having a loose schedule. The included train, buses, entrance, and Cusco transfers make the $345 price easier to justify.

Before paying, budget separately for the hotel, meals, snacks, and hot springs. Give the guide’s timing instructions your full attention, especially after the citadel visit. If you do that and arrive prepared with your passport, water, cash, and comfortable clothes, this is a sensible way to reach one of the world’s great archaeological sites without taking on a trek.

FAQ

How long is the Machu Picchu tour?

The tour lasts two days. Pickup begins in Cusco at about 9:00 a.m. on the first day, and arrival back in Cusco is expected at approximately 8:30 p.m. on the second day.

Does the tour include hotel pickup in Cusco?

Yes. Pickup from your hotel in Cusco is included. You should wait in the hotel lobby 10 minutes before the scheduled pickup time.

Is accommodation in Aguas Calientes included?

No. One night of accommodation in Aguas Calientes is not included and must be arranged separately.

Are meals included?

No. Food and snacks are not included. Lunch in Aguas Calientes after the Machu Picchu visit is also at your own expense.

Is the train ticket included?

Yes. The package includes a round-trip train ticket between Ollantaytambo and Aguas Calientes, also called Machu Picchu town.

Is the bus to Machu Picchu included?

Yes. Round-trip bus tickets between Aguas Calientes and the Machu Picchu archaeological site are included.

What languages are available for the guide?

The live guide service is available in English and Spanish.

Do I need to provide passport details when booking?

Yes. You must provide your passport details when booking and bring your passport or ID card for the trip.