A visit to Machu Picchu tour by Train is a enigmatic way to discover this iconic site! This machu picchu day tour offers you a complete and hassle free experience. To get there, you can choose from the following train options: Expedition Class (standard), Vistadome Class (first class), and Hiram Bingham Class (luxury), all operated by Peru Rail, or Tourist Class (standard), Executive Class (more comfortable), and First Class (luxury) operated by Inca Rail.
During the journey, you will appreciate the stunning landscapes of the Sacred Valley of the Incas, as well as the abundant subtropical flora and fauna that adorn the path to Machu Picchu. Upon arrival, you will be in the picturesque Aguas Calientes village, also known as Machu Picchu Town, where you will take a tourist bus directly to the entrance of the Inca citadel.
Here, you will enjoy a guided Machu Picchu tour, known as the "Lost City of the Incas," where our expert Machu Picchu tour guides will tell you about the history of the place and show you the citadel according to the circuit chosen for this tour. Additionally, during the 2 hour journey, you will have time to take photographs of its main attractions.
In the afternoon, you will take the return train from Machu Picchu to Ollantaytambo where our drivers will be waiting to take you back to your hotel in Cusco. So, don’t miss the opportunity to join our group and enjoy this unforgettable Machu Picchu day trip. The Machu Picchu by Train tour is waiting for you!
Sustainable Tourism: At Salkantay Trek Machu, we are happy to promote and practice sustainable tourism and support local communities.
Difficulty Hike: 2 Easy.
Age Requirements: 12+
Group Available: Min: 2 - Max: 10
Crew: A Salkantay Trek Machu Representative in Cusco and a professional bilingual Tour Guide at Machu Picchu.
Transportation: Transportation by private vehicle, a train round trip.
Important Note: In case you prefer to spend a night in Aguas Calientes, we recommend the Sacred Valley to Machu Picchu 2 Days or Machu Picchu 2 Day Tour with an overnight in the subtropical town of Aguas Calientes!
The antique citadel of Machu Picchu (Old Peak in Quechua native language) is a very popular worldwide tourist attraction and the most famous Inca's architectural work without any doubt. It is located 122 km far away from Cusco in the same-named department. The Inca citadel stands at an altitude of 2,430 meters above sea level on Machu Picchu Mountain, close to the Urubamba River, in the midst of the lush vegetation of a cloud forest. The majestic beauty of the natural landscape surrounding this sanctuary as well as the archaeological value of the ruins has contributed to making Machu Picchu one of the most appreciated and frequently visited places of both Americas!! That is why UNESCO recognized the importance of Machu Picchu and ranked it as a Natural and Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 1983. Machu Picchu is a perfectly planned center and it is one of the finest examples of Incan architecture. Its original builders knew very well how to perfectly combine its construction with the exceptional natural environment that surrounds it and protects it from seismic activity, even up till now.
In the morning, we pick you up from your hotel and transfer you to a railway station (either at Poroy, which is 30 minutes far away from Cusco, or at Ollantaytambo which takes 1 hour and 40 minutes from Cusco). There you board a train and travel for about 1 hour 45 minutes experiencing spectacular changeable landscapes passing through lush fields and colorful villages placed on the foothill of the Andes. The highlight of the way is wonderful views of mountains and the marvelous Urubamba River that runs through the Sacred Valley of the Incas. In the end, you reach Aguas Calientes, a town just below Machu Picchu, where our Representative welcomes you at the railway station to accompany you to a bus stop. There you get on a shuttle bus taking you up to the archaeological complex of Machu Picchu following a zigzag path for about 25 minutes.
Once in Machu Picchu, your Tour Guide will introduce you to the most important attractions of this ancient Inca site, such as the main plaza, the Temple of the Sun, the Intihuatana (Sun Clock), the Royal Rooms, the Temple of the Three Windows, and the Royal Inca Cemetery (note that this is subject to the chosen circuit). The guided tour of Machu Picchu takes about 2 and a half hours, giving you plenty of time to capture stunning photos and incredible panoramic views of the Inca Citadel. So don't forget your camera and enjoy the visit to "One of the New 7 Wonders of the World"!
When you have enjoyed the site enough, you take a shuttle bus down to Aguas Calientes where you can have lunch (not included in the package) in one of many lovely restaurants offering traditional Andean as well as international cuisine. Afterward, you can visit the thermal baths of Aguas Calientes or the Museum of the Site (neither entrance of these is included in the package). In the afternoon, we take a train back to Ollantaytambo (alternatively to Poroy) where our driver expects us in front of the railway station to transfer us to Cusco.
In case, you have choosen the 2 day tour, you are transfered to Aguas Calientes in the same way how it is described above, but you do not tour Machu Picchu on the first day. You just accommodated yourself in a hotel and the rest of the day is free so that you can the visit thermal baths (hot springs) and the lovely surroundings of Aguas Calientes. The next day, you take a shuttle bus up to the Incan citadel and enjoy its guided tour! The rest of the itinerary is same as for the 1 day tour.
Meals budget: Please allow USD 20 - 30 for meals not included.
Solo Travel: If you do not like to share your room with someone else, please book the "Single Room" option - applicable for the 2 day tour only!
Local flights: No local flight is included in the cost of the tours.
Many people include the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu in their “Things to do” list , although what most people don’t know is that there are various Inca Trails Trips to Machu Picchu to pick from in the Cusco region. The difference lies in what kind of an experience you want, hiking the Inca trail or hike other good altenative treks.
You have to take into account that usually you will need to book in advance the Inca Trail, and in case it is fully booked, we recommend other best alternatives:
All Salkantay Trek Machu traveller group tours are accompanied by a Salkantay Trek Machu Tour Guide, a Representative or an expedition team. The aim of our Tour Guides is to take the hassle out of our customers’ trips and to help them to have the best trip possible. The Tour Guides provide information on places visited, offer suggestions of what to see and to do, recommend a good place to eat and introduce to his/her colleagues. The Guides have a broad general knowledge of each country visited during a tour, including historical, cultural, religious and social aspects. We also use local Tour Guides where we think that more specific knowledge could add more enjoyment to visited places.
The kind of luggage you need to take with depends on the kind of tour you plan to undertake, a part of the country you like to visit, a year season and a length of your trip. In general, you should pack as lightly as possible because you carry your own luggage during most of our tours (however, there are not long walking distances – up to 30 minutes). We recommend you to keep the weight of your luggage under 7 kg (20 lb.).
Most of the travelers use a suitcase. However, a big backpack would be more suitable. In any case, please do not forget a small rucksack that you will need for daily travels (to carry your bottled water, camera, snacks, etc.). It is better to avoid wheeled luggage and use luggage with shoulder straps.
If you plan to visit Cusco and Machu Picchu (Andean mountain range or Altiplano), then we recommend you to take some trousers suitable for hiking, shorts, T-shirts and trekking shoes for the days; and sweaters, fleeces, hats, scarves and warm jackets for the nights. You also should take a sun protection cream, sun glasses and in some cases, mosquito repellent (depending on a route chosen). It is very convenient to have a light rain-gear available in a daypack (e.g. a waterproof poncho or jacket and/or waterproof trousers) as weather changes quickly and rains can suddenly occur. For more details, please check the below link of “What to Bring on the Inca Trail Expedition Tour”.
