Tour Machu Picchu by train 2D/1N

Activity summary

Live the exciting adventure that the Tour to Machu Picchu by train has for you:

Visit the most important attraction of Cusco and one of the 7 Wonders of the Modern World, enjoying at the same time the impressive views of the Sacred Valley of the Incas and the Vilcanota River, by train.

This 2-day Tour to Machu Picchu by Train transports you through the geography, history and mystics of archaeological sites and the wonderful essence of the Inca Sanctuary, to rest in Aguas Calientes, an exceptional tourist town, which you can only reach by walking or by train.

As an addition to the tour of the Machu Picchu Citadel, you can choose two more circuits that suit your tastes, the type of experience you want, as well as the budget. The Entrance Ticket to the extreme adventure Machu Picchu + Huayna Picchu, which includes the visit to the Inca City + the Huayna Picchu Mountain, whose summit is located at 2,693 m.s.n.m. (8,835 feet); or choose the highest altitude excursion, Machu Picchu + Machu Picchu Mountain located at 3,082 meters above sea level (10,111 feet).

Being one of the destinations with the highest demand in South America, the coordination of schedules, choice of train service, selection of places to visit, purchase of tickets in advance and planning are a guarantee of success and enjoyment of this adventure.

As part of the private tour, we can adapt the schedule for your comfort and rhythm, you also enjoy the tour exclusively with your private group and our professional guide.

Itinerary

Machu Picchu 2-Day Tour Itinerary

Once you book your tour with Guru Explorers, we’ll take care of purchasing your train tickets and Machu Picchu entrance tickets. Based on availability, we’ll tailor the itinerary to best match your preferred schedule.

DAY 1: Hotel Pickup – Ollantaytambo – Aguas Calientes

Your day begins with pickup from your hotel in Cusco, followed by shared transportation to the Sacred Valley (approximately 1.5 hours).

At the Ollantaytambo train station, you’ll board the train to Aguas Calientes.

Once you arrive in this charming pedestrian town, you’ll have free time (depending on your train schedule) to enjoy lunch, explore the town, visit the artisan market, or simply relax and take in the surroundings.

In the evening, around 7:00 pm, your guide will reach out to you to go over the next day’s plan, confirm the meeting point, and answer any questions you may have.

Then, it’s time to rest.

DAY 2: Machu Picchu Tour

At the scheduled time, you’ll head to the boarding area to take the bus up to the entrance of Machu Picchu.

Upon arrival at the entrance, you’ll meet your professional guide at the designated meeting point and begin your private tour.

During the visit, you’ll explore the main areas of the citadel, including temples, stairways, plazas, and pathways that are part of this impressive site, such as the Intihuatana.

Lunch – Return to Cusco

After the tour, you’ll say goodbye to your guide and take the bus down to Aguas Calientes.

Depending on your itinerary, you’ll have free time to enjoy lunch or continue exploring the town before boarding your return train to Ollantaytambo.

Upon arrival, a shared transfer will take you back to Cusco, where our team will be waiting to take you comfortably back to your hotel in the Historic Center.

Note:

Availability

The itinerary may vary according to the availability of train tickets and entrance tickets to Machu Picchu. Passengers are recommended to book as far in advance, especially in high season (June – September) or on holidays.

Train ticket

As it is a private tour, train ticket upgrades are available for both outbound and return. Preferences will be consulted, and the type of train for the route can even be reserved.

Include

What’s Included in the Machu Picchu Tour?

Pre-tour briefing held one day before the tour.
Private tour with a professional guide in Spanish, English, or Portuguese during your selected Machu Picchu circuit (please inquire about availability for other languages).
Machu Picchu entrance ticket, with the option to choose between the following circuits: Circuit 1B / Circuit 2A or 2B / Circuit 3B. Subject to availability. Please inquire about pricing for other circuits.
All transportation required for the tour:
- Pickup from your hotel in Cusco’s Historic Center. If the vehicle cannot access the entrance directly due to traffic restrictions or narrow streets, a nearby meeting point will be arranged. For accommodations outside the Historic Center, a meeting point or additional transportation can be arranged at an extra cost.
- Shared round-trip transportation between Cusco and the train station (private transfer upgrade available).
- Round-trip train tickets in tourist class.
- Round-trip bus tickets between Aguas Calientes and Machu Picchu.
- Drop-off at your hotel in Cusco’s Historic Center.

Not included

What’s Not Included in the Machu Picchu Tour

Tips
Meals and drinks
Guiding services are not included during transfers, in Aguas Calientes, or on additional hikes. They are only provided within the Machu Picchu ruins, on the main circuit selected for Day 2. If you choose to do an additional hike, guide service is optional and can be added as an extra at the time of booking.

Recommended Upgrades

1 night of accommodation in Aguas Calientes with breakfast included
Buffet lunch (drinks not included) on Day 2
Private transportation (car or SUV, depending on the number of passengers) from your hotel in Cusco’s Historic Center to the train station (round trip): USD 19 per person each way (based on 3 passengers).
If you need to make an additional stop on the return (for example, to pick up luggage), we can arrange it in advance. This service has an additional cost.

Recommendations

What to Bring for the Machu Picchu Tour

It is recommended to choose: comfortable shoes, light clothing, hat, gloves, sunglasses, sunscreen, water, rain gear (especially in November – April).
Consider that Machu Picchu and Aguas Calientes are above (2,000 masl / 6,561 ft); its climate varies according to the time it is visited.
Repellent against insects (important in Machu Picchu)
Insect repellent (important in Machu Picchu)
Passport or ID
Travel insurance (recommended)
Cash (local currency)

Considerations

Important Considerations for Your Machu Picchu Tour

You’ll need to select your Machu Picchu entrance tickets during the booking process.
Train schedules and entry times to Machu Picchu may vary depending on availability. We recommend booking as far in advance as possible.
Due to railway regulations, only carry-on luggage is allowed (small bags or backpacks up to 8 kg / 17.6 lb). We recommend bringing only what you need for the two days and leaving any extra luggage at your hotel in Cusco or at the train station luggage storage.
Minors must be accompanied by an adult.
As this is a high-altitude destination with walking involved, we recommend that travelers with heart or respiratory conditions, or limited mobility, consult their doctor before traveling.
Due to environmental, climatic or other factors, beyond our control, the travel itinerary may vary. If so, it will be notified promptly.
Remember that, since these are outdoor activities, the natural features of the landscape may vary depending on weather conditions and the natural daylight. Each visit is an authentic experience, where nature reveals itself in unique and unrepeatable ways.

Not allowed:

Pets
Smoking
Large suitcases or bags

Not recommended for:

Travelers using wheelchairs

Terms and conditions

According to Peruvian regulations, foreign tourists may be exempt from the local tax IGV (VAT). As a formal and registered travel agency, we are required to submit to the local authorities a copy of the document you used to enter the country, as well as your date of entry.

For this reason, a few days before your arrival, we will contact you to request a photo of that document and ask you to let us know the date you entered Peru. If we do not receive this information, we will be required to add the 18% corresponding to the IGV tax.

Thank you for your cooperation!

Cancellation Policies:

More than 15 days: The penalty is 130 USD.
Between 7 and 15 days: The penalty is 180 USD.
Less than 7 days: The penalty is 100% of the total.

Date changes:

More than 15 days: The penalty is 80 USD.
Between 7 and 15 days: The penalty is 100 USD.
Less than 7 days: The penalty is 100% of the total.

There will be no refunds in case of delayed flights, train delays, bad weather, or other external factors.

Force Majeure Policy

Guru Explorers values your time and strives to adhere to the itinerary. However, the itinerary may be affected by force majeure events such as weather, rain, natural disasters, protests, roadblocks, or other circumstances beyond our control. In such cases, no refunds or compensations will be issued, as these are unforeseen and unavoidable situations. Nonetheless, we will do everything possible to offer alternatives and efficient solutions for your enjoyment. Any additional costs arising from changes or alternative activities will be the responsibility of the client and not of Guru Explorers.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

How is the weather in Machu Picchu?

Machu Picchu is located a thousand meters or 3,280 feet below the city of Cusco and is in part of the jungle or jungle, so the rain can appear at any time of the year. The usual maximum temperature can reach 28 ° C (82 ° F) and the minimum, which is usually in the early morning, can reach -2 ° C (-36 ° F).

Can I go from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu without a bus?

The option of walking up from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu is available in the private service if desired. In the group service, due to the itinerary schedules, the entire group must go together with the outward journey, so they would only have the possibility to return walking, if they wish.

As an additional note, it will also depend on the physical condition of each person (take into account that they will also walk in Machu Picchu). The bus takes approximately 25 minutes to go up from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu, those who decide to walk up take approximately 1 hour, depending on their physical condition.

Can I stay overnight in Aguas Calientes?

Sure! you can send a message at the time of booking to be able to buy train tickets on the most convenient days. They also have the option of booking a hotel through us specifying the category of accommodation.

Can I add lodging in Aguas Calientes?

Yes, they can add it within the purchase process. For any questions, you can contact an advisor or write us an email to [email protected]

What's the difference between the Expedition tour train and the Vistadome?

The Expedition tourist train, like the Vistadome, belongs to the PeruRail company.

The Expedition is the base category that we offer on our tours. If you want an upgrade to Vistadome or another train service, you can select it in the purchase process.

Below we describe the main characteristics of each one:

Expedition

Comfort: leather seats and regular footwell.
View: nice panoramic view, however, not as wide as the Vistadome train.
Snacks: for each passenger it includes a basic snack, which is generally a cake and a drink.

Vistadome

Comfort: more space for the feet and arms compared to the expedition train. Those who depart from Ollantaytambo, have seats distributed in rows for two passengers; For those departing from Poroy, they generally have 4-passenger group seating available, positioned face-to-face with a shared table in the middle.
View: they have fully panoramic windows where the landscape is much better appreciated, including the roof.
Snacks: snacks are generally served on dishes and include fruit, local bread, hot or cold drinks.
Extra: cultural presentations are usually offered such as typical Peruvian dances and fashion shows with garments made with alpaca fiber.

For more information on these or other trains to Machu Picchu, you can enter this link.

What is the luxury train to Machu Picchu?

The luxury train is the Hiram Bingham, inspired by the 1920s, which departs from Poroy station. If you are interested in taking a tour to Machu Picchu with this luxurious and exclusive service, enter the following link to see the complete itinerary!

What is Huayna Picchu Mountain?

Huayna Picchu Mountain or Waynapicchu (in the language of the Incas) is one of the most important attractions in Cusco, considered one of the most fascinating short walks in the world. For those who do not know, the classic photo of Machu Picchu, shows the Huayna Picchu Mountain in all its splendor, so as you can imagine, when you reach the top, you have all the fabulous view of the citadel of Machu Picchu.

This walk is in high demand and the entrance tickets to access them are limited, so it is recommended to make a reservation at least 3 or 6 months in advance depending on whether it is high season. Keep in mind that at Guru Explorers we consider this hike to be moderate to difficult. Check availability when making the reservation or contact [email protected] if you have any questions.

Note: Huayna Picchu Mountain is not allowed for children under 12 years old.

What is the difference between Huayna Picchu Mountain and Machu Picchu Mountain?

The Huayna Picchu and Machu Picchu Mountains are two additional sections to the visit to the famous Inca citadel of Machu Picchu.

Below we will show some characteristics of both walks:

Huayna Picchu Mountain

Tickets per day: 400
Altitude: 2,720 m (8,924 ft)
Difficulty: Moderate to difficult
Walking time: approximately 2.5 hours (round trip)
Restrictions: not allowed for children under 12 years old

Machu Picchu Mountain

Tickets per day: 800
Altitude: 3,082 m (10112 ft)
Difficulty: Moderate
Walking time: approximately 3.5 hours (round trip)
Restrictions: allowed for all ages

For more information, visit our article Main Differences between Huayna Picchu Mountain and Machu Picchu Mountain.

What is the difference between Machu Picchu Ciudadela and Machu Picchu Mountain?

When we talk about Machu Picchu, they can be confused between the Citadel of Machu Picchu and the Machu Picchu Mountain.

The Citadel includes the ruins themselves and the classic tour to the incredible wonder, where you can take the classic photo and have it as a postcard.

The Mountain of Machu Picchu is an additional hike that can be done on the same day of the visit depending on the availability of tickets to do it.

What objects are prohibited from entering the Tour to Machu Picchu?

If you want to access the citadel of Machu Picchu, you must bear in mind that you cannot enter with the following objects: selfie sticks, bag or backpack that exceeds 40 x 35 x 20, umbrella, alcoholic beverages or cigarettes in general, baby stroller , drones, etc.