How to get to Machu Picchu from Cusco using PeruRail [2024]
Wondering how to get from Cusco to Machu Picchu? Read on.
Machu Picchu is one of the world’s most famous and renowned sites. This incredible Inca citadel symbolises a once-powerful empire, a feat of architecture and one of the new Seven Wonders of the World.
Although some people choose to hike to Machu Picchu through trails such as the Inca Trail, this isn’t the only option. You can easily use PeruRail’s efficient system of trains to get from Cusco to Machu Picchu.
We visited Machu Picchu on a day trip from Cusco using PeruRail, and loved every minute of the beautiful journey. Navigating the times and schedules might be overwhelming at first, but we’re here to guide you through it.
About PeruRail
About to embark on a PeruRail panoramic train journey!
A leader in providing transportation services to tourists since 1999, PeruRail and its trains are one of the main ways reasons travellers are so readily able to visit Machu Picchu from many destinations in Peru.
With routes to popular sites such as Cusco, Puno, Arequipa and Machu Picchu, PeruRail is beloved by many travellers who often praise the company on its timeliness, cleanliness, friendly staff and panoramic trains.
What I loved about booking PeruRail trains is that you can choose a fare based on your budget. Whether you just want to get from point A to B with minimal hassle, or you want to embark on an unforgettable luxury train journey – PeruRail caters to all types of travellers.
How to book PeruRail Tickets
Read on to find out how to book PeruRail tickets.
Buying your train tickets from Cusco to Machu Picchu on PeruRail is super easy using PeruRail’s Official Website.
Simply select the intended departure and arrival destinations in the open fields (in this case, you would choose ‘City of Cusco’ and ‘Machu Picchu’). Make sure you select either a round-trip journey or one-way journey, depending on your plans.
Once you’ve clicked the ‘Search’ button, the website will take you to a selectable list of departure and arrival times.
Note – it’s possible to buy train tickets through the PeruRail office at Cusco or through another travel agency, but trains often sell out and there’s no guarantee that you’ll get on the train you want. So I would recommend buying train tickets online at least a few weeks in advance, especially during the peak season between April to October, and even further in advance during the busy months of June, July and August.
Regular vs Bimodal Service
The important thing to note here is whether PeruRail is offering its Regular Service or Bimodal Service – and this depends on the dates you intend to purchase tickets for.
With the regular service, your train will take you from Cusco all the way to Machu Picchu Pueblo Station with no stops. With the bimodal service, you will take a bus from Machu Picchu to Ollantaytambo Bus Station, and then take a train from Ollantaytambo Bus Station to Machu Picchu Pueblo Station.
Originating Station in Cusco
this is what awaits you at the end of your PeruRail journey
Another important thing to note is which Cusco station you will be arriving and departing from. Cusco has multiple stations you can depart from, so you have to make sure you pay attention to this.
For example, in the below list, you can see that some departure times are for San Pedro station, while others are for Poroy Station. The San Pedro Station is only 5 minutes away from Cusco town, while Poroy Station is about a 25-minute drive away.
However, the total train journey to Machu Picchu is often one hour longer when you depart from San Pedro station. With this in mind, I would recommend you take a taxi to Poroy station and depart from there if you’re faced with the choice of choosing between the two stations.
With the bimodal service, buses usually depart from Wanchaq Station which is located within the Cusco city centre.
Train Class
The Vistadome class offers panoramic windows throughout the train.
The Expedition Class is the most affordable PeruRail offering. This is a train that gets you from Point A to B with minimal hassle. If you’re on a tight budget, I would recommend purchasing Expedition tickets.
However, in my opinion, the Vistadome Class provides more value for money. These tickets are usually not that much more expensive than Expedition Class tickets, and offer a really enjoyable experience. On these trains, you’ll be treated to extra panoramic views thanks to a sky roof and large windows. Snacks and drinks are provided, and if you return on a Vistadome train, you’ll also be entertained by a fashion show and cultural dance.
Snacks served on the Vistadome class train service.
Finally, the less frequently departing Belmond Hiram Bingham offers the most sophisticated and luxury service. Sometimes only departing once a day, passengers on a Hiram Bingham train will experience a welcome show, bar car, observatory car, gourmet lunch and dinner on return journeys, live music show, afternoon tea at a Belmond Hotel, a VIP Waiting room at Machu Picchu station and more.
A highly convenient aspect of this ticket is that the bus to Machu Picchu Citadel from Machu Picchu Pueblo station is included, as well as the entrance fees to the citadel and a tour guide in the language of your choice (English or Spanish).
Ralph enjoying the Vistadome train views
Which ticket would I buy? I personally would choose the Vistadome class as it provides you those breathtaking panoramic views while still being relatively affordable. If you have some extra room in your budget, then the Belmond Hiram Bingham train service does look amazing.
How to book Machu Picchu Tickets
I have to admit, the process of buying tickets to the Machu Picchu citadel can be a bit hassling, but for a one-of-a-kind destination like this? It’s completely worth it.
There will be many websites claiming you can buy Machu Picchu tickets from their website, but as far as I know, there’s only one official website where you can get tickets for the official price, and that is the Ministry of Culture Website.
This isn’t the easiest the website to navigate, and although they provide an English version of their website (using the top right corner), sometimes the translation is shoddy or reverts back to Spanish at random times. Don’t fret – be patient, persevere and you will eventually get your tickets! It took me a few tries but I did eventually secure the tickets I wanted.
Selection of Circuit
Machu Picchu citadel viewpoint – you’ll be able to see this during your Circuit 2 walk.
When visiting Machu Picchu, you’ll have to choose between a selected of curated ‘circuits’ the ministry has essentially created. This was done to control overcrowding of the site, and to avoid tourists backtracking during the route, causing congestion.
Selection of circuits from the Ministry’s website.
As of 2023, there are five circuits to choose from. You can find a map of the official routes of each circuit on the Ministry of Culture Website.
If you’re not planning on doing an external hike such as the Huayna Picchu, Huchuy Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain hikes, then I would recommend you choosing Circuit 2. This is the most comprehensive and popular route, allowing you to visit all the famous highlights of Machu Picchu along the way.
Buy your tickets as far in advance as you possibly can, as once again, these tickets sell out like hot cakes during busy periods and peak time slots.
Selection of Timeslot
Choosing your entry time into Machu Picchu is an important decision.
You will have to select which timeslot to visit the Machu Picchu citadel. This is a one-hour timeslot in which you will be able to arrive at Machu Picchu, so plan this very carefully. Do not take risks with cut-off times because you may not be able to enter the citadel.
For example, if your PeruRail train arrives at Machu Picchu Pueblo Station at around 10:15am, it takes around 25-30 minutes to get from Machu Picchu Pueblo Station to Machu Picchu Citadel by bus, but you may not get on the next bus immediately so take into account a possible 5-10-minute wait. In this case, I would buy a ticket for Machu Picchu citadel during the 11:00 – 12:00 time slot which should give ample time for you to arrive from Machu Picchu Pueblo Station. The worst that can happen in this case is that you arrive too early, and you might have to wait a few minutes before your time slot opens up.
So please plan the timing of your journey carefully – I can’t stress this enough!
Bring Your Passport
Lastly, remember to bring your passport on the day of your journey to Machu Picchu. You would have entered your passport details when purchasing your Machu Picchu tickets online, and this data will be corroborated on the day by a staff member, so don’t forget your physical passport.
Cusco to Machu Picchu - The PeruRail Journey
Enjoying one of the scenic windows on my PeruRail train ride.
How does the journey from Cusco to Machu Picchu actually look like? Let’s run it through.
Bear in mind that at the time of our journey, we took the Vistadome service on a Bimodal basis.
Arriving at your departure bus or train station
Arrive at your departure bus or train station at least 15 minutes early so you’ll be able to locate where your train or bus will leave from. If you have any extra time up your sleeve, there might be some photo opportunities such as these photographs below.
Asher at Wanchaq station.
Excited for our PeruRail journey!
The train journey to Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu Pueblo Station)
The alleyways of Aguas Calientes town
Once on you’re on your way to Aguas Calientes, prepare for one of the most beautiful train journeys you’ll ever embark on!
En route from Ollantaytambo to Machu Picchu Pueblo Station.
On my Vistadome journey, I was witnessed breathtaking mountain and valley views. Along the way, you’ll hear an audio track explaining points of interests as well. The friendly staff members on my train would also then point out and explain the significance of these points.
Example of stunning views during the PeruRail train ride.
During the return route from Machu Picchu Pueblo back to Ollantaytambo, I was also thoroughly entertained by the cultural dance and fashion show!
Cultural dance performance during my return journey.
Entertaining fashion show performed by PeruRail staff members.
Bus from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu
Once you arrive at Machu Pacchu Pueblo station in the Aguas Calientes village, you’ll need to hop on one more bus to arrive at Machu Picchu Inca citadel. There is currently only one bus company that sells these bus tickets, called Consettur.
The easiest way to buy this is to walk to the Consettur office from the train station. Just input ‘Consettur Bus Ticket’ into Google Maps and you’ll find the location. The bus leaves every 5-10 minutes, with no fixed schedule.
These buses do cost quite a bit of money – 24 USD for a round trip, for foreign tourists. If you choose to take the bus, please also remember to bring your passport as it will be checked before you board your bus.
If you do not want to take the bus, you’re also able to hike from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu Inca Citadel. This usually takes 1 hour.
Would I recommend using PeruRail?
Did I enjoy using PeruRail? Yes!
I honestly wouldn’t know how to get to Machu Picchu if PeruRail didn’t exist. They provide such a valuable, irreplaceable service and I was so impressed with the quality of their trains, panoramic views and helpful service.
Thank you to the friendly PeruRail staff during my journey!
I have such good memories of my trip to Machu Picchu, and PeruRail was instrumental in making my journey so much more enjoyable. So yes, I would most definitely recommend using PeruRail on your journey from Cusco to Machu Picchu.
Machu Picchu Tours from Cusco
Asher at Machu Picchu.
It’s totally doable to visit Machu Picchu from Cusco on your own without using a tour, but if you want to take all the hassle of planning out of the equation, we would recommend the below all-inclusive tour - which includes a local Guide, pick-up and drop-off from your hotel in Cusco, admission ticket to the Citadel, round trip Consettur shuttle bus tickets and lastly, round trip PeruRail tickets.
This is a really, really convenient option if you want to have everything included in one package.