Treinkaartjes
Train Tickets to Machu Picchu and Beyond
The only way to reach Aguas Calientes and Machu Picchu is by train. We book seats on all Peru Rail and Inca Rail services across every route, class and departure time so you travel on the schedule that works for you.
The Train Is the Journey
The rail journey to Aguas Calientes is one of the most scenic in South America. From Cusco or Ollantaytambo, the tracks descend through the Sacred Valley, following the course of the Urubamba River as the mountains close in on either side and the cloud forest thickens around the carriages. The altitude drops sharply, the air warms and the vegetation changes from the dry scrub of the Andean highlands to the lush, mist-covered slopes of the cloud forest. By the time the train pulls into Aguas Calientes, the sense of arrival is complete.
There are two train operators serving the Machu Picchu route: Peru Rail and Inca Rail. Between them they offer a range of services from affordable and comfortable economy trains to some of the most beautifully designed luxury carriages in South America. Departures run from three different starting points depending on where you are staying and how much of the journey you want to experience by rail.
At Inka Tickets we book seats across all services, all classes and all departure points. We match the right train to your itinerary, your budget and the experience you are looking for, and we handle the reservation so that your seat is confirmed before you arrive in Cusco.
DEPARTURE POINTS
Where the Journey Begins
Trains to Aguas Calientes depart from three stations depending on the service and the traveler’s starting point. Cusco’s Poroy station sits just outside the city and serves some of the longer scenic routes. Ollantaytambo station in the Sacred Valley is the most commonly used departure point for travelers who take the road from Cusco first and join the train there, which is also the most time-efficient option for most itineraries. Urubamba station is used by the Sacred Valley Train service and offers a quieter, less crowded boarding experience for travelers already staying in the valley.
We coordinate the transfer from your hotel in Cusco to whichever station is right for your chosen service, so the logistics between city and train are handled as part of the same booking.
PERU RAIL SERVICES
Peru Rail — The Original Machu Picchu Railway
Peru Rail has been operating trains to Aguas Calientes for decades and remains the dominant operator on the route. Their fleet covers a wide range of price points and experience levels, from the practical and reliable Expedition service used by the majority of independent travelers to the legendary Belmond Hiram Bingham, one of the most celebrated luxury train experiences in the world.
Peru Rail — Expedition
Reliable, Comfortable and Great Value — The Expedition Train
The Expedition is the most widely used train service on the Machu Picchu route and the first choice for independent travelers who want a comfortable, no-fuss journey at a reasonable price. The carriages are clean and well maintained, with assigned seating, large windows along both sides and a café bar service offering drinks and snacks during the journey. The ride takes approximately one hour and forty minutes from Ollantaytambo and around three hours and twenty minutes from Poroy station near Cusco.
Multiple departures run throughout the day in both directions, giving travelers flexibility over their arrival and return times in Aguas Calientes. The Expedition is the best starting point for travelers who want a practical connection to Machu Picchu and prefer to spend their budget on the experience at the site rather than on the train ride itself.
Route: Cusco (Poroy) / Ollantaytambo / Urubamba to Aguas Calientes and return Journey time: approximately 1h 40min from Ollantaytambo / 3h 20min from Poroy Departures: multiple daily in both directions
Peru Rail — Vistadome
Panoramic Windows and Andean Scenery — The Vistadome Train
The Vistadome is the scenic upgrade from the Expedition and one of the most enjoyable ways to experience the journey to Aguas Calientes. The carriages feature large panoramic windows that extend into the roof, giving passengers an almost unobstructed view of the mountains, river and cloud forest as the train descends through the Sacred Valley. On clear days the views are extraordinary and the changing landscape between the highlands and the cloud forest makes the journey feel like an attraction in its own right rather than simply a means of getting from one place to another.
The service includes a snack and beverage service, a small live music or cultural presentation on board some departures, and the same journey times as the Expedition. It costs slightly more but for many travelers the visual experience justifies the difference. The Vistadome is particularly popular on morning departures when the light is at its best and the mountains are most likely to be clear of cloud.
Route: Cusco (Poroy) / Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes and return Journey time: approximately 1h 40min from Ollantaytambo / 3h 20min from Poroy Departures: multiple daily in both directions
Peru Rail — Hiram Bingham
The Most Legendary Train in South America — Belmond Hiram Bingham
The Hiram Bingham is not simply a train. It is one of the great luxury travel experiences in South America, named after the American explorer who brought Machu Picchu to international attention in 1911 and operated in partnership with Belmond, the luxury travel brand behind some of the world’s finest hotels and rail journeys. The train departs once daily from Poroy station near Cusco and arrives in Aguas Calientes in time for a guided visit to the citadel, before returning in the evening with dinner, live music and bar service on board.
The carriages are impeccably fitted with polished wood paneling, white tablecloths and observation platforms at each end of the train. Brunch is served on the outward journey and dinner on the return. A guide escorts passengers from the station to Machu Picchu and remains with the group throughout the visit. The Hiram Bingham is a full-day experience rather than a simple transfer and is best suited to travelers for whom the journey itself is as important as the destination.
Route: Cusco (Poroy) to Aguas Calientes and return Departures: once daily each direction Includes: brunch on the way out, guided visit to Machu Picchu, dinner and bar service on the return
Peru Rail — Titicaca Train
Between Two Worlds — The Titicaca Train
The Titicaca Train connects Puno, the gateway city to Lake Titicaca, with Cusco across one of the most extraordinary stretches of landscape in all of Peru. The route crosses the altiplano at altitudes that exceed four thousand meters, passing through small Andean communities, vast open plains dotted with grazing alpacas and views of snow-capped peaks that appear and disappear as the train rounds each curve. It is a journey that reveals a side of Peru that most visitors never reach by road and that puts the diversity of the country into vivid perspective.
The service runs in both directions, making it a natural connection for travelers moving between a Lake Titicaca experience in Puno and the Inca heartland of Cusco. The journey is long by the standards of the Machu Picchu routes, but the landscape and the altitude make every hour worthwhile. The train includes comfortable seating, dining and bar service and observation areas from which passengers can take in the immensity of the altiplano without obstruction.
Route: Puno to Cusco and Cusco to Puno Journey time: approximately 10 hours Frequency: selected departures weekly Includes: meals, bar service, observation areas
Peru Rail — Andean Explorer
The Finest Long-Distance Train in Peru — The Andean Explorer
The Andean Explorer is the luxury version of the Cusco to Puno route and one of the great train journeys of South America. Operated by Peru Rail in partnership with Belmond, the same brand behind the Hiram Bingham to Machu Picchu, the Andean Explorer takes the same altiplano route as the Titicaca Train but transforms it into a full day of curated travel, fine dining and unhurried exploration of the landscape at altitude.
The carriages are elegantly fitted with plush seating, warm textiles and wide picture windows that frame the passing panorama. A spa carriage, an observation deck and a dining car offering locally inspired cuisine complete the on-board experience. The train makes a stop during the journey that allows passengers to step out and visit a community or viewpoint along the route before continuing toward Puno. For travelers who consider the journey as important as the destination, the Andean Explorer between Cusco and Puno is one of the finest ways to travel anywhere in Peru.
Route: Cusco to Puno and Puno to Cusco Journey time: approximately 10 hours Frequency: selected departures weekly Includes: full dining service, spa carriage, observation deck, mid-journey stop
Peru Rail — Sacred Valley Train
The Quiet Departure — Sacred Valley Train
The Sacred Valley Train departs from Urubamba station rather than Ollantaytambo, making it the least crowded boarding option for the Machu Picchu route. Travelers staying in the Sacred Valley towns of Urubamba, Yucay or the surrounding area can board here without backtracking to Ollantaytambo, which saves both time and the logistical challenge of coordinating a transfer to the more popular station. The service connects to Aguas Calientes along the same scenic river route as the other trains on the line.
Route: Urubamba to Aguas Calientes and return Journey time: approximately 2 hours
INCA RAIL SERVICES
Inca Rail — A Modern Alternative on the Sacred Valley Route
Inca Rail entered the Machu Picchu route as a competitor to Peru Rail and has built a loyal following among travelers who appreciate their modern rolling stock, attentive service and slightly more boutique approach to the journey. Their trains depart exclusively from Ollantaytambo, making them the natural choice for travelers who are already spending time in the Sacred Valley before heading to Machu Picchu. Both of their services offer a high standard of comfort and a noticeably contemporary aesthetic inside the carriages.
Inca Rail — Voyager
Modern Comfort on the Sacred Valley Route — The Voyager
The Voyager is Inca Rail’s standard service and a strong alternative to Peru Rail’s Expedition for the Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes route. The carriages are modern, brightly lit and well appointed, with comfortable assigned seating, large windows and an attentive on-board team. The journey follows the same spectacular river valley route as the Peru Rail services, descending through the cloud forest with the Urubamba rushing alongside the tracks.
The Voyager runs multiple departures throughout the day and is particularly well suited to travelers who want a reliable, comfortable connection from the Sacred Valley without committing to a premium price. It is also a practical choice for groups that have been staying in Ollantaytambo or Urubamba and want a seamless departure from the valley.
Route: Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes and return Journey time: approximately 1h 40min Departures: multiple daily in both directions
Inca Rail — The 360°
A Train Designed to Be Looked Through — The 360°
The 360° is Inca Rail’s premium service and one of the most distinctive trains operating anywhere in Peru. The carriages have been designed with floor-to-ceiling glass on three sides and a partially open observation deck at the rear, giving passengers a truly immersive view of the Sacred Valley landscape as the train winds its way down to Aguas Calientes. The effect of sitting inside a glass carriage as the mountains close around the track is genuinely unlike anything else on the route.
The service includes a curated food and beverage offering, attentive personal service and a carefully considered interior that makes the most of the views at every point of the journey. The 360° is the right choice for travelers who want a premium experience from Ollantaytambo without committing to the full-day Hiram Bingham program, and it pairs naturally with a private guided tour at Machu Picchu for a complete high-end day trip.
Route: Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes and return Journey time: approximately 1h 40min Departures: selected daily departures
COMPARISON TABLE
Which Train Is Right for You?
Service | Operator | From | Journey Time | Style | Best For |
Expedition | Peru Rail | Poroy / Ollantaytambo | 1h 40min – 3h 20min | Standaard | Budget-conscious travelers |
Vistadome | Peru Rail | Poroy / Ollantaytambo | 1h 40min – 3h 20min | Scenic | Panoramic views |
Hiram Bingham | Peru Rail (Belmond) | Poroy (Cusco) | 3h 20min | Luxury | Full luxury day experience |
Titicaca Train | Peru Rail | Cusco / Puno | ~10 hours | Standard long distance | Cusco to Puno travelers |
Andean Explorer | Peru Rail (Belmond) | Cusco / Puno | ~10 hours | Luxury long distance | Premium Cusco to Puno |
Sacred Valley Train | Peru Rail | Urubamba | ~2 hours | Standaard | Sacred Valley travelers |
Voyager | Inca Rail | Ollantaytambo | 1h 40min | Modern comfort | Sacred Valley travelers |
The 360° | Inca Rail | Ollantaytambo | 1h 40min | Premium scenic | Premium day trip |
HOW TO BOOK
How to Book Your Train Ticket with Inka Tickets
Send us your travel dates, your departure point, the number of passengers and the service you are interested in. Our team checks real-time availability across all operators and departures and sends you the options open for your dates. Once you confirm, we process the booking and send you the tickets and all relevant journey information by email.
If you are combining your train ticket with a Machu Picchu entrance ticket, a guided tour or a transfer from your hotel in Cusco, we coordinate everything together so that your departure times, entry slots and pickups are properly aligned. A single booking request covers all of it.
Inka Tickets · Train Booking
Book Your Train Ticket
Browse the full schedule, select your preferred departure and our team will confirm availability and send you a booking proposal within a few hours. No payment required at this stage.
- Peru Rail and Inca Rail — all routes
- Round trip or one way
- Response within a few hours
