howlanders couple observing machu picchu
howlanders boy in a hallway of machu picchu
Image of Machu Picchu mountain and the Inca citadel as seen from above
Small llama on his back looking at the Inca citadel and Machu Picchu
Side image of the blue Peru Rail Expedition train that transports travelers from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu
tourists visiting the machu picchu archeological site
machu picchu archeological site
terraces area in the inca city of machu picchu
tourists accessing machu picchu from the upper zone
map of the zones of machu picchu
Retama Machu Picchu Hotel
Retama Machu Picchu Hotel double room
Retama Machu Picchu Hotel double room
Retama Machu Picchu Hotel triple room
double room with private bathroon machu picchu tour
Casa Andina Hotel
Casa Andina Hotel
double room Casa Andina Hotel
double room Casa Andina Hotel
double room Casa Andina Hotel
double room Casa Andina Hotel
double room Casa Andina Hotel
casa andina hotel restaurant
casa andina hotel breakfast
casa andina hotel breakfast
el mapi hotel
el mapi hotel
suite el mapi hotel
suite el mapi hotel
spa el mapi hotel
sauna el mapi hotel
spa el mapi hotel
el mapi hotel breakfast
double room Perú Coca Hotel B&B
double room Perú Coca Hotel B&B
triple room Perú Coca Hotel B&B
reception Perú Coca Hotel B&B
breakfast Perú Coca Hotel B&B
breakfast Perú Coca Hotel B&B
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2-Day Train Tour to Machu Picchu

Includes entrance to Machu Picchu, transportation by train + bus, guided visit and lodging.

(11 reviews)

🚨 Machu Picchu tickets likely to sold out! 🚨 Book in advance!

Cusco
2 days
Spanish / English
Starts: From your accommodation in Cusco between 8:45 and 9:00 a.m.
Ends: To your accommodation in Cusco between 7:00 and 9:00 p.m.
Flexible cancellation policy

Briefing

The 2-Day train tour to Machu Picchu is the best option to discover the Inca city and to quietly visit the town of Aguas Calientes.

Departing from Cusco, you will drive to Ollantaytambo, from where you will take the emblematic train that will take you to Aguas Calientes, also known as Machu Picchu village. Take advantage of the afternoon to visit the Alcomayo waterfalls or relax in the hot springs. The second day of the tour will be the highlight: the guided visit to Machu Picchu.

✅Book with us and you will have the tour with the best guides, train schedules and access to Machu Picchu, so you can enjoy a unique experience.

Do you want to know all the details of this 2-day tour from Cusco? We will tell you about them below:

Tour details

Included

  • Transfer Cusco - Ollantaytambo (round trip)
  • Train Ollantaytambo - Aguas Calientes Expedition/Voyager category (round trip)
  • Bus Aguas Calientes - Machu Picchu (round trip)
  • Entrance to Machu Picchu
  • 2 hours guided tour in Machu Picchu
  • Accommodation in Aguas Calientes with breakfast (depending on the selected option)

Not included

  • Dinner on day 1
  • Lunch on day 1 and 2
  • Entrance fee to Aguas Calientes hot springs (20 - 25 soles/person)

Important information

To guarantee the conservation of Machu Picchu, 4 different itineraries have been designed within the citadel. When you make your reservation, you will be assigned the best itinerary and schedule available.

In addition to the general entrance fee, if you wish to visit an additional area (Huayna Picchu, Huchuy Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain), an additional entrance fee will be included in your reservation and the guide will tell you how to do the hike.

❌ It is not possible to visit two of the additional zones on the same day due to lack of time. 

💡 To learn more about tickets and circuits available in Machu Picchu please contact us.

Cancellation policy

If you cancel more than 15 days before the tour start time you will receive an 70% refund*. If you cancel less than 15 days before the tour start time you will receive a 50% refund*. After this time, or in case of no-show, you will not be entitled to a refund.

Tour itinerary

PREVIOUS DAY Briefing in Cusco

Briefing in Cusco

The day before the tour starts, you will have a small meeting with the guide in the city of Cusco. He will give you all the tickets and access, explain all the details of the tour and tell you the exact pick-up time for the next day.

He will also explain how you can organize your visit to the Alcomayo waterfalls and the hot springs of Aguas Calientes.

tourists strolling through the streets of cusco the day before the tour

DAY 1 Cusco - Ollantaytambo - Aguas Calientes

Cusco - Ollantaytambo

The guide will pick you up at your accommodation in Cusco at the agreed time. You will travel by minibus to Ollantaytambo train station, and once there you will be told which train you have to take to get to Aguas Calientes. Please note that the guide will not travel with you on the train.

The trip lasts an hour and a half, passing through spectacular scenery with views of the snow-capped mountains, the Vilcanota River, the semi-tropical zone and the high jungle area.

ollantaytambo train station train to machu picchu

Aguas Calientes

When you arrive at the train station in Aguas Calientes, they will be waiting to take you to your accommodation and will tell you the exact pick-up time for the next day. You can leave your things in the hostel room and take advantage of the afternoon to discover the town of Machu Picchu.

train station and town of aguas calientes

Optional activities you can do in Aguas Calientes

Besides walking through its streets, from Howlanders we recommend you 2 optional activities that you can do during this first day in Machu Picchu town:

  • 💙 Alcomayo Waterfalls : 10 soles/person.
    A one-and-a-half-hour hike departing from Aguas Calientes to the great Alcomayo waterfalls.

  • 💙 Aguas Calientes hot springs : 20-25 soles/person.
    Rest and relax in the hot springs of Machu Picchu Pueblo. It is advisable to go before 15:00 to enjoy the experience to the fullest because later on it is more difficult to access due to the number of travelers who visit them.

tourists enjoying the hot springs in aguas calientes

DAY 2 Aguas Calientes - Machu Picchu - Aguas Calientes - Ollantaytambo - Cusco

Aguas Calientes

You will have an early breakfast at the hostel, after breakfast your guide will pick you up and you and the rest of the travelers will go to the bus stop to take the bus that connects Aguas Calientes with Machu Picchu. The exact time will depend on the schedule of the entrances to Machu Picchu. The bus ticket is included in the tour.

You are about to discover one of the new seven Wonders of the Modern World.

high zone of machu picchu on the Machu Picchu 2 day train tour

Machu Picchu

Once in Machu Picchu, you will take a two-hour guided tour in a small group of a maximum of 8 travelers.

You will access the citadel from the upper part. During the first part of the visit, you will have more time to take pictures, as this area of Machu Picchu offers the best views. The second part of the visit will be where you will really discover the details of its history. At the end of the 2-hour guided tour, you will have free time to enjoy the lower area of Machu Picchu on your own.

✅ The upper part of Machu Picchu can only be visited with a guide and the route is delimited.

archaeological ruins of machu picchu during the two hour guided tour

Aguas Calientes

After the guided tour, the guide will say goodbye to the group and you can decide when to return to Aguas Calientes by bus. The guide will have previously given you your bus ticket, which leaves every few minutes from the gate of Machu Picchu.

You will have free time to have lunch in one of the restaurants in Aguas Calientes until the departure of the train, which will take you back to Ollantaytambo. Upon arrival at the train station, a transfer will be waiting for you to take you back to the city of Cuzco, where you will arrive between 18:00 and 21:00.

✅ If you have selected the extra "private transfer Ollantaytambo - Cuzco" the driver will be waiting for you when you leave the train.

✅ If you have selected the extra "Vistadome Train" the train ride will be in first class on a panoramic train.

view of the town of aguas calientes by the river

What to bring to 2-Day Train Tour to Machu Picchu

  • Backpack for two days
  • Sunscreen
  • Insect repellent
  • Sunglasses
  • Warm clothing
  • Comfortable footwear
  • Water bottle
  • Raincoat/waterproof poncho
  • Passport
  • Bathing suit and towel (only if you want to visit the hot springs of Aguas Calientes)
  • Medication to avoid altitude sickness (in case you consider it necessary).

Where does the tour 2-Day Train Tour to Machu Picchu start

The tour includes pick up from your accommodation in Cuzco. If your starting point to get to Cuzco is Lima, you can arrive by bus (24 hours of travel) or take a plane that has a journey time of one hour.

If you arrive from Arequipa, the bus ride takes ten hours. You can also choose to make the trip by plane, in this case the only airline that offers direct flights is LATAM Airlines.

If you arrive from Puno the best option is to do it by bus, a journey of six and a half hours. We also offer the possibility of making this journey in a tourist bus that makes stops at the most important places along the way. Departure is at 7:00 in the morning and arrival in Cuzco at 17:30.

Finally, LATAM Airlines operates a direct route Iquitos - Cuzco. This route is not available on a daily basis, so we recommend you check the dates on which it is available to plan your trip.

Questions & Answers

  • What is the best time to travel to Machu Picchu?

    Any time of the year is a good time to visit Machu Picchu. During the months of June to September, it is the dry season and you will avoid possible rainy days but there are more tourists for being in high season. If you want to know each of the steps you will do during the tour read this article from our blog where we explain you personally all the adventure.

  • Has this tour ever been canceled in the rainy season?

    No, the tour is never cancelled due to the weather. The stretch between Ollantaytambo and Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu town) is done by train and not by road, which sometimes can be closed, especially in the rainy season.

  • When to book the tour?

    During Easter and the months from June to September, it is high season. In order to ensure good timetables on the trains it is advisable to book more than a month in advance. In the case of including Huayna Picchu we recommend booking more than 3 months in advance.

  • What is the difference between the trains?

    There are two companies that operate the route between Ollantaytambo and Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu town): Inca Rail and Peru Rail. Their trains are for tourist, with panoramic windows and circulate at low speed to be able to appreciate the landscape during the route. They offer mainly 2 categories, the standard category, called Expedition or Voyager and the superior category called 360 or Vistadome. In case you want a more luxurious category or customize your tour, contact us.

  • How long will I be in Machu Picchu?

    In the citadel of Machu Picchu you will stay approximately 5 hours. The guided tour lasts two hours. You will then have free time to explore on your own for approximately three more hours. In case of booking Huayna Picchu or Montaña de Machu Picchu, the schedule of the guided tour in Machu Picchu will be adapted depending on the time of access to these additional areas.

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

    Two mountains can be accessed from the citadel of Machu Picchu. Huayna Picchu is an area that takes about an hour and a half to cover, with a lot of inclination and steps, not suitable for people with vertigo and not only are there few daily entries sold but they are also sold rapidly. On the other hand, Machu Picchu Mountain is an extra excursion of approximately 4 hours along a wider and less inclined road. Keep in mind that Montaña de Machu Picchu takes a long time to tour and therefore you will have very little free time in Machu Picchu after the guided tour.

  • What to take to the Machu Picchu and Sacred Valley tour?

    In addition to what is indicated in the section "to take" we want to clarify that the temperature oscillates a lot on the same day and the sun can be strong, so it is important to wear several layers of clothing, a rain poncho, in addition to sunglasses, sunscreen and a hat or cap. A small backpack will be very comfortable for you to carry everything. We recommend that you leave some of your luggage at your accommodation in Cusco (yes, all hotels offer this service) and take only what is necessary for the tour. In addition Machu Picchu has lockers for the price of 5 soles.

  • Is it possible to have a discount on the price of entrance, train or accomodation if I have already booked them in advance?

    Yes, we offer various discounts depending on the services you do not want to include. If you want to customize your tour, contact us.

  • Do you offer discounts to students or children and other groups?

    Yes, we offer a 20 USD discount to children and students under the age of 25 who have a valid student card. The student discount is applied at the entrance to Machu Picchu but the organization in charge of managing the tickets is very demanding, so it is necessary that the card includes the period of validity, otherwise the discount will not be applied.

  • Is it possible to stay an extra night in Aguas Calientes and return to Cusco the next day?

    Yes, it is possible to include one more night in the accommodation in Machu Picchu town (Aguas Calientes) and adapt the transport back to Cusco. You simply have to select the accommodation you want as an extra.

  • Do you recommend me the additional area of Machu Picchu Mountain?

    From Howlanders we want to inform you that visiting this additional area can take up to 4 hours and will greatly reduce the free time you have in Machu Picchu which is free, which we consider important, but in no case is the time of the guided tour reduced.

2-Day Train Tour to Machu Picchu tour reviews with Howlanders

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