girl Machu Picchu fullday tour
girl on her back with machu picchu in the background
Panoramic train to Machu Picchu
Scenic train to Machu Picchu
walls and stairs of machu picchu urban area
archaeological site of machu picchu as seen from above during the guided tour
machu picchu mountain landscape
interior of the ruins of machu picchu
Transfer Cusco <> Ollantaytambo
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Machu Picchu full day tour

Train tour to Machu Picchu departing from Cusco

(18 reviews)

🚨 Tickets to Machu Picchu sell out fast! 🚨 Book in advance.

Cusco
1 day
Spanish / English
Starts: From your accommodation in Cusco at 3:50 a.m.
Ends: To your accommodation in Cusco between 6:30 and 7:30 p.m.
Flexible cancellation policy

Briefing

The one-day tour to Machu Picchu is perfect for travelers who want to make the most of their time. It begins with a road trip to Ollantaytambo, where you’ll board a panoramic tourist train headed to Aguas Calientes. From there, a bus will take you up to the impressive Inca Citadel, where you’ll explore the circuit included with your ticket. When booking, you can choose the tour with or without entrance.

After the visit, you’ll return to Aguas Calientes and take the train back to Ollantaytambo, where a minibus will be waiting to take you back to Cusco. If you’d like to upgrade your experience, you can choose to return on a first-class train.

✅ At Howlanders, we offer this tour with certified guides and the best available departure times. Get ready for an unforgettable adventure!

Tour details

Included

  • Transfer Cusco-Ollantaytambo (round trip)
  • Train Ollantaytambo - Aguas Calientes in the selected category (round trip)
  • Bus Aguas Calientes - Machu Picchu (round trip)
  • Machu Picchu entry ticket (according to selected option)
  • Machu Picchu guided tour (subject to availability)

Not included

  • Meals

Important information

🎟️ The tour is available with or without a Machu Picchu entry ticket, depending on the option you select. If you choose the option with entry included, you’ll be assigned the best available time slot and type of ticket.

🚶🏻 If you book the tour without an entry ticket, the guided visit to Machu Picchu will only be included if there’s a group available that matches your time and route. Otherwise, a private guide will be offered at an additional cost.

You can upgrade your tour by adding any of these extras during the booking process:

  • 🚂 Upgrade to first-class train – Upgrade your train tickets to travel in panoramic cars with onboard service and entertainment.
  • 🙋 Upgrade to a private guided tour of Machu Picchu – Instead of joining a group tour, you will have a private guide just for you and your companions.

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

Cusco - Ollantaytambo - Aguas Calientes - Machu Picchu

4:00 A.M.

Pick up in Cusco

Your guide will pick you up at your accommodation in Cusco around 4:00 a.m. with a minibus and you will head to Ollantaytambo train station. From there, you will take the 6:10 a.m. train to Aguas Calientes. Also known as Machu Picchu village.

🚆🕐 The journey takes about an hour and a half, circulating through spectacular scenery with views of the snow-capped mountains, the Vilcanota River and the semi-tropical and high jungle zone.

perurail train blue color running from ollantaytambo to aguas calientes
8 : 00 AM

Machu Picchu

When you get to Aguas Calientes, you’ll hop on a bus that’ll take you up to the Machu Picchu archaeological park. Once you're there, you'll follow the route based on your ticket since there are different paths to explore the citadel. After the tour, you’ll have some free time to check out certain areas of Machu Picchu, but just a heads up—you won’t be able to wander around wherever you want because they’ve limited visitor movement to help preserve the site.

view of the citadel of machu picchu during the machu picchu full day tour

Aguas Calientes - Return to Cusco

We will take the bus again from Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes town, where you can have lunch in one of its restaurants before taking the train that will take you back to Ollantaytambo.

At the Ollantaytambo train station, a minibus will be waiting for you to take you back to Cusco. You will arrive in the city around 6:30 p.m.

🚆🕐The exact arrival time in Cusco may vary depending on train schedules and will be indicated in your booking confirmation.

town of aguas calientes during the machu picchu full day tour

What to bring to Machu Picchu full day tour

Due to the altitude, mornings are usually cold and midday temperatures can get warm, so be prepared for changing weather conditions. Also, keep in mind that the rainy season runs from November to March. Bring only the essentials, as large suitcases are not allowed on the train.

We recommend bringing:

  • Small daypack with what you need for the day
  • Comfortable shoes
  • Clothing suitable for changing weather:
    • First layer: lightweight short-sleeved T-shirt
    • Second layer: sweater or fleece
    • Outer layer: waterproof and windproof jacket
  • Passport (required to access Machu Picchu and board the train!)
  • Sunscreen
  • Insect repellent
  • Sunglasses
  • Personal medication and, if needed, altitude sickness pills

Where does the tour Machu Picchu full day start

The tour includes hotel pick-up, so you’ll be picked up from your accommodation as long as it’s located in Cusco’s historic center. If the street isn’t accessible for the minibus, the coordinator will walk with you from your accommodation to the designated pick-up point. If your hotel is not in the city center, the minibus won’t be able to deviate much from its route, and a pick-up point as close as possible to your accommodation will be arranged for you.

Questions & Answers

  • What type of Machu Picchu ticket is included in my booking?

    It depends on the option you selected.

    If you chose the tour without a ticket, admission to Machu Picchu is not included.

    If you booked the tour with a ticket, your reservation will include entry with the best available circuit and time slot at the time of confirmation.

  • What’s the best ticket for visiting Machu Picchu?

    There isn’t one “best” ticket—each circuit offers a different experience. We recommend checking out this article where we break down the differences between each type of ticket.

  • What can I do if Machu Picchu tickets are sold out?

    You have two main alternatives:

    1. Book the Inca Trail tour (2 or 4 days), which includes different types of entry.
    2. Try to get a ticket on your own—either by grabbing one of the few that occasionally go back on sale, or by purchasing directly at the Aguas Calientes ticket office.

    In this case, we recommend booking the 2-Day Machu Picchu Tour without a ticket, which gets you to Aguas Calientes early enough to try and buy one.

    Just keep in mind that this option carries some risk—you may not get a ticket and miss out on visiting Machu Picchu.

  • Can I book the tour without a Machu Picchu ticket?

    Yes, you can. Just select the no-ticket option when booking.

    If there's a scheduled guided tour available for the time and route of your entry, it will be included at no extra cost. Otherwise, we’ll offer you a private guided tour for an additional fee.

  • Will I be able to take the iconic Machu Picchu photo?

    That depends on the ticket we’re able to secure. We'll do our best to get a circuit that includes the classic viewpoint, but due to limited availability, we can’t guarantee it.

  • Can I customize the tour?

    Absolutely. You can modify the duration, included services, and more. Just contact us and we’ll tailor it to your needs.

  • When should I book the Machu Picchu tour?

    As soon as possible. The most popular tickets sell out quickly. You can book the tour with admission included, or you can buy your ticket directly on the official Machu Picchu website and then book the tour without a ticket.

  • What is the first-class train upgrade?

    Part of the journey is on a tourist train with large windows and a slow pace so you can enjoy the scenery. The first-class upgrade gives you access to a more luxurious, panoramic train with overhead windows, complimentary snacks, and often a live show on board.

  • What does the private guided tour upgrade include?

    The standard visit to Machu Picchu is in a shared group of about 15 people. If you'd like a more personalized experience, you can upgrade to a private tour during the booking process.

  • Can I add entry to Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain?

    Yes, but tickets are extremely limited. They can't be added during the online booking process—you’ll need to contact us after booking, or purchase them directly on the official Machu Picchu ticket site.

  • Do you offer discounts for students or children?

    Yes, we offer a $20 discount for students under 25 with a valid student ID. Just reach out to us and request it.

  • Has this tour ever been canceled due to rainy season?

    No, the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu tour has never been canceled because of weather. The stretch between Ollantaytambo and Aguas Calientes is done by train, not by road, so it’s not affected by rain-related road closures.

Machu Picchu full day tour reviews with Howlanders

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