Quick answer: PeruRail and Inca Rail are the two companies operating trains to Machu Picchu, both safe and both departing from Ollantaytambo. A one-way tourist ticket costs roughly US$ 60 to US$ 140 depending on class; the real difference lies in schedules, departure stations and carriage style — not the route itself.
Two operators, one destination
There is no road to Machu Picchu Pueblo (Aguas Calientes): unless you hike a trek, you will arrive by train. PeruRail is the long-established operator, with the most daily departures and the famous Hiram Bingham luxury train. Inca Rail has been running since 2009, competing with modern carriages and often slightly sharper prices. Both use the same track, take the same time, and arrive at the same station, a short walk from the shuttle bus up to the citadel.
Routes and departure stations
- Ollantaytambo (Sacred Valley): the station with the most departures from both companies, about 2 hours by road from Cusco. The train ride to Aguas Calientes takes around 1 hour 45 minutes. This is the standard choice for most travelers.
- Poroy (Cusco): about 25 minutes from central Cusco. PeruRail departs from here during part of the year; the full journey takes about 3 hours 15 minutes. In the rainy season this segment is usually suspended and replaced by a bus to Ollantaytambo (bimodal service).
- San Pedro (central Cusco): an urban station used on a limited basis, mainly for local services or specific seasons. Check availability on the official website before counting on it.
Service classes compared
| Category | PeruRail | Inca Rail | Approx. price (one way) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard tourist | Expedition | Voyager | ~US$ 60-90 |
| Panoramic | Vistadome / Vistadome Observatory | The 360° | ~US$ 90-140 |
| Luxury | Hiram Bingham (Belmond) | First Class / Private | several hundred US$ |
Prices vary by date, departure time and demand: treat them as a reference and always verify the current fare on each operator’s official website. Expedition and Voyager cover the journey perfectly well, with comfortable seats and large windows. Vistadome and The 360° add ceiling windows, extra legroom and onboard snacks. The Hiram Bingham is an experience in itself: a 1920s-style dining car, a bar carriage with live music and a gourmet dinner.
Luggage allowance: travel light
Both companies follow the same logic: only hand luggage boards the train — one bag or backpack of roughly 5-8 kg per passenger, sized to fit the carriage’s overhead rack. Your big suitcase stays at your Cusco hotel, which will almost always store it free of charge. Bring only what you need for the day (or the night, if you sleep in Aguas Calientes): layers, water, sunscreen and your passport.
Which one should you choose?
- Tight budget: compare Expedition and Voyager for your date and take the most convenient schedule; class for class, the experience is very similar.
- Sweet spot (the favorite): Vistadome or The 360°. The panoramic windows turn the ride through the Urubamba canyon into part of the tour.
- Special occasion: Hiram Bingham or First Class — designed as a celebration rather than mere transport.
- Schedule rules: in high season the best criterion is often simply which operator still has seats at the time you need — morning trains sell out first.
The shortcut: a tour with the train already sorted
Coordinating the train, the right circuit ticket, the shuttle bus and a guide is the most tedious part of planning Machu Picchu on your own. Our full-day Machu Picchu tour by train includes everything: hotel pickup, round-trip train, entrance tickets, bus and a professional guide. Prefer to hike in and ride back by rail? Look at the Salkantay Trek or the Short Inca Trail. Message us on WhatsApp and we will match the train and schedule to your itinerary — no wrestling with booking websites.
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