After the Inca Trail you go back to Cusco in three steps: down from Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes by bus (or on foot), by train from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo, and by road from Ollantaytambo to your hotel in Cusco. There is no road to Aguas Calientes, so the train is the only way out. On our Classic trek all three steps are included, and you arrive in Cusco in the evening, after dark. Here is how each step works, what changes on each route, and what to plan around it.
- 3 stepsbus down, train to Ollantaytambo, road to Cusco.
- 8 kgbackpack limit on PeruRail trains to and from Machu Picchu.
- After darkusual arrival in Cusco on the last day: don’t fly out that evening.
What is included on each route
| Step | Classic, 4 days | Short, 2 days | 1 day |
|---|---|---|---|
| Machu Picchu → Aguas Calientes | Bus included | Day 2: bus not included, or walk down (about 1 h 30 min) | Bus included |
| Free time in Aguas Calientes | Lunch on your own | Lunch on your own | Dinner on your own |
| Train to Ollantaytambo | Expedition included; Vistadome on request | Expedition included | Expedition at 6:20 p.m. included; Vistadome at 6:10 p.m. optional |
| Ollantaytambo → Cusco | Transfer to your hotel included | Transfer to your hotel included | Private transport to your hotel included |
From our tour pages. Train times can change with the operator’s schedule; we confirm yours with your tickets.
Step 1: down from Machu Picchu
After the guided visit you have some free time inside, and then you leave the citadel. Consettur buses run down the zigzag Hiram Bingham road to Aguas Calientes in about 25–30 minutes; they leave as they fill, and the last ones run in the late afternoon. On the Classic and 1-day routes the bus ticket is included. On day 2 of the short route it is not, and you can buy it there or walk down a steep path of stone steps in about an hour and a half, a hard finish if your knees are already tired.
Step 2: a few hours in Aguas Calientes
Aguas Calientes, officially Machu Picchu Pueblo, is where you have lunch and wait for your train. It is small and easy to walk. With a couple of hours, you can:
- Eat a proper meal after four days of trail food: lunch on the last day is not included, so bring soles or a card.
- Soak your legs in the hot springs, S/20 in cash, if you have packed a swimsuit.
- Visit the Manuel Chávez Ballón site museum, near the bridge at the foot of the bus road, to put what you saw into context.
- Collect your bag and be at the station early: boarding closes before departure, and the station area gets busy in the afternoon.
Step 3: the train, and your luggage
Our treks use the Expedition train from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo, which runs along the Urubamba river past the start of the Inca Trail at Km 82. You can upgrade to the Vistadome (US$50) or the Vistadome Observatory (US$70) for bigger windows and onboard service.
The train has a strict hand-luggage rule. PeruRail allows one backpack of up to 8 kg and 100 cm (height + length + width) or one carry-on of up to 12 kg and 115 cm per passenger on its Machu Picchu trains; extra luggage pays a fee or goes into storage. That is why we ask you to leave your suitcase at your hotel in Cusco (or at our office) and travel with only what you need on the trail. Plan your Inca Trail packing with that limit in mind.
Step 4: Ollantaytambo to Cusco
At Ollantaytambo station our transport is waiting to take you back to your hotel in Cusco. The road climbs out of the Sacred Valley, and on the Classic trek you usually arrive after dark, tired and happy. If you would rather finish in the Sacred Valley than in Cusco, for example to stay in Ollantaytambo or Urubamba, ask us before you book.
Is there a direct train to Cusco?
Some trains run from Aguas Calientes to the Cusco area, but not all year. The railway between Cusco and Ollantaytambo usually closes in the rainy season, from about January to April, because of landslide risk, and the operators replace it with a bimodal service: train to Ollantaytambo and bus to Cusco. In 2026, PeruRail resumed its trains from the San Pedro and Poroy stations in Cusco on 1 May. Because our transfers always go via Ollantaytambo by road, the season makes no difference to your trek.
Plan around the last day
- Don’t fly out of Cusco on the last day of the trek. You arrive in the evening, so book your onward flight for the next day or later. See our guide to planning the Inca Trail from the USA.
- Want more time at Machu Picchu? An extra night in Aguas Calientes costs US$65 with us, subject to availability, and lets you return to the citadel or climb Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain (US$80 each) without rushing. You need an extra Machu Picchu ticket to go back in; see Machu Picchu tickets 2027.
- Keep some energy and cash for the day: lunch, hot springs and snacks for the ride.
Want to see how the last day fits into the whole trek? Read the Classic Inca Trail day by day, or check open dates for 2027 in the calendar below.
Frequently asked questions
How do you get back to Cusco after the Inca Trail?
What time do you arrive in Cusco after the Inca Trail?
Can I walk down from Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes?
Can I take my big backpack on the train?
Can I fly out of Cusco on the last day of the Inca Trail?
Is there a direct train from Machu Picchu to Cusco?
About the author
Raquel Sánchez co-founded Terra Quechua Peru in Cusco in 2012 together with Edwin Medina, both with extensive trekking experience. She writes our Inca Trail guides from the day-to-day work of securing permits and organizing every departure with our guides, cooks and porters.