The Machu Picchu train runs along the Urubamba river to Machu Picchu Pueblo (Aguas Calientes), the town at the foot of the citadel. Most trains leave from Ollantaytambo, in the Sacred Valley, and take about 1 h 30; from May to December 2026, PeruRail also runs trains from Poroy and San Pedro, in Cusco. Two companies share the line: PeruRail (Expedition, Vistadome, Vistadome Observatory and the Belmond Hiram Bingham) and Inca Rail (The Voyager, The 360°, The Prime, The First Class and The Private).
- ≈1 h 30from Ollantaytambo to Machu Picchu Pueblo on most departures, on PeruRail’s May–December 2026 timetable.
- 15 trains a dayfrom Ollantaytambo with PeruRail alone, from 05:05 to 21:00, and another 15 back.
- 8 kgthe hand luggage limit per passenger on both companies (PeruRail also accepts a 12 kg carry-on instead of a backpack).
PeruRail vs Inca Rail: the trains and what each class includes
Both companies use the same track, and Inca Rail’s own comparison page says travel times are similar. PeruRail offers more categories and schedule combinations and the only direct trains from Cusco, while Inca Rail boards in Ollantaytambo and brings travelers from Cusco by bus.
| Train | Windows and cars | Included on board |
|---|---|---|
| PeruRail Expedition | Panoramic windows | Audio tour and music; snacks and drinks for sale |
| PeruRail Vistadome | Side and roof windows | Snack made with local ingredients; music and dance on the return; baby alpaca fashion show from Machu Picchu |
| PeruRail Vistadome Observatory | Observation car with a transparent roof and an open-air balcony | Snack and drinks; bar car with live music and dance |
| Hiram Bingham, A Belmond Train | Observation car, dining cars and bar cars | Lunch or dinner with regional wines, live entertainment, the bus to the citadel and a guide (subject to availability) |
| Inca Rail The Voyager | Wide windows | Snacks and drinks for sale; the Ollantay drama staged on the way in |
| Inca Rail The 360° | Panoramic UV-protected windows and an open-air observatory car | Complimentary Andean snack; live music, usually on the return |
| Inca Rail The Prime | Wide windows and a dining car | Complimentary snack, live music, priority boarding |
| Inca Rail The First Class | Lounge and bar car with an open-air balcony | Three-course menu, wines and pisco cocktails, tea at Café Inkaterra before the return |
| Inca Rail The Private | A private car for small groups | Personalized service |
From the train pages on perurail.com, incarail.com and belmond.com, checked October 29, 2026. Menus and shows change. No train ticket includes the Machu Picchu entrance.
Machu Picchu train stations: where you board
Ollantaytambo, at 2,792 m (9,160 ft), is the main station for both companies and has trains all year; the stations in Cusco are seasonal, and several PeruRail services are bimodal, a bus first and then the train.
- Ollantaytambo (Sacred Valley)Both companies. About 2 hours by road from Cusco, the time Inca Rail gives for its bus, then about 1 h 30 by train.
- Poroy and San Pedro (Cusco)PeruRail only, from May to December in 2026: about 3 h 15 from Poroy and 4 h 10 to 4 h 40 from San Pedro, in the city. The Hiram Bingham leaves from Poroy.
- Bimodal from CuscoPeruRail’s bus leaves from Wanchaq station, 5 minutes from the center, to board at Poroy, Pachar, Ollantaytambo or Urubamba; Pachar has been a transfer point on some schedules since September 1, 2025. Inca Rail’s bus leaves from Av. El Sol for Ollantaytambo, on the same ticket as the train.
- HidroeléctricaAt 1,890 m (6,201 ft), at the end of the road route via Santa Teresa, with a short PeruRail service to Machu Picchu Pueblo (more below).
Some trains also stop at Km 104, the start of the short Inca Trail, for hikers with a permit. If you are still weighing the train against the road or a trek, see all the ways to get to Machu Picchu.
Train times: first and last trains on the 2026 timetable
PeruRail publishes its timetable by season; the May–December 2026 edition, in force in October 2026, lists the services below. Inca Rail shows its times only when you search for a date: its website says it runs several trips a day from Ollantaytambo, morning and afternoon.
| Route (PeruRail) | Trains a day | First | Last | Ride time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ollantaytambo → Machu Picchu Pueblo | 15 | 05:05 (arr. 06:37) | 21:00 (arr. 22:45) | ≈1 h 20–1 h 45 |
| Machu Picchu Pueblo → Ollantaytambo | 15 | 05:35 (arr. 07:44) | 21:50 (arr. 23:37) | ≈1 h 30–2 h |
| Poroy → Machu Picchu Pueblo | 4 | 06:40 (arr. 09:54) | 09:05 Hiram Bingham (arr. 12:24) | ≈3 h 15–3 h 45 |
| Machu Picchu Pueblo → Poroy | 4 | 15:20 (arr. 19:05) | 17:50 Hiram Bingham (arr. 21:16) | ≈3 h 25–3 h 45 |
| San Pedro → Machu Picchu Pueblo | 2 | 06:40 (arr. 10:52) | 07:30 (arr. 12:11) | ≈4 h 10–4 h 40 |
| Machu Picchu Pueblo → San Pedro | 2 | 16:43 (arr. 21:23) | 17:23 (arr. 21:52) | ≈4 h 30–4 h 40 |
PeruRail timetable for May–December 2026 (downloaded October 29, 2026). The Hiram Bingham runs daily except the last Sunday of each month. The return is slower because the train climbs. PeruRail notes that schedules may vary for operational reasons.
How much is the train to Machu Picchu?
Neither company publishes a fixed fare; the price appears when you search for a date. Inca Rail’s comparison page, checked on October 29, 2026, says one-way fares for the entry-level classes on both companies generally start at around US$60–90. Beyond that, the price depends on:
- The classThe Expedition and The Voyager cost least; panoramic trains cost more, and the Hiram Bingham and The First Class are in another range.
- The dateBoth companies tell you to check your exact date; Inca Rail notes that demand is highest in the dry season and on holidays.
- The stationA train from Poroy or San Pedro, or a bimodal ticket from Cusco, covers more than a ticket from Ollantaytambo.
- PromotionsIn October 2026 Inca Rail advertised 5% off round trips; offers apply only to some departures.
For reference, on our Sacred Valley tour the upgrade from the basic class to the Vistadome or The 360° costs US$50, and on our Inca Trail treks the return upgrade costs US$50 to the Vistadome or US$70 to the Vistadome Observatory. The train is usually the biggest single cost; the entrance, the Consettur bus (about US$24 round trip) and a guide come on top, as our guide to Machu Picchu tickets explains.
Machu Picchu train luggage rules
Many blogs still quote an old limit of 5 kg and 157 cm. The companies’ current rules are below; Inca Rail adds that its cars have no luggage racks.
| PeruRail | Inca Rail | |
|---|---|---|
| Included per passenger | 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 | One piece (backpack, handbag or briefcase) of up to 8 kg (17 lb) and 118 cm (46 in) in total |
| Extra luggage | Paid: US$15 for an extra bag of up to 12 kg, US$25 for a checked bag of up to 23 kg (Machu Picchu–Cusco); none on the Hiram Bingham | Not covered on its luggage page |
| Storage | Free at Machu Picchu station, 05:00–22:00 every day | At its Ollantaytambo ticket office, locked bags only |
PeruRail’s luggage page and Inca Rail’s luggage policy, checked October 29, 2026. PeruRail’s page gives 8 kg in one place and 12 kg in another for the extra bag: confirm when you book.
Leave your suitcase in Cusco and travel with a daypack. Inside Machu Picchu the limit is smaller still: 40 × 35 × 20 cm (about 16 × 14 × 8 in). Our Inca Trail packing list is built around the train limit and works for a day trip too.
Matching your train to your Machu Picchu entry time
Every Machu Picchu ticket has a fixed entry time, and under Ministerial Resolution 000508-2023-MC of Peru’s Ministry of Culture the tolerance is only 30 minutes after it. Between the train and the gate you still walk to the bus stop, queue and ride up for about 25 minutes. That is why we recommend at least 1.5 to 2 hours between your train’s arrival and your entry time on the same day.
- On the way inA train arriving at 09:15 fits an entry time from about 11:00. For an early entry, sleep in Aguas Calientes the night before.
- On the way outCount the visit (up to about 2.5 hours on most routes, longer with a mountain; see Machu Picchu circuits), the bus down and a margin before your return train.
- Entrance firstTickets are sold by time slot with a daily cap, and morning slots go first. Secure the entry time, then book the train around it.
Seasonal changes, rain and the Hidroeléctrica train
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 bus to the valley. In 2026 PeruRail resumed its trains from San Pedro and Poroy on May 1, and its current timetable runs to December; check the 2027 dates when you book. Ollantaytambo has trains all year, though Inca Rail says it adjusts its schedules to demand and weather. Rain month by month is in our guide to the best time to visit Machu Picchu.
The other train is the short one from Hidroeléctrica, about 6 hours by road from Cusco. On the May–December 2026 timetable, a PeruRail Expedition leaves Hidroeléctrica for Machu Picchu Pueblo at 07:54 and 14:50, and returns at 06:45 and 13:30, about 45 minutes each way. The alternative is the walk along the tracks, about 2 h 30. On our Machu Picchu by car tour, from US$150, you walk in, and the train on day 2 is optional, for US$37.
Buying direct or taking the train with a tour
On your own, you buy the train on perurail.com or incarail.com, the entrance on the Ministry of Culture’s platform, tuboleto.cultura.pe (about 15 minutes to pay), and the bus in Aguas Calientes, and you match the times yourself. On a tour, we book the train and the entrance together so the times fit, with transfers and a guide.
- Pick your entry time firstChoose the circuit and time slot, then the train.
- Choose the station by seasonOllantaytambo all year; Poroy and San Pedro only in the months PeruRail runs them.
- Leave 1.5–2 hoursbetween the train’s arrival and your entry time, and a margin before the return train.
- Pack for 8 kgOne daypack per person; leave the rest in Cusco or in station storage.
- Be early at the stationInca Rail recommends arriving 30–60 minutes before departure in the high season.
Our tours with the train: the Machu Picchu day trip by train, from US$295, from Ollantaytambo both ways and back in Cusco the same evening; the Sacred Valley tour with the Machu Picchu connection, from US$395, with PeruRail or Inca Rail trains (we book whichever fits your date best on price and availability) and a hotel night; and, to arrive on foot, the 1-Day Inca Trail, from US$435, or the Short Inca Trail in 2 days, from US$520, where the train drops you at Km 104. After a trek, our guide to getting back from Machu Picchu covers the return, and since you arrive almost 1,000 m lower than Cusco, the Machu Picchu elevation guide has every stop in meters and feet.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better, PeruRail or Inca Rail?
How long is the train ride to Machu Picchu?
Is there a direct train from Cusco to Machu Picchu?
How much luggage can I take on the Machu Picchu train?
What is the difference between the Expedition and the Vistadome?
How early should my train arrive before my Machu Picchu ticket time?
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.