
Machu Picchu by Train: A Seamless Full-Day Adventure
Traveler rating
3.8/5
Based on 27 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is Machu Picchu by Train: A Seamless Full-Day Adventure worth booking?
Machu Picchu by Train: A Seamless Full-Day Adventure is a 18-hour experience in Cusco, Peru, from $386 per person. It scores 38 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Worth a Look”, based on a 3.8/5 rating across 27 reviews. This booking is non-refundable, so pick your date carefully. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 38 / 100
- Rating
- 3.8/5 (27)
- Duration
- 18 hours
- From
- $386 per person
The Outty verdict
It ranks #7 of the 7 similar experiences we compared in Cusco, with an Outty Ranking of 38. At $386 it sits above the typical similar option ($45), so book it for what is included rather than price. Best for families and travelers who want a full-day outing.
Prices and availability checked
For many visitors to Peru and even South America, a visit to the Inca city of Machu Picchu is the long-anticipated highpoint of their trip. In a spectacular location, it’s the best-known archaeological site on the continent. This awe-inspiring ancient city was never revealed to the conquering Spaniards and was virtually forgotten until the early part of the 20th century.
What you get
About this experience
For many visitors to Peru and even South America, a visit to the Inca city of Machu Picchu is the long-anticipated highpoint of their trip. In a spectacular location, it’s the best-known archaeological site on the continent. This awe-inspiring ancient city was never revealed to the conquering Spaniards and was virtually forgotten until the early part of the 20th century.
What's included
Included
- Train (Ollantaytambo - Aguas Calientes - Ollantaytambo)
- Bi-lingual guide (English and Spanish)
- Bus (Aguas Calientes Train Station to Machu Picchu and back)
- Entrance to Machu Picchu
- Cusco Hotel Transfer (Cusco - Ollantaytambo - Cusco)
Not included
- Meals
- Accommodation
What you'll see and do
Cusco
At 3:55 am, hotel pick-ups will begin.
Pass by without stopping
Ollantaytambo
You’ll be driven to the train station in Ollantaytambo, where you will catch the 6:40 am train to Aguas Calientes, arriving around 8:00 am.
Pass by without stopping
Aguas Calientes
Upon arrival, your guide will meet you at the train station and escort you to the bus for a 30-minute ride up to Machu Picchu, arriving around 8:45 am.
30 minutes here
Machu Picchu
Guided tour of Machu Picchu: Once at Machu Picchu, you will enter the site and enjoy a 2.5 to 3-hour guided tour, during which your bilingual guide will explain the history and major sites of the Lost City. Free time to explore: After the guided tour, you’ll have free time to explore the site on your own. You can exit to visit the café and re-enter, as your ticket is valid for the entire day.
Cusco
Same route back to Cusco.
Pass by without stopping
Where it starts and ends
Hotel pickup
Pickup is included for all travelers. Pickup begins about 30 minutes before departure.
Before you book
- Cancellation
- All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.
- Languages
- en, es
- Ticket
- Mobile Only
- Runs on
- Every day
- Group size
- Up to 15 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- Machu Picchu Peru Cusco
Know before you go
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Photos






What travelers are saying
Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 27 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.
The guide
6 mentionsTravelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
Organization
3 mentionsPickup, timing, and logistics are described as running smoothly.
Traveler reviews
27 verified traveler reviews for Machu Picchu by Train: A Seamless Full-Day Adventure. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Great easy day trip
Easy trip and excellent communication from the vendor! A great day trip. They even helped me get an earlier train back. It was highly organized regarding transport and went smoothly. Great guide too!
via Viator
They didint provide tickets
this tour does not actually include a ticket. you will arrive a day earlier in Aguas Calientes to waste the whole day standing in line for entrance ticket to Machu, and if you go to get a coffee from the train, it may turn out that there will be no tickets because they only sell 1000 tickets. When we got off the train at 8, we were standing in the line 2 hours and we had a number 908/1000, and later in the evening another 3 hours in the line to get a ticket. You can organize it yourself, but no one mentions it in the description of the trip, that we have to get the tickets ourselves. if this is normal in Peru, it should be written about it so that tourists are aware because every visitor was pissed about it
via Viator
The arrangement and the...
The arrangement and the services are perfect. The agent is reliable. You should book the trip earlier enough in order to make sure to get the entry ticket.
via Viator
Save yourself the disappointment….
My husband had booked the one day tour for Machu Picchu. He received the confirmation email and his credit card was charged. Everything seemed good to go. Three days before his trip he received an email informing him his trip had been cancelled. No explanation. We ran around to some offices in Cusco to see if by chance he could get a last minute ticket/trip, but couldn’t find one. So he flew all the way to South America excited about Machu Picchu, and was extremely disappointed. Luckily South America is such a wonderful place, he was still able to enjoy the trip. Think twice about using this company, especially if it is an important trip. Robin, Georgia
via Tripadvisor
Terrible Tour Company
This is one of the worst tour companies I’ve ever dealt with. We booked a one day tour by train. The night before our trip, the tour company called me to tell me they changed it to a two-day tour. The told us they didn’t have Machu Picchu tickets for us and we would have to get them ourselves. We had to scramble to rearrange all of our travel plans and missed our tour to rainbow mountain. We had to keep our hotel in Cusco an extra night with no reimbursement. We made it to Aguascalientes where now we had to spend the night in a hostel that the tour company arranged for us. After getting off the train, we were met by a tour guide. He took us to the ticket place where we had to wait in line to get a time to come back to get tickets. After we got our time, I asked the tour guide if was going to help us purchase our tickets. He said yes he would meet us later but he never showed up again. I also had to get money from him to purchase the tickets since I had already paid the tour company. He gave me cash but it didn’t cover all the costs. Then we had to return later in the afternoon and wait in line at the Machu Picchu operations for hours again to buy the tickets. The tour guide at the actual Machu Picchu was the only excellent part. When we left, they reserved us on the train in two different train cars. I went to the train station and changed them myself. Essentially, I did all the work that the tour company was supposed to accomplish for us. The whole goal was to hire the company to make things easier. They did almost nothing. I would stay clear from this company.
via Tripadvisor
Good to know
- Duration
- 18 hours
- Free cancellation
- Non-refundable
- Minimum age to book
- All ages
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Every day
- Hotel pickup
- Included for all travelers
- Booked in 30 days
- 9
- Verdict
- Worth a Look
Why this scores 38
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
Machu Picchu by Train: A Seamless Full-Day Adventure: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Cusco.
How does Machu Picchu by Train: A Seamless Full-Day Adventure compare to similar tours in Cusco?
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It ranks #7 of the 7 similar experiences we compared in Cusco, with an Outty Ranking of 38. At $386 it sits above the typical similar option ($45), so book it for what is included rather than price. Best for families and travelers who want a full-day outing.
Who is Machu Picchu by Train: A Seamless Full-Day Adventure best for?
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It suits families and travelers who want a full-day outing best, based on its 18-hour length, all-ages access and non-refundable terms.
Is Machu Picchu by Train: A Seamless Full-Day Adventure good value?
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It is a premium pick. It starts at $386, above the $45 typical for similar experiences in Cusco.
How much does Machu Picchu by Train: A Seamless Full-Day Adventure cost?
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Prices start at $386 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Cusco usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.
How long does Machu Picchu by Train: A Seamless Full-Day Adventure take?
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Plan for about 18 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in Cusco is not rushed.
Is Machu Picchu by Train: A Seamless Full-Day Adventure worth it?
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It holds an Outty Ranking of 38 out of 100, which we label "Worth a Look". That score blends traveler sentiment (3.8/5 across 27 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable culture & history in Cusco, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.
Can I cancel or reschedule Machu Picchu by Train: A Seamless Full-Day Adventure?
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No. This experience is sold on a non-refundable basis, so only book a date you are confident about. Similar experiences in the city do offer free cancellation if flexibility matters more than price.
Is Machu Picchu by Train: A Seamless Full-Day Adventure suitable for kids and families?
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Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 18-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.
How far in advance should I book Machu Picchu by Train: A Seamless Full-Day Adventure?
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Around 9 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in Cusco can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.
What should I bring or wear?
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Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in Cusco and add a light layer if any part of the 18-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does Machu Picchu by Train: A Seamless Full-Day Adventure start and how do I get there?
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The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central Cusco within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.
What are the best things to do in Cusco?
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On Outty we rank every Cusco experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include Sacred Valley Full Day Tour, Full-Day Humantay Lake Trek (Meals Included), Full-Day Rainbow Mountain Trek (Meals Included). The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.
When is the best time to visit Cusco?
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Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.
How many days do you need in Cusco?
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Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.
Do I book through Outty or through the operator?
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Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.
What is included in Machu Picchu by Train: A Seamless Full-Day Adventure?
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Included: Train (Ollantaytambo - Aguas Calientes - Ollantaytambo); Bi-lingual guide (English and Spanish); Bus (Aguas Calientes Train Station to Machu Picchu and back); Entrance to Machu Picchu; and Cusco Hotel Transfer (Cusco - Ollantaytambo - Cusco). Not included: Meals; and Accommodation. Always check the voucher for the final list before you travel.
Does Machu Picchu by Train: A Seamless Full-Day Adventure include hotel pickup?
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Yes, pickup is offered for every traveler from 321 listed pickup locations in and around Cusco. Be ready about 30 minutes before the start time. You can also enter a custom pickup address when booking.
What languages is Machu Picchu by Train: A Seamless Full-Day Adventure offered in?
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It is offered in English and Spanish. Pick your language when choosing a date and time, as not every departure runs in every language.
Will I get instant confirmation and a mobile ticket for Machu Picchu by Train: A Seamless Full-Day Adventure?
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Confirmation is sent by the operator after booking, usually within 48 hours; if it is not confirmed you are not charged. Mobile tickets are accepted, so you can show the voucher on your phone.
What happens to Machu Picchu by Train: A Seamless Full-Day Adventure if the weather is bad?
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This experience depends on good weather. If it is canceled because of poor weather, you are offered a different date or a full refund.
What do travelers say about Machu Picchu by Train: A Seamless Full-Day Adventure?
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Across 27 reviews averaging 3.8 out of 5, recurring themes include the guide, organization. Travelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
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