Machu Picchu By Train (Day Trip)
Traveler rating
4.8/5
Based on 5 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is Machu Picchu By Train (Day Trip) worth booking?
Machu Picchu By Train (Day Trip) is a 17-hour experience in Cusco, Peru, from $424 per person. It scores 45 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Worth a Look”, based on a 4.8/5 rating across 5 reviews. This booking is non-refundable, so pick your date carefully. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 45 / 100
- Rating
- 4.8/5 (5)
- Duration
- 17 hours
- From
- $424 per person
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 contin
What you get
- Transport Cusco - Ollantaytambo - Cusco
- Bus from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu and back
- Bi-Lingual Guide (English and Spanish)
- Guided Tour of Machu Picchu
- Cusco Hotel Transfer
- Entrance to Machu Picchu
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
- Transport Cusco - Ollantaytambo - Cusco
- Bus from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu and back
- Bi-Lingual Guide (English and Spanish)
- Guided Tour of Machu Picchu
- Cusco Hotel Transfer
- Entrance to Machu Picchu
- Train to Aguas Calientes town and back
Not included
- Food
- Hike to Huyana Picchu Mountain or Machu Picchu Mountain (15 USD each)
What you'll see and do
Machu Picchu
At 3.55am hotel pick-ups will commence, so be up early and ready to go! You’ll be driven to the train station in Ollantaytambo, where you’ll catch the 6.40am train, arriving into Aguas Calientes at around 8.00am. On arrival, your guide will meet you at the train station in Aguas Calientes to take you to the bus, up to Machu Picchu. The bus ride is about 30 minutes. You should arrive to Machu Picchu at around 8.45am, and enter the site. During a tour through this magnificent place, your bilingual guide will explain all about the historic site of Machu Picchu, and you’ll visit all the major places within the lost city. The guided tour will take around 2.5 to 3 hours. Afterwards, you'll have free time to wander around and admire this awe-inspiring place on your own. It’s possible to exit the site to eat a snack at the café, and then re-enter. Your ticket is valid for the entire day. Optional: You can climb the mountain of Huayna Picchu (tickets need to be bought at the time of your Machu Picchu purchase), which is a 1.5 to 2-hour roundtrip. This trip is without a guide. The entrance time is 10.00-11.00am, so if you choose to take this tour, your guided tour will be quicker in order to finish in time to enter Huayna Picchu. After, you’ll descend to Aguas Calientes, the town named for its hot springs. You can get there by bus: it’s a 30-minute trip, and buses leave every 5 minutes. Then you’ll return by train to Cusco. You can choose the 4.12pm train to return directly to Cusco, or the 7.00pm train to return to Ollantaytambo - the train ride is about 1 hour and 40 minutes. A mini-bus will be waiting in Ollantaytambo to take you to Cusco (approx. 90 min).
300 minutes here
Where it starts and ends
Meeting point
Cusco
Hotel pickup
Pickup is available for selected locations. Pickup begins about 30 minutes before departure.
Ends at
Returns to the starting point
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
- Treks in Cusco
Know before you go
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Photos
What travelers are saying
Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 5 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.
The guide
5 mentionsTravelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
Photo opportunities
3 mentionsThe views and photo stops come up again and again.
Organization
3 mentionsPickup, timing, and logistics are described as running smoothly.
Knowledge and storytelling
2 mentionsReviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted.
Traveler reviews
5 verified traveler reviews for Machu Picchu By Train (Day Trip). Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Fantastic, but lacks organization.
Machu Picchu is amazing, as is Aguas Calientes - you should actually spend more time here if possible. I took a star off the rating because we felt like we were on our own on this tour. Granted, we did opt to change our bus time to an earlier slot so we could get to town and explore a bit before the actual tour, but, we had no details on the bus stop, etc. it was really kind of a figure it out as you go kind of tour. They noted they were sending a taxi for us first thing in the morning, the taxi didn’t show. We did get to the bus stop on our own with literally a minute to spare. We kind of expected to meet a guide or group at the bus stop to go up to Machu Picchu, but there wasn’t anyone. Once we got to the entrance of Machu Picchu, we were looking all over for the new guide that was told to us (different from the one we had been communicating with the entire time), he finally found us and told us that he wasn’t actually the tour guide and someone else would show up shortly. Our actual tour guide was AMAZING and we really really enjoyed our time with him. The site is breathtaking and obviously a must visit but this trip was just unorganized and left us feeling a bit anxious. All is well that ends well and we did get a great circuit and guide, I think we just had a bit higher expectations for the actual organization of the trip.
via Viator
Highly Recommend
I can totally recommend this tour company. They were just amazing. The guide service was very nice and the guide was very informative and helpful. Carlos from Treks in Cisco went above and beyond to help me. I can very much recommend them.
via Tripadvisor
excursion to MACHU PICCHU with Treks in Cusco
We had a unique experience in Machupicchu, the trip was spectacular , the Service on board the best, when the guide arrived he welcomed us with a big smile , he attended us of the best, an excellent professional always talking about the history and architecture of the great city of stone, motivated us to take great photos. Another plus is: The agency did all the processes, the whole organization we are really happy, has excellent professionals.
via Tripadvisor (translated)
excellent choice
It is the first time I travel to Cuzco, the agency organized everything very well, fulfilled everything it offered me, they were always in contact with us, the guide was excellent, the train very comfortable, I recommend excellent Service, that allowed us to relax and enjoy our tour. There is no doubt that nature gives us beautiful views, Machu Picchu is an amazing place.
via Tripadvisor (translated)
Enriching Experience
Certainly it was trip of a lifetime. Machu Picchu is an amazing place and the culture is well preserved. It has a different vibe altogether. My guide, Carlos was very nice and explained many things about the place, people and culture. I am very thankful to him and Treks in Cusco company for such an unforgettable trip.
via Tripadvisor
Good to know
- Duration
- 17 hours
- Free cancellation
- Non-refundable
- Minimum age to book
- 1+
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Every day
- Hotel pickup
- Available for selected locations
- Booked in 30 days
- 2
- Verdict
- Worth a Look
Why this scores 45
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
Machu Picchu By Train (Day Trip): questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Cusco.
How much does Machu Picchu By Train (Day Trip) cost?
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Prices start at $424 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 (Day Trip) take?
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Plan for about 17 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 (Day Trip) worth it?
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It holds an Outty Ranking of 45 out of 100, which we label "Worth a Look". That score blends traveler sentiment (4.8/5 across 5 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 (Day Trip)?
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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 (Day Trip) suitable for kids and families?
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The operator sets a minimum age of 1. Older children generally do well here, and families should factor in the 17-hour running time when deciding.
How far in advance should I book Machu Picchu By Train (Day Trip)?
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Around 2 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 17-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does Machu Picchu By Train (Day Trip) 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, Peruvian Cooking Class Cocktails and Market Tour in Cusco, Cusco: Rainbow Mountain & Red Valley Premium Day Trip with Meals. 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.
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