Machu Picchu Full Day Tour from Cusco by Train

Machupicchu Travel Cataleya travelers at the Machu Picchu viewpoint, with Huayna Picchu in the background
Group of travelers sitting at the Machu Picchu viewpoint, waving in front of the citadel
Two travelers looking at the citadel of Machu Picchu from the viewpoint
Traveler in the citadel of Machu Picchu, with Huayna Picchu in the background
Family with children at the Machu Picchu viewpoint
DURATION 1 Day
DEPARTURE Hotel in Cusco – 3 Blocks from the Main Square
GROUP SIZE 1 - 19 people
MAX. ALTITUDE 3399 m.s.n.m.
DIFFICULTY Easy
Updated every 30 minutes

Machu Picchu ticket availability

Online spots by date and route. Choose a date to see entry times and book.

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Choose a date in the calendar to see spots and entry times.

Source: official availability of the Ministry of Culture of Peru · last reading 24 Oct · 00:43 (Peru time)

The beginning of the journey

The Machu Picchu Full Day tour is the way to see Machu Picchu in a single day from Cusco: we pick you up at your hotel before dawn, you travel by train from Ollantaytambo to Machu Picchu Pueblo, take the bus up to the citadel and explore it with a professional guide for about two and a half hours. In the afternoon you return by train and we drop you off three blocks from the Plaza de Armas in Cusco.

It is a Machu Picchu day trip from Cusco designed for travelers who are short on time: it includes transport, the round-trip train, the bus, the entrance ticket and the guide, so you don't have to arrange anything. If you'd rather go at a slower pace, also take a look at our 2-day Machu Picchu tours.

About Machu Picchu

  • Machu Picchu is one of the 7 Wonders of the Modern World, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a Historic Sanctuary of Peru and probably the most important archaeological site in Latin America.
  • Its architecture comprises 140 structures throughout the citadel.
  • It was built by the Inca Pachacútec and his people around the year 1460.
  • After being forgotten for many years, in 1911 the American Hiram Bingham reached Machu Picchu on an expedition and made the site known to the world.
  • Its most important structures are the Intihuatana, the Temple of the Sun and the Temple of the Three Windows.
  • In 1913 it drew worldwide attention when the National Geographic Society devoted its entire April issue to it.

Itinerary

We pick you up at your hotel in Cusco between 03:40 and 04:00 a.m. and drive to the Ollantaytambo train station, the departure point for Machu Picchu Pueblo (formerly Aguas Calientes).

You ride one of the most spectacular railway routes in the world, between mountains and the Urubamba River valley, on the Expedition or The Voyager train, subject to availability. You arrive in Machu Picchu Pueblo after about an hour and a half.

In Machu Picchu Pueblo our guide meets you and goes with you on the bus up to the entrance of the Machu Picchu citadel.

You explore Machu Picchu with your guide for about two and a half hours, following the circuit on your ticket: the Guardhouse (Casa del Guardián), the Temple of the Sun, the Three Windows, the Intihuatana, the Acllahuasi, the Temple of the Condor and the water fountains. If you booked Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain, you do the hike after the visit. Then you take the bus back down to Machu Picchu Pueblo.

You have about five hours of free time, depending on your return train schedule, to have lunch and explore the town. At the agreed time we meet at the train station.

You travel by train to Ollantaytambo, where our representative meets you for the bus transfer to Cusco. The tour ends three blocks from the Plaza de Armas in Cusco.

What's included

Included

  • Hotel pick-up. Hotel pick-ups are between 3:40 and 4:00 AM. The pick-up time can be arranged.
  • Transportation from Cusco City to the train station in Ollantaytambo, and back on the return journey.
  • Round-trip train tickets from Ollantaytambo to Machu Picchu Pueblo (Expedition or The Voyager, subject to availability). You can upgrade your train experience to the Vistadome or 360° Train at an additional cost (see “Not Included”).
  • Professional and experienced tour guide, licensed in Tourism (Spanish, English, or Portuguese).
  • Bus service from Machu Picchu Pueblo to Machu Picchu (round trip).
  • Machu Picchu entrance tickets (Circuit 2 or 3, subject to availability).

We recommend that travelers make their reservation at least 3 months in advance to enjoy Machu Picchu Route 2, which allows you to explore Machu Picchu for approximately 2.5 hours, visit the agricultural sector (where you can take some of the best photos), and take the classic postcard photo from the Guardian’s Hut. In addition, by booking in advance, we can secure a train ticket for you with a better schedule and better views.

Not Included

  • Access to Machu Picchu Mountain or Huayna Picchu Mountain

    • An additional $60.00 USD for international visitors or $45.00 USD for Peruvian visitors (subject to availability). If you would like a guide to accompany you to Machu Picchu Mountain or Huayna Picchu Mountain, an additional $60.00 USD per group of 1 to 10 people going up the mountain will apply.

    If you would like to include Huayna Picchu Mountain, please check availability first, as spaces are limited.

  • Vistadome Train or 360° Train

    • ($45.00 USD per way).

    The Vistadome Train offers a comfortable and panoramic journey to Machu Picchu, with large windows that allow you to enjoy the Andean landscape throughout the entire trip. It also includes snacks, beverages, and an onboard show featuring traditional dances, adding a cultural touch to the journey. On the other hand, Inca Rail’s 360° Train is designed to provide an even more immersive visual experience thanks to its larger panoramic windows and open-air observation car, ideal for taking photographs and enjoying the natural surroundings up close. This service also offers snacks made with local ingredients and an onboard entertainment system, making the journey a comfortable, modern, and immersive experience.

  • Vistadome Observatory Train

    • ($100.00 USD per way).

    PeruRail’s Vistadome Observatory takes the traditional Vistadome experience a step further by featuring an exclusive observation car with even larger windows, a glass roof, and an open-air terrace where you can admire the landscape without obstructions. On some departures, this service also offers live Andean music and traditional dance performances, providing a more immersive and special experience for travelers looking for something different on their journey to Machu Picchu.

  • Breakfast, lunch, or beverages (After visiting Machu Picchu, you can choose to have lunch in Machu Picchu Pueblo.)
  • Snacks.
  • Tips (optional).

Recommended to bring

Recommended to Bring

  • Passport, identification document, or DNI (for Peruvians).

Identification documents are required to enter Machu Picchu.

  1. Train ticket and Machu Picchu entrance ticket.
  2. Sunglasses and sunscreen.
  3. 1 personal backpack.
  4. Cash for personal expenses.
  5. Appropriate clothing. If the weather is cold and windy, we recommend bringing a jacket, a long-sleeved shirt or T-shirt, and long pants.
  6. Insect repellent.
  7. Good walking shoes.
  8. 1 bottle of water.
  9. Peruvian soles (cash).

Frequently asked questions

From USD 370 per person. It includes hotel pickup, transport to Ollantaytambo, the round-trip train (Expedition or The Voyager, subject to availability), the bus to the citadel, the Machu Picchu entrance ticket and a professional guide. It does not include meals or access to Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain.

We pick you up at your hotel in Cusco between 03:40 and 04:00 a.m. The return time depends on your return train schedule; at the end we drop you off three blocks from the Plaza de Armas in Cusco.

The Expedition or The Voyager train, subject to availability, round trip between Ollantaytambo and Machu Picchu Pueblo. You can upgrade to the Vistadome, 360° or Vistadome Observatory at an additional cost (see “Not Included”).

Circuit 2 or 3, depending on ticket availability. With circuit 2 the guided visit lasts about two and a half hours, goes through the agricultural sector and includes the classic photo from the Guardhouse. On this page you can check ticket availability by date and route.

We recommend booking at least three months in advance to get circuit 2 and a better train schedule. Machu Picchu tickets have limited daily quotas, especially in high season.

Yes, as an add-on and subject to availability: USD 60 for foreign visitors or USD 45 for Peruvians. If you want the guide to go up with you, add USD 60 per group of 1 to 10 people. Check availability before booking, as spaces are limited.

Your original passport or ID document (DNI for Peruvians). It must be the same document your Machu Picchu ticket was issued with.

No, the difficulty is easy: you walk through the citadel with your guide. Since Cusco is at high altitude, we recommend arriving early enough to acclimatize.

All payments are made online through WeTravel. You pay the deposit shown in your quote and the balance when you arrive in Cusco or on the agreed date. More details in Payment Methods and Policies.

Check the availability calendar on this page or message us on WhatsApp before paying. Your booking is subject to ticket and train availability, and a specific circuit is only guaranteed once the purchase is confirmed.