Machu Picchu & Machu Picchu Mountain Day Trip

Tour Details

Between 4 am and 4:30 am on the morning of your tour, we'll pick you up from your hotel in Cusco and set off to Ollantaytambo station. From there, at 5:40 am, the train will leave for Machu Picchu.

The one-and-a-half-hour train ride will be an unforgettable start to our tour as it is one of the most spectacular railways in the world. We'll pass through Andean landscapes of unparalleled beauty and enjoy panoramic views thanks to the glass ceiling.

Arriving in Aguas Calientes, the town at the foot of Machu Picchu, we'll board the bus that will take us up the hill to the archaeological site itself. Once there, the guide will show you where to access Machu Picchu Mountain, a peak that is over 3000 meters in height. You'll then be able to ascend up to 300 meters by yourself for incredible views of the ancient Inca citadel. Don't forget your camera!

After climbing the mountain, we'll meet back up again for a guided tour of the ruins of Machu Picchu. We'll spend two and a half hours following in the footsteps of the Incas and exploring the different areas of this ancient city, like the House of the Guardians, the highest structure in Machu Picchu.

At the end of the tour, we'll take the bus back down to Aguas Calientes, where you'll have free time to eat in one of the restaurants or to visit the town's handicraft market.

After making the return trip by train, you'll be dropped back off at your hotel in Cusco at approximately 9 pm.

Sightseeing Train

The trip to Machu Picchu will be done on a sightseeing train (Expedition or Voyager trains)

Pickup Info

Pickup will be between 4 and 4:30 am from hotels in the historic center of Cusco. If your accommodation isn't located in the center, we'll meet at the entrance of the Cathedral in the Plaza de Armas.

Stations & Duration

Trains to and from Cusco will run from either Poroy station (30 minutes from Cusco) or Ollantaytambo station (1 hour and 30 minutes from Cusco), depending on availability. During the rainy season (December to March), the Poroy station is closed, so we'll take the bus to Ollantaytambo. We'll send you an email once your booking is confirmed with the exact pickup time from your hotel and the station from which you'll take the train. 

The duration of the transfers varies depending on the station from which you depart. The journey between Poroy and Aguas Calientes takes about 4 hours, and the journey between Ollantaytambo and Aguas Calientes takes 1 hour and 30 minutes.

Additional Info

In the event the tour is canceled due to ongoing strikes or inclement weather conditions, we'll offer an alternative date to complete the tour. If an alternative date is not possible, please note that you will receive a full refund minus the admission fees to Machu Picchu (S/ 200 (US$ 52.60) approximately) which are nonrefundable.

For this activity, we would offer you the following routes. In the following links, you can consult the maps of the routes:

• Alternative route 1-B
• Alternative route 1-C 
• Alternative route 1-D

If you'd like to take the guided tour of the Inca constructions, you'll need to pay an additional entrance fee for Route 3, which is $60 USD per person. If you also wish to hire an optional guide, the local provider will inform you how to make the payment on-site, as it will depend on the number of interested participants and the languages spoken.

Day Trip to Machu Picchu

Please note that tickets to Machu Picchu Mountain sell out well in advance of the activity (1 month+). If there is no availability on your desired date, you can book the Day Trip to Machu Picchu.