How to Get to Machu Picchu from Cusco: Train, Trek or Tour

Machu Picchu sits on a ridge above the Urubamba River, about 80 km (50 miles) from Cusco as the crow flies, and much farther by any route you can actually travel. That isolation is part of its magic, and it’s also why getting there takes some planning. Here are the real options, how long they take and who each one suits.

The Options at a Glance

Ways to reach Machu Picchu from Cusco

Option	How it works	Time from Cusco	Best for
Train from Ollantaytambo	Road to Ollantaytambo, then train to Aguas Calientes	About 3.5 to 4 hours in total	Most visitors; easy to combine with the Sacred Valley
Train from the Cusco area	Train from a station in or near Cusco (seasonal)	A little over 3 hours by train	Travelers staying in Cusco, in the months it runs
Inca Trail	A permit-controlled trek to the Sun Gate	2 or 4 days	Hikers who book early
Other treks	Salkantay, Lares or Inca Jungle, finishing in Aguas Calientes	3 to 5 days	Hikers without permits, or who want a different route
Hidroeléctrica route	Long road trip to Hidroeléctrica, then a walk along the railway	A full day	Budget travelers with time and energy

Whatever you choose, the last step is the same: from Aguas Calientes to the ruins by bus or on foot.

By Train

The railway down the Urubamba Valley is the only transport link to Aguas Calientes, officially called Machu Picchu Pueblo. Two companies, PeruRail and Inca Rail, run tourist services, from standard trains to cars with panoramic windows and a few premium options.

From Ollantaytambo

Ollantaytambo, in the Sacred Valley, is the main station for Machu Picchu, with departures all year. From Cusco it’s about an hour and a half to two hours by road, and the train then takes around an hour and a half to Aguas Calientes, following the river as the valley narrows and the landscape turns to cloud forest. Because it starts in the valley, this route combines naturally with a day or a night in the Sacred Valley.

From Cusco

In part of the year, usually from around May to December, trains also leave from stations in or near Cusco, San Pedro in the city and Poroy on the edge of town. The journey is longer, a little over three hours, but you avoid the road transfer. Outside those months, “bimodal” services combine a bus from Cusco to Ollantaytambo with the train. Schedules and stations change by season, so check them for your dates.

By Foot: the Inca Trail and Other Treks

The Inca Trail is the only route that walks into Machu Picchu through the Sun Gate. The four-day classic starts at Km 82; the Short Inca Trail starts at Km 104 and takes one hiking day. Both need a permit booked months ahead in the dry season. See our Inca Trail tours and our guide to Inca Trail permits.

Alternative treks reach Aguas Calientes by other valleys. Salkantay crosses a high pass and descends through cloud forest; Lares visits high Andean communities and finishes with the train from Ollantaytambo; the Inca Jungle mixes a bike descent with hiking. None of them uses the Inca Trail permit system. Our comparison of alternative treks to Machu Picchu covers each one.

The Hidroeléctrica Route

The back door to Machu Picchu starts with a long drive from Cusco over the mountains and down into the valleys around Santa Teresa, ending at a hydroelectric plant known as Hidroeléctrica. From there, you walk about 11 km (7 miles) along the railway to Aguas Calientes, a mostly flat path of two and a half to three hours through cloud forest, or take a short train when one fits your timing.

It’s the cheapest way to get there, and the walk is beautiful. It’s also a very long day: many hours on winding mountain roads, then a walk at the end. It suits travelers with time, energy and a relaxed attitude to schedules. The Inca Jungle routes use this final stretch.

From Aguas Calientes to the Ruins

The ruins are about 400 m (1,300 ft) above the town. You have two choices:

• The shuttle bus climbs the zigzag road to the entrance in about 25 to 30 minutes. Buses start early in the morning and run through the day. In 2026 the bus concession was in transition between operators, so buy tickets through your tour or check the current arrangements in town.
• Walking up takes most people between an hour and an hour and a half on steep stone steps through the forest. It’s a good workout before a long visit, or a pleasant way down afterward.

In the busy season, the line for the first buses can be long. If you have an early entry time, plan for it.

Choosing a Train Service

Both railway companies run several classes on the same line. In broad terms:

• Standard tourist trains have comfortable seats, large windows and a small snack or drink service. They’re what most travelers take.
• Panoramic cars add windows in the roof, so you see more of the mountains as the valley narrows.
• Premium and luxury services add meals, more space and entertainment on board, at a much higher price.

All of them follow the same river and take roughly the same time. What changes is comfort, service and price, and availability on busy dates. Book the train once your Machu Picchu entry time is confirmed, so the two fit together.

Aguas Calientes in a Nutshell

Aguas Calientes, officially Machu Picchu Pueblo, is a small town squeezed between the river, the railway and steep forested walls. It exists for Machu Picchu: hotels, restaurants, a craft market, the bus stop for the ruins and hot springs at the top of town. There are no cars, and everything is within walking distance.

It’s busy by day and quieter in the evening, once the day-trippers have left. Rooms are usually smaller than in Cusco, and a room away from the railway is worth asking for. At about 2,040 m (6,690 ft), it’s also far lower than Cusco, so most people sleep well here.

Getting Back to Cusco

The return is the same journey in reverse: bus down from the ruins, train from Aguas Calientes, then a road transfer if your train ends in Ollantaytambo or a station outside the city. Allow the whole afternoon and evening. From Ollantaytambo, you can also stay in the Sacred Valley instead of going straight back to Cusco, which breaks up the journey and is often more relaxing.

Day Trip or Overnight?

A day trip from Cusco is possible: an early start, the train, a guided visit and the train back in the afternoon. It’s efficient, but it’s a long day, with more hours of travel than time at the site. Our day trip by train is built around the train times and your ticket.

Staying a night in Aguas Calientes changes the rhythm. You arrive in the afternoon, sleep at the foot of the mountain and reach the site early the next day, fresh and ahead of the day-trip crowds. It also gives you time for a second route or one of the peaks. Many travelers find the two-day version worth the extra night, especially families.

Sample Plans

• Short on time: Cusco to Machu Picchu and back in one day by train. Best if you’ve already acclimatized and don’t mind an early start.
• The relaxed version: Train to Aguas Calientes in the afternoon, a night in town, Machu Picchu the next morning. See our two-day tour.
• With the Sacred Valley: A day of villages and Inca sites in the valley, the evening train from Ollantaytambo, Machu Picchu the next morning. It’s also a gentle way to adjust to the altitude.
• On foot: The Inca Trail with a permit, or Salkantay, Lares or the Inca Jungle without one.

Before You Book Anything

Sort out your Machu Picchu ticket first, or book it together with the train. The ticket decides your entry time, and the entry time decides which train works. Our guides to Machu Picchu tickets and circuits explain the options, and our guide to how many days to spend in Cusco helps you fit it into your trip.