Train Route: Ollantaytambo to Machu Picchu, Peru
This train runs from Ollantaytambo in the Sacred Valley of Peru to Machu Picchu Pueblo (Aguas Calientes), the town at the foot of Machu Picchu, along the Urubamba River.
The route at a glance
- Ollantaytambo Station (Estación Ollantaytambo), Ollantaytambo 08675, Peru
- Machu Picchu Station (Estación Machu Picchu), Machu Picchu Pueblo (Aguas Calientes) 08681, Peru
The train to Machu Picchu
There is no road to Machu Picchu Pueblo, the town below Machu Picchu that most people call Aguas Calientes. The easiest way in is the train from Ollantaytambo, in the Sacred Valley. The ride takes about one and a half hours.
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Along the Urubamba River
The train follows the Urubamba River down a narrow, deep valley. The landscape changes from the dry hills of the Sacred Valley to green cloud forest, with snowy Andean peaks above. Look out for Inca terraces and ruins on the slopes along the way.
The trains run by PeruRail and Inca Rail have large windows, and some have glass panels in the roof, so you can look up at the mountains.
Start of the Inca Trail
Not far from Ollantaytambo, the train passes Kilometer 82, where the classic four-day Inca Trail to Machu Picchu begins. Later, it passes Kilometer 104, the start of the shorter one-day Inca Trail.
From Aguas Calientes up to Machu Picchu
The train arrives in Machu Picchu Pueblo (Aguas Calientes). From there, a bus climbs the winding road up to the Machu Picchu citadel in about 25 to 30 minutes. You can also walk up, but it is a steep climb.
Explore Ollantaytambo first
Ollantaytambo is a small Inca town with old stone streets and a huge Inca fortress on the hill above it. It is worth arriving early or staying a night before the train. From Cusco, it is about a 1.5 to 2 hour drive.
Before you go
Book your train and your Machu Picchu entry ticket well in advance, especially in the dry season. Entry tickets are limited and sell out. The trains also allow only a small bag on board, about 5 kg (11 lb), so leave your big luggage in Cusco or Ollantaytambo.
Photos along the way
