Cusco to Machu Picchu and Back by Train
At 5:30 AM, you will be picked up from your hotel in Cusco and transferred by van to the train station in Ollantaytambo, about 1 hour and 30 minutes away. From there, you will board the train for the journey to the town of Aguas Calientes (2,000 m).
Upon arrival at the train station, your guide will be waiting for you with a sign bearing your names. You will go together to the bus stop and ascend 400 m by bus along a zigzag road for about 30 minutes to reach the Machu Picchu Sanctuary, known as the Lost City of the Incas. At the entrance control, you will need to show your ticket and passport.
Enjoy a guided tour of more than two hours visiting the most important places in Machu Picchu, such as the Main Plaza, the Sun Temple, the Sacred Sundial, the rock quarries, the Temple of the Three Windows, and the cemeteries.
After the visit, you will have free time to explore Machu Picchu on your own. Optionally, you may climb Huaynapicchu or Machu Picchu Mountain for an additional cost of $35 USD per person. You can also hike to the Sun Gate or the Inka Bridge, and these two places do not require any additional payment.
At the appropriate time, take the bus back down from Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes.
The usual train departure to Ollantaytambo is in the afternoon, followed by a two-hour drive back to your hotel in Cusco.
