Real travellers · real day
People who actually went.
What you actually get
Included. And not included.
Being aggressive about exclusions reads as confidence. Most negative Cusco tour reviews trace to an unlisted extra. The list below is what you actually pay for — and what you don't.
Included
- 01Informational video call with your guide after you book, so you know exactly what to expect and can ask anything before the tour
- 02Hotel pickup in Cusco on the day of the tour
- 03Round-trip transport, Cusco ↔ Ollantaytambo train station
- 04Round-trip train tickets, Ollantaytambo ↔ Machu Picchu Pueblo (Aguas Calientes)
- 05Professional bilingual guide at Machu Picchu, for 2 hours
- 06Machu Picchu entrance ticket — included when you book at least 60 days ahead. Inside that window, contact our Cusco team (see the note above) to check availability.
Not included
- 01Meals — you manage your own time at Machu Picchu, and there are places to eat outside the citadel
- 02Huayna Picchu mountain add-on ticket — can be added later, US$30
- 03Bus up from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu — US$12 (walking up takes about 40 minutes and is free)
- 04Bus down from Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes — US$12 (walking down takes about 40 minutes and is free)
Hour by hour
The day, in twenty-four timestamps.
- 04:00–04:20
Hotel pickup in Cusco.
- En route
Bus transfer from Cusco to Ollantaytambo, to catch the train.
- 06:10
Board the train to Machu Picchu Pueblo (Aguas Calientes) — about 1 hour 50 minutes, through scenic Andean mountains and snow peaks.
- ~08:00 (estimated)
Arrive in Aguas Calientes — bus up to the Machu Picchu citadel is a paid extra (US$12, not included), or walk up in about 40 minutes for free.
- 2 hours
Guided visit of Machu Picchu with a professional bilingual guide.
- Free time
Free time to explore the citadel on your own, for as long as you like.
- Your choice
Head back down to the train station — bus down is a paid extra (US$12, not included), or walk down in about 40 minutes for free.
- 18:20
Return train departs Aguas Calientes for Ollantaytambo.
- En route
Drive back to Cusco by car.
- ~22:00 (estimated)
Arrival back in Cusco.
Altitude & fitness
Who should not do this tour.
The most credibility-building paragraph on a Cusco tour page is the one that tells a buyer to walk away. This is that paragraph for the machu picchu — by train.
- If you have not spent at least two nights in Cusco before the tour, this day is not for you.
- If you have a heart, lung, or blood-pressure condition, the altitude is a medical decision, not a travel one — talk to your doctor first.
- If you are pregnant, the operator will not run the day. We will not pretend they will.
- If the only thing you want is the photograph and not the day, hire a photo operator in Cusco plaza for a tenth of the price. We are not it.
What to bring
The list, with reasons.
- Umbrella or a waterproof jacket — Machu Picchu is a humid zone and rain is common
- Mosquito repellent
- Walking stick (optional)
- Long-sleeve shirts — for a warm, humid climate (around 25°C), not for cold
- Water
- A small bag with snacks
- Grippy, non-slip shoes — the site has a lot of loose rock and uneven stone paths
Booking cutoff
60 days
The minimum lead time on this tour.
Machu Picchu entrance tickets typically sell out well in advance — 2 to 3 months ahead in high season (May–October), 2 weeks to 1 month in low season (November–April). If your travel date is inside this window, the safest next step is a 15-minute video call with our Cusco team at https://booking.aeverion.com/index.php/?provider=4&service=1 — they will walk you through the on-the-day ticket process at Aguas Calientes.
- Payment is in full, by payment link or bank transfer.
- No processor on this site. We send a payment link by hand from WhatsApp.
The honest alternative
Or — Machu Picchu — 2 days / 1 night, by bus.
The train does the journey as part of the day — a glass-roof carriage, the river below, the canyon in the third hour. The trade is the price. The bus is the most affordable way to the citadel, and the route most day-trippers take.
Read the Machu Picchu — 2 days / 1 night, by bus page→At a glance
- Lead time
- 60 days
- Duration
- 36 h
- Cancellation
- 48 hours from purchase
WhatsApp about this tour
Machu Picchu — by train.
Same-day reply, Cusco time. We will tell you whether your date is open before you pay.
