Train to Machu Picchu in Peru
Machu Picchu is located on a mountain, surrounded by other mountains and valleys and there is actually no train to Machu Picchu. But most visitors travel by train to Machu Picchu Pueblo. This is the new touristic name of Aguas Calientes, a small town at the feet of the mountain that carries the archaeological site of Machu Picchu. There are no roads to Aguas Calientes, therefore your will either have to take the train or walk to reach this town. Those who want to walk, will have to start at the train station for the Hydraulic power plant on the other side of the mountain that carries Machu Picchu. You can take local/ tourist transport from Cuzco to this train station and then walk the last 12 km along the railroad. From Aguas Calientes it is an 8 km hike, or short bus ride to reach Machu Picchu.
Two train companies in Peru
The railroads in Peru are owned by the government and currently they allow only two train companies to operate the route between Cuzco and Aguas Calientes/ Machu Picchu Pueblo. The biggest and most known company to offer trains to Machu Picchu Pueblo, is called Peru Rail. Peru Rail started operating in 1999 and is now owned for 50% by a Peruvian company and for 50% by the huge British Orient Express, who also owns the most expensive Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge and the Luxury Hiram Bingham Train.
Inca Rail en started operating in 2007 and is now owned by CROSLAND Business Group and the Carlyle Group. Both are huge international investment groups. Carlyle even invests in mining…
The differences between the train to Machu Picchu from Peru Rail and Inca Rail
Other then the different owners as described above, both train companies also offer different services and prices to their customers.
The different train services of Peru Rail
In short, Peru Rail offers their clients the following services:
– PeruRail Expedition -> This is the most economic train service from Peru Rail. This train depart towards Aguas Calientes from the San Pedro train station in Cusco (4 hour journey), from Poroy (3 hour journey) and from Ollantaytambo (1 hour and 40 minutes journey).
– Peru Rail also offers a combined bus/ train ride service. This journey starts from the Wanchaq Station in Cusco, from where you depart in a tourist bus towards Ollantaytambo. Along the way you will make a short stop at Lake Huaypon. Total travel time, 4 hours and 40 minutes.
– PeruRail Vistadome -> These are more luxury train carriages with windows in the roof for a panoramic view. They are connected to the same Expedition Train.
– PeruRail Vistadome Observatory -> You will be sitting in the same Vistadom carriages, but now with access to the luxury Observation Carriage, and Bar Carriage.
– Hiram Bingham, a Belmond Train -> This is the most luxury train service, which can only be booked as a complete tour, travelling from either Poroy, or Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes and back. This tour also includes the tourist bus from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu and back, a guided over the archaeological site of Machu Picchu, the entrance ticket to Machu Picchu, and meals on board of the luxury Hiram Bingham Train.
– PeruRail Titicaca -> This comfortable train travels three times a week in 10 hours and 30 minutes from Cuzco to Puno and 3 times a week back from Puno to Cuzco.
– Andean Explorer, a Belmond Train -> This is a luxury train tour of 3 days and 2 nights, from Cuzco to Puno, Saracocha and Arequipa.
– Local train services. These train services from Peru Rail are officially only for residents from Aguas Calientes and the province of Cuzco. However, their train that departs from the train station at the hydroelectric plant towards Aguas Calientes also has a special carriage for tourists. Thickets for this carriage have to be bought on the train station and can’t be bought in advance.
Train services of Inca Rail
The cheapest train to Machu Picchu from Inca Rail is called the Voyager. In quality this services is comparable to the Expedition services from Peru Rail. However, each train from Inca Rail departs from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes, or back and has included a bus service from Cuzco to Ollantaytambo, or Ollantaytambo back to Cuzco. Inca Rail also has a train service called ‘360 degrees’. These train carriages are comparable to the Vistadome service from Peru Rail. Inca Rail also has a First Class luxury train service, which only departs from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes and back on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays. Unfortunately the information about these journeys is not very clear.
The best train to Machu Picchu
So what is the best train service to Machu Picchu? This question is hard to answer and depends on your time schedule and personal preference. Generally speaking the services of Inca rail are a little cheaper, but both Peru Rail and Inca Rail also frequently offer discounts. Peru Rail has a bigger variety in departure times of their train to Machu Picchu Pueblo and back, but their departure times might not always be convenient for your own travel itinerary in Peru.
