Machu Picchu day trip from Cusco: Train, guide, tickets included

Ride scenic rails to Machu Picchu and explore the ancient citadel with your guide

A full-day guided tour of Machu Picchu from Cusco includes round-trip hotel pickup, panoramic train tickets to Aguas Calientes, entry to the UNESCO site, and a three-hour guided tour followed by free time to explore on your own. The guide speaks English or Spanish, and the tour runs 14 to 15 hours door-to-door, suitable for all fitness levels.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Machu Picchu6h · entry included
2. Aguas Calientes4h

Full day tour to Machu Picchu

• Pick up from hotel in Cusco
• Travel to Ollantaytambo train station
• Board train to Aguas Calientes
• Take bus to Machu Picchu site
• Guided tour of Machu Picchu
• Free time to explore Machu Picchu
• Bus back to Aguas Calientes
• Train back to Ollantaytambo
• Transport back to Cusco hotel

The experience

The day starts before sunrise at your Cusco hotel, where transport picks you up and drives you to Ollantaytambo train station. You board the panoramic train. The Vistadome option lets you watch the landscape unfold through an open roof as the train descends toward Aguas Calientes, or you can choose the Expedition train for a more direct route. Either way, the scenery shifts from high Andean valleys to cloud forest as you drop toward the Sacred Valley. Once you arrive in Aguas Calientes, your guide meets you at the station and you take a bus up the switchbacks to Machu Picchu's entrance.

Your guide leads a three-hour tour of the archaeological site, walking you through the Temple of the Sun, the Intihuatana stone, and the agricultural terraces while explaining the Inca construction and the site's history. After that, the site is yours to roam: most people spend another two to three hours taking photos from different angles, sitting in quiet corners, or revisiting the areas that caught their eye. There is no rushing. You set the pace once the formal tour ends.

The return journey reverses the morning route: bus back down to Aguas Calientes, then the train back to Ollantaytambo, where transport waits to drive you back to your Cusco hotel. On the train ride back, your guide shares more about the culture, history and discovery of the site, answering questions that may have come up during the day. You arrive at your hotel in the evening, having seen one of the Seven Wonders of the World without arranging a single piece of it yourself.

What’s included

• Round-trip hotel pickup in Cusco and return transport from Ollantaytambo.
• panoramic or expedition train tickets between Ollantaytambo and Aguas Calientes (your choice at checkout).
• entry ticket to Machu Picchu.
• three-hour guided tour with a professional guide in English or Spanish.
• pre-departure briefing about what to expect at the site.

Options for this experience

3 options

Guide in English or SpanishAvailable from 4 Nov · 05:00

Guide in English or Spanish04:00 and 05:00

Guide in English or SpanishAvailable from 4 Nov · 05:00

You pick the guide language when booking. Options with the same name differ in details you'll see when you pick a date.

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 04:00 and 05:00

AgesAdult (21 to 50 years) · Senior (51 to 90 years) · Youth (18 to 20 years) · Child (4 to 17 years) · Infant (1 to 2 years)

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsNo refund if you cancel.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Easy physical level

Operated by Machupicchu cusco

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want to see Machu Picchu without spending days on the Inca Trail or arranging separate train tickets, hotels in Aguas Calientes, and guides. Everything connects in one day and one price. The three-hour guided tour gives you the context and the main sites, and the free time after lets you linger where you want instead of moving with a group schedule.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (18 to 20 years); Child (4 to 17 years); Infant (1 to 2 years).

What is the difference between the Vistadome and Expedition train options on this tour?

The Vistadome train has an open-roof car that lets you watch the landscape as you descend toward Aguas Calientes, while the Expedition train is a more direct route without the panoramic viewing. Both get you to Machu Picchu and back. The choice depends on whether you want the extended views during the ride.

How much time do I actually spend at Machu Picchu itself?

You get a guided tour lasting approximately three hours, then as much free time as you want to explore the site on your own before heading back down to Aguas Calientes for the return train. Most visitors spend another two to three hours wandering on their own.

Does this tour include meals or water?

The tour includes all transport, train tickets and Machu Picchu entry, but snacks and bottled water are not included. You can buy food and drinks in Aguas Calientes before heading up, or bring your own.

What time does the tour start and when do I get back to my hotel?

Hotel pickup happens before dawn, and the full day runs 14 to 15 hours, so you return to your Cusco hotel in the evening. The exact times depend on your hotel location and the train schedule on the day you book.

Is this tour physically demanding?

The tour is suitable for all fitness levels. You walk around the archaeological site during the guided portion and can move at your own pace during free time. The site sits at high altitude (about 7,970 feet), so some people feel the elevation, but there are plenty of places to rest and take in the views.