travel studio perurail

Inca Rail vs. PeruRail: Picking the Best Train to Machu Picchu

Peru , South America

When booking a train to Machu Picchu, you can choose from Inca Rail or Peru Rail. Each offers service to Aguas Calientes – the town just outside the ruins – with stops in Ollantaytambo and Cusco. On our trip, we rode Inca Rail from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes and then Peru Rail from Aguas Calientes to Cusco so we could sample both of them. We opted for the 360° Machu Picchu train on Inca Rail and the Vistadome experience on Peru Rail. There didn’t appear to be a price benefit to booking a round trip, so I would choose based on whichever has the better price or more convenient times for you. Keep on reading for all the pros and cons of Inca Rail vs. Peru Rail.

We were genuinely pleased with the service we received on both the 360° Machu Picchu and the Vistadome trains. Regardless of which one you choose, you’re going to enjoy the gorgeous scenery. It’s incredible to see the plants change from the dryer scrub surrounding Cusco and Ollantaytambo into the lush green vegetation of the high jungle around Aguas Calientes. The Andes are spectacular, so don’t forget to look out the window while you’re traveling.

A note about getting to Machu Picchu: You can do it as a day trip from Cusco if you choose, but I would highly recommend taking an afternoon train to Aguas Calientes, the town just outside the ruins, the day before your tickets and visiting during the early morning session. Aguas Calientes is definitely a tourist town, but the surroundings are gorgeous and doing it this way will allow you to beat some of the day tripper crowds and make for a more relaxing visit. Plus, you can check out their hot springs if you want to relax.

Note: This post contains affiliate links, and should you choose to make a purchase, I will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.

360° Machu Picchu on Inca Rail

We opted to take the Inca Rail option for our Ollantaytambo to Machu Picchu route. The train ride is about an hour and a half for this stretch. Inca Rail offers four classes of service from the lowest level Voyager all the way up to private coaches for the super rich. You can also enjoy the 360° Machu Picchu train from Cusco to Aguas Calientes via their bimodal service that includes a 2-hour bus ride from Cusco to Ollantaytambo and then a train ride from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes. That can be a good option if you’re staying in central Cusco because the Poroy station is a bit outside of town and we had to take a taxi.

The 360° Machu Picchu train is the second cheapest option available on Inca Rail and includes a light lunch, beverages, panoramic windows, and an outdoor viewing car. The Voyager train has smaller windows and only offers snacks. I think the price difference was worth it just for the viewing car though.

Note: Though you can book Inca Rail tickets online, you have to pick them up in person. They have offices at the Plaza de Armas in Cusco, the Cusco airport, the Ollantaytambo train station, and the Machu Picchu train station. I grabbed ours at the airport while we were waiting to be picked up, and that was a great choice because we were running a little behind schedule when we got to the Ollantaytambo station and there was quite a line. Bring your confirmation and the credit card used to purchase the tickets. You’ll also want to check the opening hours for each location. The Cusco location doesn’t open until after the first departure of the day, so if you forget to pick them up the day before you may be in trouble.

All aboard!

Though the Ollantaytambo train station was a little chaotic – lots of people, little signage, and virtually nowhere to sit – the boarding process with Inca Rail was pretty smooth. There is only one set of tracks there, so you shouldn’t have too much trouble figuring out which train is yours. We had assigned seats, so there was no need to rush the train when the doors opened, and we were able to board quickly and stow our backpacks. Each coach had at least one bathroom.

Our lunch on the 360° Machu Picchu consisted of a chicken wrap with veggies and mayo, an apple, a little protein bar made out of nuts, quinoa, and other things, and two chocolates. I quite like chicken myself, but I inquired with Inca Rail via their chat as I was preparing this post, and they said that if you require vegetarian options or have allergies, you can email [email protected] after booking your ticket (you need to include your voucher number) to arrange something with the chef. The meal was definitely on the light side, but it was enough to get us through the couple hours on the train. We also got to choose from a variety of hot and cold beverages with our lunch.

Seating on our Ollantaytambo to Machu Picchu train had two seats on each side of the center aisle and groups of four seats faced a small table. We were seated across from a German dad and his little boy who were on a lengthy South America tour. They offer an app with info to pass the time (it features a map of your journey and some music and ebooks), but we settled for staring out the window (and probably creeping the people across the aisle out because we were on the wrong side of the train for pretty much all the scenery), planning out the next day, and catching up on my journal I’d been too sick to write in the night before.

The panoramic windows were nice, especially since we had to look across the train car for most of our views. The best part about the 360° train though was the outdoor viewing car. Our seats were nearby, so I didn’t have to cross through too many cars to get there, but it would be worth it even if you’re at the opposite end. The open-air car don’t worry, it would be hard to fall out) allows you to enjoy the view unobstructed and get great photos without glare from the windows. I was actually disappointed that I didn’t head out there sooner.

Keep an eye out on the river side of the train as you slow to pull into Aguas Calientes to catch a photo of the pretty Machu Picchu sign without people in it. There’s another one in town, but there were long lines of people posing in front of it every time we passed by. Disembarking was smooth and efficient, though the train station does dump you into a bit of a maze inside a market full of souvenir stands.

Find out more about the 360° Machu Picchu train on Inca Rail here .

Vistadome Machu Picchu on PeruRail

For the ride back to Cusco, we opted for the PeruRail Vistadome Machu Picchu train. We picked this for two reasons – we liked the departure time better than what Inca Rail offered and their service went all the way to the Poroy station outside of Cusco instead of requiring us to use the bus service. PeruRail offers three classes of service on the route between Cusco and Machu Picchu ranging from the Expedition to the Belmond Hiram Bingham luxury train class. We’re not of the first class budget sort, so we ruled out the two more expensive options. If you’re looking to spend a little more cash, the Belmond Hiram Bingham train welcomes you with live music and a pisco cocktail, a free travel bag, gourmet food, beer, wine, and pisco sours, and includes on-board music and an observation car. Your train fare also includes admission to Machu Picchu, the bus up to the ruins, and a guided tour followed by tea at the super swanky Belmond Sanctuary Lodge Hotel. Another option in the Cusco region is the Sacred Valley train, which departs from Urubamba.

If, like us, you’re deciding between the PeruRail Expedition train vs. Vistadome options, you’ll be looking at a $25-30 price difference. For that extra cost, the Vistadome train includes panoramic windows, a light meal, and some on-board entertainment. Since we were taking the train from the Machu Picchu station to Cusco and it was going to be about 3.5 hours long, we decided to spend the extra money for the ride with a little more to do.

Our on-board entertainment included some folk dancing and music and a Peruvian fashion show. The PeruRail website says that it’s only available on the trip departing Aguas Calientes, so if you’re taking a round trip train from Cusco to Machu Picchu and back, you may want to book the Expedition option on the way there and return on the Vistadome. The Saqra dancing was a brief demonstration that involved performers in brightly colored costumes and masks. The lady dancing in our car grabbed a few different passengers seated along the aisle to get up and dance with her. To my great disappointment, my boyfriend wasn’t one of them. After the dancing, there was a short fashion show that highlighted Peruvian designs and fabrics. There were a lot of alpaca wool knits and versatile designs that could transform into multiple different styles. You could, of course, purchase the items if you liked them enough, but I found them to be a little expensive.

The Vistadome train service includes a light meal and non-alcoholic beverages. Our meal consisted of a veggie sandwich with too many mushrooms for my liking and a muffin that I thought was chocolate but was actually healthier than that and in hindsight probably topped with quinoa. The FAQ on the PeruRail website says that special requests can only be made on the Hiram Bingham luxury train, so you may be out of luck if you need to request accommodations for allergies or other diets. I also took the opportunity to sample some of the chicha morada drink popular in the area, though there were plenty of other soft drink options. I also really liked my cat placemat.

How amazing is my llama journal in the background of this photo? I buy a special journal for every trip and this is by far the best one I’ve ever had.

Each coach has a couple bathrooms, but unfortunately passengers on the Vistadome train aren’t allowed to switch cars. Unlike the 360° train on Inca Rail, there is no outdoor viewing area.

Imagine farming that

My only complaint about the Vistadome train was that the meal and all of the entertainment were packed into the first hour and a half between Aguas Calientes and Ollantaytambo, where we made a stop to let some passengers off. That left us with not much to do for the last couple of hours, and after the skies got dark and we could no longer enjoy the scenery, the time sort of dragged on. Obviously, if you take an earlier train, that won’t be an issue, but with the overhead lights barely providing enough light to play cards, it got a bit boring toward the end.

Find out more about the Vistadome service, check out your other options, and make PeruRail reservations here .

Note: PeruRail is temporarily running its Cusco to Machu Picchu trains (and vice versa) as bimodal service like Inca Rail through April 2019. Check their site for more info.

Inca Rail vs. PeruRail Pros and Cons

If I had to do it all over again, I’d attempt to book a round trip on Inca Rail, using their Voyager option for one way and the 360° for the other direction

Tips for choosing Inca Rail vs. Peru Rail

• Neither train company allows you to bring luggage on board, and you’re in theory limited to a small backpack. However, both of them state on their websites that special arrangements can be made if you email in advance, though space is still limited. We opted not to try this and arranged for our hotel in Cusco to take our luggage two days early and packed in smaller backpacks for our nights in Ollantaytambo and Aguas Calientes. The ease with which we arranged that makes me think that it’s not all that uncommon, and I’d assume that most hotels in the area are familiar with the restrictions.
• For the best views, try to snag seats on the left side of the train’s forward motion (that’s the driver’s side for my fellow Americans and pretty much anyone who drives on the right) for your trip to Machu Picchu Pueblo and the right side of the train’s forward motion (the passenger side) for the return trip to Cusco. During the most scenic part of the journey, the train tracks hug a river bank, so our window on the ride to Machu Picchu gave us a great view of…mud and some scrub plants. We were a little jealous of the people on the other side.
• Both train options allow you to purchase additional snacks, soft drinks, and alcoholic beverages if you choose.
• You’re also able to bring your own snacks and beverages on board.

Have you ridden with either of these train companies? Let me know whether you prefer Inca Rail or Peru Rail in the comments.

Here are some of the many booking options you have for getting to Machu Picchu:

Check out these other great things to do in Peru:

• Relax at the Hot Springs in Aguas Calientes, Peru
• Ten Reasons Not to Miss the Parque de la Reserva’s Circuito Mágico del Agua in Lima
• Visit the Pre-Incan Ruins of Huaca Pucllana in Lima

Don’t forget to save this post for later on Pinterest!

I love posts like these that get into the nitty gritty of travel details. I hiked part of the Inca Trail and so only rode part of the way up (about halfway to Aguas Calientes) but agree that checking the times and prices that are most convenient for you is the best way to go!

Hi! Loved your detailed post – so helpful. Curious which side you were on during the train ride with IncaRail? Hoping to book on the side you noted has great scenery.

Sorry for the delay – if you haven’t booked yet, the best views will be on the left side of the train (driver’s side if you’re used to driving on the right side of the road) for the way out and the right side on the way back.

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Panoramic Train to Machu Picchu or Cusco - PeruRail Vistadome

• Panoramic windows
• On board entertainment: Cultural Andean dance on the return trip from the Machu Picchu Pueblo
• On board entertainment: Fashion Show on the return trip from the Machu Picchu Pueblo
• Onboard sales: Exclusive collection of Baby Alpaca and souvenir
• Informative audios along the route
• Ambiental music
• Restroom on board
• Air-conditioned vehicle
• Entrance ticket to Machu Picchu Sanctuary
• Bus to and from Machu Picchu Sanctuary
• Tour of Machu Picchu Sanctuary
• Entry/Admission - Santuario Historico de Machu Picchu
• Option 1 Estacion Wanchaq, El Sol, Cusco 08002, Peru Av. Pachacuteq s/n, Distrito de Wanchaq, Cusco
• Option 2 Machu Picchu station, Aguas Calientes 08681, Peru Machu Picchu Pueblo s/n, Barrio Las Orquideas, Machu Picchu Pueblo, Cusco
• Option 3 PeruRail - Boletería Estación Ollantaytambo, Ticket Office: Av. Ferrocarril s/n, Ollantaytambo, Valle Sagrado, Cusco 08676, Peru Av. Ferrocarril s/n, Ollantaytambo, Valle Sagrado, Cusco
• Option 4 PeruRail - Boletería Estación Urubamba, Av. Ferrocaril s/n, Urubamba, Valle Sagrado 08661, Peru Av. Ferrocarril s/n, Urubamba, Valle Sagrado, Cusco
• Option 5 Belmond Hiram Bingham, Calle Roldan s/n, Distrito de Poroy, Cusco 08600, Peru Calle Roldan s/n, Distrito de Poroy, Cusco
• Option 6 Cascaparo, Cusco 08002, Peru Estación San Pedro: Calle Cascaparo S/N Cusco
• Option 1 Machu Picchu station, Aguas Calientes 08681, Peru Machu Picchu Pueblo s/n, Barrio Las Orquideas, Machu Picchu Pueblo, Cusco
• Option 2 Estacion Wanchaq, El Sol, Cusco 08002, Peru Av. Pachacuteq s/n, Distrito de Wanchaq, Cusco
• Option 4 Belmond Hiram Bingham, Calle Roldan s/n, Distrito de Poroy, Cusco 08600, Peru Calle Roldan s/n, Distrito de Poroy, Cusco
• Option 5 PeruRail - Boletería Estación Urubamba, Av. Ferrocaril s/n, Urubamba, Valle Sagrado 08661, Peru Av. Ferrocarril s/n, Urubamba, Valle Sagrado, Cusco
• Option 6 Cascaparo, Cusco 08002, Peru Calle Cascaparo S/N Cusco
• Wheelchair accessible
• Stroller accessible
• Service animals allowed
• Near public transportation
• Infants must sit on laps
• Infant seats available
• Most travelers can participate
• This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
• This tour/activity will have a maximum of 9 travelers
• All sales are final and incur 100% cancellation penalties.
• You’ll have 6 starting options See departure details
• Pass by Cusco Ollantaytambo
• 1 Santuario Historico de Machu Picchu Stop: 2 hours - Admission excluded At the end of your journey, you will arrive at Machu Picchu Pueblo, where you can take a bus up to the Sanctuary (bus not included) Read more
• You'll end at See departure details

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Panoramic Train to Machu Picchu or Cusco - PeruRail Vistadome provided by PeruRail - Vistadome

PeruRail Expedition Train: Details and travel information

The Expedition train is one of the trains with the greatest demand for the relatively comfortable prices they offer. The routes that it covers are departures from Cusco to Aguas Calientes or Machu Picchu Pueblo and the trip can be completed by walking or by bus to the Inca citadel. This train has different schedules that can facilitate travel and at the same time complete the tourist flow from Cusco to Machu Picchu. If you want to know more details and have more information about the company PerúRail, about the services and schedules of this private transport service, join us.

What is PeruRail?

The expedition train, departure and arrival times, what is the best time to travel, what do i need to purchase this expedition train ticket.

PeruRail is one of the main tourist train operating companies in Peru. Its foundation was given in 1999. This project was promoted by the Peruvian Lorenzo Sousa Debarbieri. Born in Lima in 1960, as well was a businessman with book publications inclined to promote entrepreneurship in areas near Machu Picchu. Lorenzo Sousa is also co-founder of the company Belmond Ltd. and the hotel chain with the same name.

PeruRail has been operating since its foundation with direct and staggered trips from Cusco to Machu Picchu. Currently, another train company operates on the same route with the name of IncaRail. Both companies act as means of transport so that all people interested in making quick trips to Machu Picchu can do so.

PeruRail, grew exponentially as it is the only means of transport that connects Cusco with Machu Picchu. Since then it has been considerably improving its services. Today, in addition, it has destinations beyond Cusco, we mean that you can make trips that connect Cusco, Puno, and Arequipa. The great thing about this entire route is that you can see incredible landscapes, ideal for moments of peace in the company of loved ones or traveling alone. Finally, mention that PeruRail has many trains, and all of them with different services that try to satisfy the most exquisite needs of travelers from all over the world.

The train PeruRail Expedition is a tourist train, known and in great demand. Its main characteristic is being one of the cheapest trains, between the sections from Cusco to Aguas Calientes or Machu Picchu Pueblo. This train is for the exclusive use of tourism, for this reason, it organizes its wagons so that a limited number of people can access each one of them and a comfortable trip can be made.

In this sense, aboard the Expedition Train, you can find several services. Among these services, the variety of schedules and the frequency of service stand out. Each of the wagons has background music and an adequate volume so that conversations on board are not interfered with. It also has audio tourist information. These are audios that will answer some concerns or frequently asked questions to travelers.

The wagons are spacious and 52 comfortable seats were arranged inside them. The seats are comfortable and can recline, but only a little. Approximately 13 wooden tables can be found where 4 travelers can sit around them. As it is an exclusive service, you will also find toilets and a space to place your luggage. All wagons are decorated and maintain an ideal space for the trip. The windows have UV protection and at all times we can request the help of PeruRail ‘s travel assistants.

Expedition Train Services

Apart from providing exclusive wagons for tourism. The PeruRail Expedition train has served on board. As we indicated above, it has background music and staff dedicated to solving any unforeseen event or question that may arise. As it is an economic service, it does not have many services, but it does have what is necessary such as:

• Snack sale.
• Sale of Beverages.
• Staff service, qualified for any emergency or unforeseen event.
• Sanitary facilities.
• First aid kit.
• Expedition Train from three stations: Ollantaytambo Station, Machu Picchu Pueblo or Aguas Calientes Station, and Poroy Station.
• There are two travel options: Bimodal Service and Regular Service. The first of them consists of a first trip from Cusco to Ollantaytambo by bus and continues with the trip to Aguas Calientes by train. The second of them consists clearly of the train trip to Aguas Calientes.
• The travel time from Ollantaytambo to Machu Picchu (Aguas Calientes) is 1 hour and 30 minutes.
• The travel time from the Poroy Station to Machu Picchu (Aguas Calientes) is 3 hours and 30 minutes.

Departure of trains to Aguas Calientes

Departure of trains from machu picchu pueblo or aguas calientes.

The Expedition train is one of the most used trains, this is due to its benefits and the relatively comfortable price for those who wish to visit Machu Picchu. As we have seen, there is a wide variety of schedules. Choosing the right one will depend a lot on the entrance ticket to Machu Picchu. The entrance time to Machu Picchu starts at 6:00 am. In case you have an entrance ticket at that time, we recommend that you travel a day before to Aguas Calientes so that when you wake up early you only have to take one of the ecological buses and you can reach the access area of the wonder of the world. In this sense, the appropriate option would be to make a trip in the afternoon to get to Aguas Calientes with the hotel reservation ready or also look for a hotel room. The options are many and with different services and prices.

In case you have time to enter Machu Picchu that is not in the early hours (6:00 to 9:00), the option would be to leave Cusco at dawn in the direction of Aguas Calientes. The average travel time from Cusco to the same access area to Machu Picchu, following a trip first by bus, then by train, and again by bus is 4 hours and 30 minutes or approximately 5 hours. This is a somewhat rushed trip. That is why this option would be the best and most economical so that you do not have to spend on a hotel or other details. If you take this option you can return to Cusco the same day in the afternoon and you will rest at the hotel you booked in Cusco. This type of trip is known as the Machu Picchu Full Day. Another of the main options is to travel to Machu Picchu with little time. is to get this tour package with a travel agency in Cusco.

It is not very complicated to book the Expedition train ticket, you just have to be aware of availability and also:

• Have the identity document or, failing that, carry the current Passport.
• You can make the reservation on our website, right here Reserve – Trains to Machu Picchu (imachupicchu.com).
• To board the train you will have to present your ID along with the printed or digital train ticket.
• Remember that Machu Picchu is located in a tropical zone. It is very hot and the presence of mosquitoes is felt.
• We recommend using mosquito repellent and sunscreen. It will also be necessary to wear light clothing and a hat.
• You can take snacks and drinks during your ascent to Machu Picchu but remember to keep the waste well and throw it in a garbage can.

By Imachupicchu – Last updated, May 6, 2023

Enjoy the trip to Machu Picchu with the best services

Choose one of the 5 types of tickets.

The entrance to Machu Picchu offers discounts for university students , those under 18 years of age and citizens of Peru, Colombia, Ecuador and Bolivia. Children under 3 years enter free! Get your entry to 'mapi' here.

We take you wherever you want in Cusco

The private transportation service takes you to any tourist destination in Cusco. Travel with total security in a private service for you, your partner, your friends or family. Includes pick up service from the airport or transfer to Machu Picchu train station, book here!

An unforgettable train trip to Machu Picchu

In total there are four tourist train services to Machu Picchu: Expedition, Vistadome, Vistadome Observatory and the Hiram Bingham luxury train. They all belong to the prestigious Peru Rail company. Buy the tickets here! Take advantage of the discounts!

Get on the final bus to Machu Picchu

The train trip will leave you in the town of Aguas Calientes, 10 kilometers from Machu Picchu. For this last section you must get the bus to Machu Picchu, a comfortable service that takes care of the environment of the wonder of the world. Buy your bus ticket here!

Tour Machu Picchu with a professional guide

In Machu Picchu the tour guide service is not mandatory. However, most tourists decide to go accompanied by a guide . This way they will be able to fully understand the history and importance of the wonder of the Incas.

Machupicchu all inclusive 1 day

If you do not want to buy each ticket to Machu Picchu separately, it is best to hire an all-inclusive tour. Includes: transfer to the station, train ticket, tour guide, entrance fee and lunch option at the best ‘mapi’ restaurant. Book the tour here!

PeruRail eTicket

About this app

Data safety.

App support

PeruRail eTicket 4+

Designed for iphone.

• 1.6 • 12 Ratings

iPhone Screenshots

Description.

Now you can board the train faster by showing your boarding pass directly from your smartphone with our APP PeruRail eTicket! PeruRail eTicket makes the boarding easier and more organized, just showing your boarding pass directly from the APP on your smartphone. - Complete your travel information, travel document and nationality to add your ticket. - Check all the important details of your journey, such as train service, route, departure time and seat number. - Find more information: Payment receipt and eticket. - If you are a travel agent or tour conductor, select the option Travel Agency – Groups and administrate your tours by date and passengers’ categories, which will allow you to organize your journeys in a better way. - If you are traveling directly with us, select the option Individual Passenger, where you check all your travel information. Download PeruRail eTicket and begin to use it now!

Ratings and Reviews

App loses tickets day of travel.

Do not rely on the app, tickets disappear day of travel (for all tickets, even later dates) and when the information is re-entered, it says “invalid documents”. Fortunately I had paper printouts but this could be a disaster. Recommend screenshots and old school paper tickets.

Downloaded the app, put in the info, and my ticket came right up. Thanks to the other user who suggested getting screen shots of the tickets. Hopefully I won’t have the same issue.

SCREENSHOT YOUR TICKETS

this app will NOT work on the day of travel. Load your tickets as soon as possible and screenshot. For our entire group of 8 as well as a past reviewer, the app says the document is invalid. We were only able to board the train by the skin of our teeth. Do not let this happen to you.

App Privacy

The developer, PeruRail , has not provided details about its privacy practices and handling of data to Apple. For more information, see the developer’s privacy policy .

No Details Provided

The developer will be required to provide privacy details when they submit their next app update.

Information

English, Spanish

• Developer Website
• App Support
• Privacy Policy

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Train to Machu Picchu – Ollantaytambo – Cusco | Peru Rail | Deals | Perurail

NOTICE: Temporary suspension of the Hidroeléctrica route until April 12th

Please note: Tickets to Machu Picchu with Hiram Bingham Trains

Notice: Temporary suspension of the Hidroeléctrica route until April 26th

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