The most usual way to get to Machu Picchu is by train. Puente Ruinas station in Aguas Calientes is 112 km away from Cusco city.

There are three daily trains, which depart from San Pedro station in Cusco (close to Huánchac market) to Machu Picchu in an incredible. Please take care of your belongings on this trip. Services start at 6:00 a.m. If you buy your tickets through your travel agency, you will be picked up at the hotel to be taken to the station and, after the visit, you will be taken back to your lodging in the evening.

One of the peculiarities of this trip is that during the first half-hour, the train goes up Picchu mountain, taking the zigzag way up to the highest point called "El Arco" (The Arch) in the northeastern part of the city.
Then the train will go down through the villages of Poroy, Cachimatyo and Izcuchaca, towards Pampa de Anta, which is a large cattle-raising area. After crossing the narrow Pomatales pass, the train will roll over the Valle Sagrado de los Incas (Inca Sacred Valley), up to Pachar station. It will cross the Urubamba river on the right to arrive at Ollantaytambo station, whence it will leave for Puente Ruinas, its final destination.

There are three types of train services: tourism or backpacker train, auto-wagon or Vista Dome and Hiram Bingham service, all of them departing early in the morning and returning in the evening.

Cusco - Aguas Calientes - Cusco Trains

- Social train: only for Peruvians submitting their identification cards. International tourists are not allowed to use this train.

- Backpacker: exclusively designed for adventurous travelers who look for comfort as well as safety. The backpacker service has new seats with Inca motifs, giving them a local and indigenous touch as well as offering ample room for your backpacks.

- Vistadome: this is the fastest and most comfortable way to visit Machu Picchu. While travelling, you will enjoy delicious snacks and hot/cold drinks. There are refurbished wagons with panoramic windows, enabling you to enjoy a spectacular view and take wonderful photographs.

- Hiram Bingham: it has 2 wagons with 42 passenger seats and a bar carriage. It has an additional dining car for hot meals. Among the beautiful designs of the carriages, there are wide, comfortable seats and extra-large tables. These carriages are 3 m longer and 30 cm wider than others on the same line and are among the most comfortable in the world.