IncaRail to Machu Picchu
There are two ways to get to Machu Picchu: by train or by foot.
The deep river valleys of the cloud forest are too narrow for a road.
I highly recommend taking the train. It’s the best way to get to Machu Picchu.
Cusco-Ollantaytambo-Aguas Calientes-Machu Picchu
From Cusco, the best way to get to Machu Picchu is by train from Ollantaytambo. It’s possible to take the train from Cusco, but because of the terrain it’s usually faster to drive. I prefer to drive to Ollantaytambo and take the train from there to Aguas Calientes, the town that’s directly below Machu Picchu. From Aguas Calientes, you take a shuttle bus up to the Machu Picchu citadel. You can walk up from Aguas Calientes, but it’s dusty and steep.
In short, drive from Cusco to Ollantaytambo, from there take the train to Aguas Calientes and then the shuttle up to Machu Picchu.
The other option is to walk.
You can walk from the village of Santa Teresa or on the infamous Inca Trail, though I don’t recommend either.
Check your train ticket for which car you’re in and follow the person with that letter to board the right train car.
IncaRail to Machu Picchu
I hadn’t been to Machu Picchu since 2023 and for my 2026 return I took the IncaRail First Class train from Ollantaytambo. It was such a wonderful treat and a fabulous way to go back to Aguas Calientes.
This is the entrance for both the First Class lounge and the ticket office.
Boarding IncaRail in Ollantaytambo
There are two IncaRail buildings just outside the train station. One has the ticket office and a small lounge for First Class passengers. Across the road is a bigger building with a bar, sitting rooms and bathrooms for all IncaRail passengers.
Tea Service
There are lots of tea options and filtered water in the First Class lounge and waiting room.
Boarding IncaRail First Class
A woman dressed as a ñusta, a young woman chosen for beauty in Incan traditions, led the First Class passengers to our train car.
The First Class has a lounge area, balcony and four tables, each with two seats for a maximum of 8 passengers.
IncaRail First Class
I’ve seen a lot of fancy hotels in Peru and gone on a swank Amazon River cruise, but this was definitely the most luxurious train I’ve ever been on. Boarding was fun and I loved the live music, service and balcony – yes, balcony.
Service on board started with a glass of sparkling wine.
On Board the First Class Train
The service started with a glass of Spanish sparkling wine, while the rain went through the last bit of the Sacred Valley, with views of Mt. Veronica, aka Wakay Willka, and other snowy mountaintops. Many of my photos are a bit blurry because trains rattle around a lot.
Then we headed into a narrower part of the Urubamba River Valley and had appetizers with either Sauvignon Blanc or Malbec as we passed the Salapunku Inca ruins and an Inca-carved stone called Ñustahispana. Lunch was served as we headed into the cloudforest and the valley got so narrow we went through several tunnels at places where there was no place next to the river for a set of train tracks.
It’s the details that make the difference.
I appreciated the printed menu, flowers, USB plugs to charge phones and all the other details that made the IncaRail First Class experience feel luxurious. The comfortable chairs, maximum of eight passengers and constantly offering me more wine helped too.
IncaRail Leaving Machu Picchu
The next day, after visiting Machu Picchu and staying at Inkaterra, I took the IncaRail First Class train back to Ollantaytambo. There was a different menu and we started with a pisco sour rather than sparkling wine. I liked the dinner appetizer and dessert more than lunch but the main course was at lunch was better.
It was already dark when we left Aguas Calientes, so I didn’t expect much of a view. However, there are a couple places where trains stop to let another train pass, and I opened the door to step out onto the balcony. It was a full moon, which lit up the Urubamba River and the snow on Mt Veronica. I don’t have photos of that, but believe me that it was a marvelous experience.
Questions?
Drop them in the comments below or check out the IncaRail website!
