Machu Picchu by Car & Train

Overview

If you are looking for the ideal balance between affordability, adventure, and comfort on your journey to Machu Picchu, the Machu Picchu Tour by Car and Train 2 Days / 1 Night delivers exactly that. This cleverly designed itinerary combines the excitement and scenery of a car journey through the Andean highlands with the comfort and elegance of a scenic train return through the Urubamba Canyon — giving you the best of both worlds at a price that sits between the pure car tour and the full train-based options.

On Day 1 you travel from Cusco by comfortable private vehicle through breathtaking Andean landscapes to the Hidroeléctrica station, where lunch awaits before the enjoyable 3-hour flat hike along the railway tracks to Aguas Calientes. The evening brings an included dinner and a restful overnight stay in town. On Day 2 you enter Machu Picchu for a comprehensive professional guided tour, followed by free time, and then the return that truly sets this tour apart: the scenic Expedition or Voyager train from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo through the spectacular canyon, and a comfortable private transfer to Cusco in the early evening.

Every detail is handled by our team — from your Machu Picchu entrance ticket and return train tickets to accommodation, meals, and expert guiding — ensuring a seamless, safe, and genuinely unforgettable two-day experience.

Day-by-day itinerary

2 days · what you'll do each day

DAY1

Cusco to Aguas Calientes via Hidroeléctrica: scenic drive & jungle hike

Your adventure begins at 6:30 AM from our office near Plaza Regocijo, Cusco, where you board a comfortable private tourist vehicle with your group and an experienced professional driver. The route passes through a remarkable succession of Andean landscapes — high-altitude plains, mountain passes, traditional communities, and increasingly lush cloud forest as you descend toward the Urubamba River canyon. The drive from Cusco to Hidroeléctrica takes approximately 5 to 6 hours, offering a genuine immersion into the natural environments of the Cusco region that most train-based travelers never experience. On arrival at the Hidroeléctrica station, you enjoy a delicious included lunch at a local restaurant. After lunch, you set off on the enjoyable 11-kilometer flat hike from Hidroeléctrica to Aguas Calientes alongside the railway tracks — approximately 3 to 3.5 hours through spectacular jungle scenery, with the Urubamba River beside you and the towering cloud-forest walls of the canyon surrounding you. The trail is flat, well-defined, widely used, and perfectly safe. Please note this hiking section is not guided — comprehensive route information is provided before departure. On arrival in Aguas Calientes, you check into your hotel and relax before an included dinner at a local restaurant, followed by rest and preparation for the extraordinary morning ahead.

Distance: 11 km hike / ~3 to 3.5 hours (plus ~5–6 hours driving)Meals: Lunch at Hidroeléctrica & dinner in Aguas Calientes — both includedAccommodation: Hotel in Aguas Calientes with private bathroom (Night 1)Difficulty: Easy to moderate — long drive plus a flat jungle walk

DAY2

Machu Picchu guided tour & scenic train return to Cusco

Day 2 begins with an early breakfast at your hotel. To reach the main entrance of Machu Picchu you either walk up (begin around 4:30 AM — a 30-minute flat walk to the Puente Ruinas checkpoint, then about 1 hour climbing roughly 1,700 steps) or take the shuttle bus (about 30 minutes, from 5:30 AM, $12 USD one way, not included). Your professional bilingual guide waits at the main entrance gate at 6:00 AM. Once inside, you enjoy a comprehensive guided tour of the citadel — the history, architecture, cosmology, and sacred significance brought to life at every step — followed by free time to explore independently, photograph the classic viewpoints, or visit the Sun Gate (Inti Punku) or Inca Bridge, both free for all ticket holders. Optional climbs of Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain are available for those who booked them. Afterward, the bus takes you back to Aguas Calientes (30 minutes) for free time and lunch at your own expense before the train. You board the Expedition or Voyager return train from Aguas Calientes at approximately 2:30 or 2:55 PM for the stunning 1.5-hour journey through the Urubamba Canyon to Ollantaytambo — one of the most beautiful train rides in South America and the highlight that distinguishes this tour from the pure car option. At Ollantaytambo, your private driver is waiting with a name sign for the roughly 2-hour transfer to your hotel in Cusco, arriving at approximately 6:30 to 7:00 PM.

Distance: 11 km hike on Day 1 (plus optional walk up to the citadel)Meals: Breakfast at hotel included; lunch in Aguas Calientes at own expenseDifficulty: Moderate — guided citadel tour, then a scenic train and private transfer

What's included

What to bring

A suggested packing checklist for this trip.

Pricing

This tour operates as a group service — you join fellow travelers for a shared and sociable adventure at a balanced price point between the car and train options. Maximum group size: 16 travelers.

Optional add-ons

Good to know

• Student discount requirement. The student price is for travelers under 25 with an original university-issued PVC plastic card showing the university name, your full name, photo, and a valid expiration date through the year of your visit or the following year. ISIC cards are not accepted. Please email photos of both sides of your student ID at the time of booking.
• Deposit. A non-refundable deposit of $140 USD per person confirms your reservation and is used immediately to purchase your Machu Picchu entrance ticket and return train tickets, which cannot be refunded or modified once issued by the Government of Peru. Card payments carry a 2.9% processing fee online (3.9% at our office).
• Remaining balance. If you paid only the deposit, the balance is settled at least 24 hours before the tour starts — online, in cash at our Cusco office (USD or soles), or by card (3.9% fee).
• Cancellations & date changes. The $140 USD deposit is non-refundable, and your Machu Picchu and train tickets remain valid for the original date only. If you paid in full and cancel, the remaining balance is refunded minus the $140 deposit. Date changes are subject to availability and require new Machu Picchu and train tickets and a new $140 deposit.
• Passport validity. Ensure your passport is valid for at least 6 months beyond your planned entry date to Peru; if it expires sooner, renew it before traveling and update your details with our team.
• Contact. For any changes, cancellations, or questions, message us on WhatsApp at +51 932 411 206 or email info@machupicchuonline.com. Our team is available 7 days a week from 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM.