Tour To Machupicchu 2 Days by Train

Machu Picchu rewards an early start. This two-day trip gives you train travel from Ollantaytambo, one night in Aguas Calientes, and an organized visit to the citadel without making you arrange every ticket and transfer yourself. I especially like the included entrance arrangements and the chance to see Machu Picchu at sunrise, followed by a guided visit and free time to explore.

I also like the full transport plan from Cusco and back, plus dinner and breakfast in Aguas Calientes. The main caution is that the schedule is tight, the second day can last until 10 p.m., and the experience may not be as fully guided as the description suggests. Confirm your guide, entrance circuit, hotel, and train times before you pay.

Key Points to Know Before You Book

• The day begins at 4 a.m. You walk uphill for about 40 minutes to reach Machu Picchu, rather than taking the shuttle bus.
• The train starts in Ollantaytambo. Transport from Cusco to the train station and back is included, with Andean scenery and Inca sites along the route.
• The package includes one night in Aguas Calientes. Dinner and breakfast are provided, but the quality of the hostel can vary.
• The Machu Picchu visit includes a guide in the advertised plan. However, one booking experience reported having to handle ticket and entry questions alone, so confirm the arrangements.
• The return to Cusco is late. You may arrive near San Francisco Square between 9:30 and 10 p.m., depending on the train schedule.
• The price is $399 per person. That is fair for a coordinated package with transport, train tickets, lodging, meals, entrance, and a guide, but only if the promised inclusions are delivered clearly.

What the $399 Price Really Buys You

At $399 per person, this is not a bare-bones train ticket. The price covers pickup at your Cusco hotel, private transport to Ollantaytambo, round-trip tourist train service to Aguas Calientes, one night of lodging, dinner, breakfast, Machu Picchu admission, a professional guide, and return transport to Cusco.

That combination can save you a great deal of planning. Machu Picchu requires coordination between entrance times, train schedules, transport between Cusco and Ollantaytambo, lodging, and the return journey. A package removes much of that work.

The value depends heavily on execution. If your train, entry ticket, guide, hotel, and transfers all line up, the price is reasonable for a two-day trip. If you still need to find the entrance office, locate a dinner contact, or work out a station transfer on your own, the package feels less worthwhile.

You should also note that the tour requires Machu Picchu entrance booking about two months ahead for the stated option. If that timing is not possible, the provider says other options may be available, but you need to contact them directly. Do not assume your preferred entry route or time is guaranteed until it is confirmed.

The booking confirmation is promised within 48 hours, subject to availability. Since this experience is non-refundable and cannot be changed after booking, I would make sure every detail is settled before committing.

Day One: Cusco to Ollantaytambo and Aguas Calientes

Your day begins with a 9 a.m. pickup from your hotel in Cusco. That is a useful start time because you do not have to leave in the middle of the night, but the day still runs for about five hours before you reach Aguas Calientes.

The road leads toward Ollantaytambo, one of the Sacred Valley’s important Inca towns. From there, you board the tourist train for Aguas Calientes, the small town below Machu Picchu. The ride is one of the pleasant parts of the trip. You can watch snow-capped Andean peaks, river valleys, and ruins connected with the classic Inca Trail pass by outside the window.

The description does not specify the train company, carriage category, or exact departure time. Those details matter, especially if you care about panoramic windows or a particular departure. Ask for the train schedule before your trip rather than treating the timetable as a minor detail.

At Aguas Calientes station, someone is supposed to meet you and take you to the hotel. In a small town, this should be simple, but one experience reported that the station pickup did not happen. The town is generally compact, yet arriving with luggage and no clear contact can be stressful if you have never been there.

Your evening meal is scheduled for about 6 p.m. with the group. Dinner is included, but the arrangements may involve a partner restaurant rather than the main tour staff. One person had trouble identifying the dinner contact and found the communication unclear. I would ask in advance for the restaurant name, meeting point, and contact person.

After dinner, you have free time. You can walk around Aguas Calientes or visit the hot springs, though the entry cost for the springs is not listed as included. Keep your evening calm. The next morning begins at 4 a.m., and the climb to Machu Picchu is not the time to discover that you have stayed out too late.

The Aguas Calientes Overnight: Useful, but Basic

The overnight stay is listed as a hostel night with breakfast. This keeps the price down and places you in town before the Machu Picchu visit, but you should not expect a polished resort stay.

One particularly positive experience praised the staff for holding luggage and sending it onward to a hotel. That kind of help can make the trip much easier, especially if you are carrying bags for a longer Peru itinerary.

The main concern is noise. One person reported that the hostel walls were thin and that outside sounds made it hard to sleep. That matters here because your alarm may ring before dawn. If rest is important to you, ask for the exact property and request a quiet room, though the tour does not promise a specific room location.

Breakfast is included, but the first day’s breakfast and lunch are not. The final day’s lunch and dinner are also excluded. Plan for those meals and carry a little food for the early start, since the listed schedule leaves little room for a relaxed breakfast before the climb.

Day Two: The 40-Minute Walk to Machu Picchu

The second day starts around 4 a.m. You walk uphill from Aguas Calientes toward Machu Picchu, with the ascent taking about 40 minutes. The plan is to reach the entrance early enough to see the sunrise.

This is the tour’s most memorable feature, but also its biggest physical demand. You need to be comfortable walking uphill in darkness and managing a very early wake-up. The package does not include the shuttle bus up and down because everyone walks. That keeps the cost lower, but it is not ideal for anyone who finds steep walking difficult.

The guide is supposed to meet you at the entrance. The planned visit includes about two hours of guided touring, followed by free time inside the citadel. The overview also advertises a Sun Gate visit. Because the detailed schedule describes the 40-minute ascent from town but does not spell out the exact Sun Gate route, ask the provider to confirm whether your ticket and circuit include it.

That point is important. Machu Picchu entry rules are tied to specific circuits and time slots, so an advertised feature should be matched to your actual ticket. Confirm the entry time, circuit, Sun Gate access, and guide meeting point before the trip.

The guide can add real value here. Jorge received especially warm praise for his explanations and for helping with photographs. A good guide gives structure to the stone terraces, temples, walls, and viewpoints. Without one, you may still see an extraordinary place, but you will miss much of the meaning behind what you are looking at.

There is one inconsistency you should address before booking. The package includes a professional guide, but one experience described having no guide and needing to sort out tickets independently. That may have been an isolated coordination problem, but it is serious enough to verify in writing.

Free Time Inside the Citadel

After the guided portion, you can explore Machu Picchu on your own. This is a good balance. The first two hours give you an organized introduction, while the remaining time lets you stop for photographs, revisit a favorite viewpoint, or move at your own pace.

The itinerary says you can stay as long as you want, but your actual time will still depend on the entry circuit, site rules, and train departure. Do not assume that unlimited time means you can ignore the train schedule. Confirm when you must leave the citadel and how much time you have to return to Aguas Calientes.

You return to town on foot, collect your backpack, and take the train back toward Ollantaytambo. The package then provides bus transport to San Francisco Square in Cusco. Arrival is expected around 9:30 to 10 p.m., although the timing changes with train availability.

This makes the trip efficient, but not leisurely. You see Machu Picchu, return to Cusco, and avoid another night away from your base. The tradeoff is a long second day with little downtime.

Where the Tour Performs Best

The strongest part of this experience is its coordination. You receive hotel pickup, ground transport, train tickets, lodging, meals, admission, and a planned visit in one booking. If you want to see Machu Picchu but do not want to manage every moving part, that convenience has real value.

The train ride is another highlight. The route between Ollantaytambo and Aguas Calientes gives you a comfortable way to reach the site while enjoying mountain views and traces of Inca routes. It is far less demanding than a multi-day trek, yet it still gives you a sense of the terrain around Machu Picchu.

The staff can also be helpful when communication works well. Carlos and Nixon received strong praise for contacting people before the trip and assisting with additional plans. The service also offers ongoing message support, which can be reassuring when you are trying to find a station pickup or understand a last-minute change.

The small group size helps. The maximum is 15 people, so this should feel more manageable than a large coach tour. Still, the dinner is arranged for the group, and the guide experience may depend on how the local partners coordinate that day.

The Problems I Would Take Seriously

The first concern is ticket reliability. Machu Picchu admission is the heart of the trip, and one person had a booking canceled at the last minute because tickets could not be obtained. The same person had already arranged flights, trains, lodging, and other plans around the tour.

That is a major risk for a non-refundable purchase. You should ask for written confirmation that your Machu Picchu entrance has been secured, not simply that the tour is confirmed. The package specifically refers to booking two months ahead for the stated entrance option.

Communication is the second concern. One experience described contradictory information about a separate Sacred Valley tour, while another found the station and dinner arrangements confusing. These problems do not prove that every departure will be disorganized, but they show why you should save the provider’s phone number, request clear meeting instructions, and ask who will meet you at each point.

The third concern is the difference between a guided tour and a ticket package. The advertised plan includes a professional guide, yet the actual experience may vary. If guided interpretation is important to you, confirm the guide’s name, language, meeting point, and approximate tour length.

Who Should Book This Two-Day Trip?

I would recommend it most strongly to you if you have limited time in Cusco and want a practical Machu Picchu package without taking a long trek. It also suits people who like having transport and tickets organized, prefer a small group, and do not mind a basic overnight stay.

It is a good fit for reasonably active visitors who can walk uphill for about 40 minutes before sunrise and handle a long return day. The plan avoids the bus because everyone walks, so you should take that seriously.

I would be more cautious if you need a quiet hotel, flexible scheduling, guaranteed personal assistance, or a fully guided experience from Cusco to Machu Picchu. You may find that booking train tickets, admission, lodging, and a guide separately gives you more control, though it also puts the coordination work on you.

Should You Book Mega Expeditions?

This tour can be a very good value when the details are confirmed and the staff delivers the promised service. The best features are clear: a scenic train ride, one night in Aguas Calientes, early access to Machu Picchu, free time at the citadel, and a return to Cusco without arranging separate transport.

I would book it only after confirming the entrance ticket, Sun Gate access, train times, hostel name, station pickup, dinner meeting point, and guide arrangements. If those answers are clear, the $399 price is sensible for a tightly planned two-day visit.

If the answers remain vague, choose a more flexible arrangement. Machu Picchu is too important, and the cancellation terms are too strict, to leave the central details uncertain.

FAQ

How long does the tour last?

The tour lasts approximately two days. The second day is about 14 hours and may end in Cusco between 9:30 and 10 p.m.

What time is pickup in Cusco?

Pickup begins at 9 a.m. from your hotel in Cusco.

Is transport from Cusco to Ollantaytambo included?

Yes. Private transport from Cusco to Ollantaytambo and back is included.

Is the train included?

Yes. Round-trip tourist train service between Ollantaytambo and Aguas Calientes is included.

Is Machu Picchu admission included?

Yes, Machu Picchu entrance is included, with the stated booking option requiring reservations about two months ahead. Contact the provider about other options if you are booking later.

Is a guide included at Machu Picchu?

A professional guide and an approximately two-hour guided visit are included in the tour plan. Because one experience reported not having a guide, confirm the meeting arrangements before departure.

Do I have to take the bus to Machu Picchu?

No. The package does not include the bus up and down. The itinerary says everyone walks, with the uphill section taking about 40 minutes.

Are meals included?

Dinner on the first evening and breakfast at the Aguas Calientes lodging are included. Breakfast and lunch on the first day, plus lunch and dinner on the final day, are not included.

Can I cancel the tour for a refund?

No. The experience is non-refundable and cannot be changed for any reason after booking.