The train is the only practical way into Machu Picchu, and the ride through the Urubamba gorge is a sight in itself. Peruways handles tickets across both operators so you do not have to juggle Inca Rail and PeruRail websites.
Trains leave from Cusco (Poroy or Wanchaq, depending on the season), Urubamba and Ollantaytambo, and most travellers board at Ollantaytambo to skip the slow stretch through the switchbacks.
Service classes range from the panoramic-windowed Vistadome and 360 to the all-in Hiram Bingham with lounge car, five-course lunch and live Andean music. The budget Expedition and Voyager cars cover the same route for less.
Either way, the three-and-a-half-hour run drops you at Aguas Calientes, where a 25-minute bus (or 90-minute walk) takes you up to the citadel gate.
