Reaching Machu Picchu by rail remains the quieter option, and Peruways books all PeruRail services — Expedition, Vistadome and the Belmond Hiram Bingham — from Cusco (Poroy) and Ollantaytambo.
Vistadome is the sweet spot for most travellers: oversized side and roof windows for the Urubamba gorge section, a snack included, air-conditioned carriages. The Belmond Hiram Bingham adds a 1920s-style dining car, a four-course lunch and an open observation car; Expedition is the no-frills budget option.
A Peruways guide picks up at Aguas Calientes and walks the citadel with you — the Intihuatana, Temple of the Sun, Three Windows, agricultural sector — which turns the postcard back into a city.
Book your PeruRail train package through Peruways once your citadel entry date is locked.
