Peruways’ train service to Machu Picchu runs from either Poroy, 20 minutes outside Cusco, or from Ollantaytambo deeper in the Sacred Valley. The ride is 3h20 from Poroy, 1h40 from Ollantaytambo.
The three service tiers — Expedition, Vistadome and the Belmond Hiram Bingham — vary in menu, windows and whether there’s an open observation car. Vistadome’s panoramic windows are the mid-tier upgrade most travellers end up on; the Hiram Bingham adds a 1920s-style dining car and four-course lunch.
At Aguas Calientes, the Consettur bus climbs the switchbacks to the citadel gate in 25 minutes. A Peruways guide meets you there and walks the circuit — Temple of the Sun, Intihuatana, Three Windows, agricultural terraces.
Visit Peruways to book the train once your citadel entry hour is set. The train and the entry slot have to line up, and the booking chain works best as one job rather than four.
