Ollantaytambo Station is where most Machu Picchu trains leave from. It’s a 90-minute drive from Cusco and sits in the Sacred Valley, at the end of the Inca-era town that’s still laid out on its original grid.
Trains from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes take 1h 30m, versus 3h 30m from the Cusco Poroy station — most travelers skip Poroy for this reason. The line follows the Urubamba river downstream through the lower Sacred Valley, past the start of the Inca Trail at Km 82, and into the cloud forest around Aguas Calientes.
Service tiers vary. PeruRail’s Expedition is the budget option; Vistadome adds panoramic windows and light meals; the Belmond Hiram Bingham is the luxury line (though it mostly departs from Poroy). Inca Rail runs The Voyager, 360°, and First Class.
Peruways sells all services and classes — compare them side by side on the booking page and pick the departure that fits your morning.
