Taking the train from Ollantaytambo rather than Poroy near Cusco cuts about ninety minutes off the Machu Picchu run and skips the slower switchbacks over Chinchero. For most visitors, that makes Cusco–Ollantaytambo by road, then train from there, the standard route.
Peruways runs the Cusco–Ollantaytambo shuttle for US $12 one way. The onward train to Machu Picchu Pueblo (Aguas Calientes) runs on PeruRail and Inca Rail; one-way fares range from about US $60 for Expedition up to US $150+ for Vistadome, First Class and the Hiram Bingham. Book both legs early.
The shuttles leave Cusco every 30 minutes from a central departure point, with hotel pickup available. Journey time is about one hour and 45 minutes over the pass at Chinchero, with the Sacred Valley unfolding on the descent toward Ollantaytambo. Our drivers are experienced on the route, and the minivans and shared cars are sized for the narrow valley roads.
The shuttle drops you at the Ollantaytambo train station, which sits a five-minute walk from the Plaza de Armas and the fortress ruins above the town. Peruways arranges the connection so the shuttle lines up with your train.
Book your Cusco–Ollantaytambo transport and train with Peruways — tickets are online only, and the round-trip option keeps the return window flexible.
