Ollantaytambo is the main launch point for Machu Picchu trains. The station sits at the north end of the Sacred Valley, about an hour and a half by road from Cusco, and handles the bulk of PeruRail and Inca Rail departures to Aguas Calientes.
Most travelers reach Ollantaytambo by shuttle from Cusco, which cuts the rail time in half compared to boarding at Poroy. Trains out of Ollantaytambo run through the Urubamba gorge — a 90-minute ride that threads between near-vertical rock walls with the river running fast below.
Ollantaytambo itself is worth more than a station stop. The town is one of the last continuously inhabited Inca settlements, with the original street grid still in use. The ruins above town — the ceremonial center where Manco Inca held off the Spanish in 1537 — are a short, steep climb and one of the Sacred Valley’s best sites, often skipped by travelers who go straight to the train.
Train tickets through Peruways cover both operators and both departure stations, so you can match your departure to how much time you want in town beforehand.
Build at least a few hours into Ollantaytambo on the way out. Between the ruins, the colonial-era streets, and the Saturday market, it’s a Sacred Valley stop that holds up on its own — not just a train station.
