For hundreds of years, the ancient Inca citadel of Machu Picchu has captured the hearts and imaginations of thousands of avid adventurers. While many choose to tackle the scenic hiking circuits that lead to the age-old sanctuary, nothing compares to the luxury of a Machu Picchu train tour.
Climb aboard the epitome of vintage luxury rail travel, the Hiram Bingham, as you venture from Cusco, making your way to the historic site. Spread across two days, you’ll have ample chance to take in the magical town of Aguas Calientes, the gateway to Machu Picchu, before visiting the actual site.
With plenty to see and do, this charming village is the perfect spot to engage with locals, indulge in cultural activities, and marvel at much of the area’s natural beauty.
On the second day of your journey, after an early morning start, board your train and settle in as you are coached in style to one of the new seven world wonders. Upon reaching the citadel, your Machu Picchu tour starts, bursting with highlights, before you’re ferried back to Cusco.
Luxury? Check. Amazing sights? Check. Unforgettable experiences? Check. All that’s left to do is get on board.
Top Tip: If you’re after an excursion that offers more hiking and exploration, check out our 5-day luxury Inca Trail Trek to Machu Picchu.
2-Day Machu Picchu Train Tour Details
With excitement in the air, it’s almost time to set off on your 2-day trip to Macchu Picchu, but before setting out, here are some of the most essential need-to-knows about your tour.
Highlights of Your Machu Picchu Rail Tour
Type of Tour: Culture, History, Tour with Luxury Service by Train, Transportation by Train and Car, and Accommodation (3-star Hotel Stay).
Suitable For: Adventurers looking to experience the local culture of Aguas Calientes and travel in the lap of luxury aboard the Hiram Bingham to the legendary Machu Picchu Incan citadel.
Difficulty: This train tour features no difficulty rating and is accessible to all.
Consideration: Based on prior bookings, this tour is available year-round. Please note that train tickets for this tour sell out very quickly during the peak travel season, so booking ahead of time is strongly recommended.
Useful Information for Your 2-Day Trip to Machu Picchu
- Your safety for the duration of the tour is our number one priority.
- Each Sparrow Explorer vehicle adheres to the strictest of safety regulations, and our team members will carefully handle and transport your belongings to our various destinations.
- Immerse yourself in the ancient ruins of Machu Picchu and discover several other Peruvian treasures as you traverse through the Sacred Valley. This tour is designed for travelers who want to explore both sites without hiking.
- On the first day, you will be shuttled through the Sacred Valley, where you will enjoy numerous opportunities to take pictures and capture timeless snapshots on your way to Aguas Calientes.
- On day two, witness a captivating sunrise over Machu Picchu, framed by birds flying overhead. Then, make your way to the sacred city via a distinct shortcut that requires no hiking.
- Please come prepared for a lot of mosquitoes in the lost city of the Incas (Machu Picchu). We advise that you bring a sufficient supply of insect repellent.
- Enjoy an overnight accommodation stay at one of our carefully selected 3-star hotels in Aguas Calientes.
- We use only local staff and natural resources.
- We are a proud local company that practices sustainable responsibility.
- Before your trip, there will be a briefing with a Sparrow Explorer agent in our office or your hotel.
Top Tip: When you don’t have the advantage of having two days for your trip to Machu Picchu, book a one-day Inca Trail Trek to the iconic wonder.
2-Day Machu Picchu Train Tour Itinerary
Bags packed and ready to set off? Keep reading for a detailed breakdown of what to expect from your two-day trip to Machu Picchu.
Day 1: Cusco City – Poroy – Aguas Calientes
As the first day begins, we will pick you up at your hotel around 6:45 AM and drive you to Poroy Train Station (which is only 20 minutes away from Cusco) or possibly to Ollantaytambo, which is roughly 2 hours from Cusco (depending on weather conditions and availability).
One of our representatives from Sparrow Explorer will meet you just outside the train station. She (or he) will take you to your hotel and check you in.
Regardless of where the train departs, we will have comfortable seats on the train and enjoy hot or cold drinks that the train company will provide for free. During the trip, you will have the chance to see many glaciers and snow-capped peaks, lush, green valleys, and Incan farming terraces on both sites of the valley.
At the same time, some archaeological sites can be found on the way to Aguas Calientes. Little by little, you will enter subtropical areas with bromeliads and ferns growing, and then you can see birds and wildlife in Machu Picchu’s closest town (Aguas Calientes).
During your first day, you can organize some optional activities, such as a visit to the hot springs, botanical garden, butterflies museum, Mandor Gardens, waterfalls, or the small Machu Picchu museum.
Here, you can find amazing photos of Machu Picchu, first discovered by Hiram Bingham in 1911, as well as mummies, bracelets, stone working and metallurgy tools, weaving tools, and pottery found on site. Lunch and dinner will be in town at a local restaurant.
Day 2: Aguas Calientes — Machupicchu — Cusco City
On day two, your tour group will wake up very early to see the sunrise over Machu Picchu (if the weather allows). We’ll start with breakfast at the hotel and then head to the bus that will take us to the archaeological site.
After getting into Machu Picchu, you’ll head to an excellent spot to take amazing and unforgettable pictures for your Instagram. Afterward, your guide will explain details about the site during the 2-hour tour, and if you want to visit by yourself, the guides will also explain how to do so in the future.
Finally, your tour guide will provide you with your bus ticket back to Aguas Calientes, where you´ll meet with one of our staff to retrieve your return tickets. They will explain how to take the train to Cusco.
If you´d like to climb Huayna Picchu Mountain, it takes around 50 minutes to reach the summit. From here, you can see Machu Picchu, and you will feel as if you have never done this. But if you want to hike to this mountain, just let us know in advance (the cost is US$20 extra).
Included in Your 2-Day Train Tour to Machu Picchu
- Professional Tour Guides: Sparrow Explorer guides are trilingual — fluent in Spanish, English, and Quechua — and all are university graduates. As proud locals, they bring deep personal insight into the region, having grown up in and around the region. Passionate and knowledgeable, these professionals are eager to share their extensive understanding of the ancient site and cultural traditions.
- Permits: After we receive your deposit and personal information, our staff is in charge of getting your permits for the Inca Trail. These permits are for a specific date, and your name has to match your passport details.
- Briefing & Entrance Fees: One night before starting your Machu Picchu train tour, you’ll need to visit our office for the group briefing with one of our tour guides. During this briefing, details, including the entrance to Machu Picchu (included), will be shared.
- Transportation: Transportation for the entire tour is included, including cars and trains (we´ll pick you up from your hotel and take you back to your hotel ¨our service is door-to-door).
- Equipment: Sparrow Explorer has the best equipment for your journey, keeping you safe while you enjoy yourself.
- Food & Meals: Our chef prepares our healthy and organic menu. Please inform us of any allergies or nutritional needs. We use only the best healthy and organic ingredients. Vegetarian food options are available at no extra cost. During the tour, we provide lunch and dinner on day one, breakfast on day two, and one snack package.
- Water: We provide water (at no extra cost) from your first lunch to your last breakfast, and you can refill your plastic bottle or camelback. But where does this water come from? Well, it is taken from the natural springs along the way. It is filtered and then boiled to cool down before being given to you for a drink or to refill your bottles. Remember that it is really important to drink plenty of water when visiting high-altitude regions.
- First Aid Kit: Your safety is one of our first priorities. The first aid kit, kept by tour guides, is complete with basic necessities that might be needed for the tour, and an oxygen tank is also on hand.
- Extras: We consider these just a few final details for your trek, as we’ve already provided you with everything you need to know. You may just need to pick up a rain poncho, sunscreen, and a few other items that are easy to find locally.
Not included in Your 2-Day Train Ride to Machu Picchu
- Daypacks: You will need to bring your own daypack for the tour, although it doesn’t have to be very large. We suggest getting a small or medium daypack that has enough space for your water, sun cream, a sun hat, a few warm layers, a camera, a personal snack, and a few other things that you can consider important for your trek.
- Packing list: We suggest you bring warm layers for the nights, two T-shirts, and hiking pants. The jacket is basically the only thing that you´ll need, and if it is waterproof or rainwater resistant, it could be much better. Your rain poncho is going to be fine because it covers you until your knees. However, you can´t forget to bring hiking boots or trekking shoes and sandals or sneakers.
- Extra Snack: You can bring your own snacks or get here.
- Walking sticks (per pair): 10US$
- Huayna Picchu: This is the name of one mountain next to Machu Picchu, from where you can get a nice view of the archaeological site surrounded by the Urubamba River. You have the chance to hike to this mountain, but let us know when you want to book with us because the required permit is limited. However, if you don’t get this permit, don’t worry because you still have the chance to go to the Inca bridge and enjoy the ruins of Machu Picchu, as it is a really big site.
Insider’s Tip: There are dozens of amazing ways to explore beyond Machu Picchu. Check out our tailor-made tour options to get you started.
Helpful Information for Your 2-Day Machu Picchu Tour
Wrapping up everything you need to know about our amazing 2-day Machu Picchu train tour is a run-through of valuable additional information about your trip to Peru.
Altitude Sickness
It’s common to worry about altitude sickness when planning a trip to Peru, especially to Cusco. Fortunately, this issue is usually easy to manage. You just need to spend a few days in Cusco drinking plenty of water and coca tea.
If you are concerned about altitude sickness, there are several common symptoms to watch out for. They include:
- Headaches
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
- Nausea
- Tingling
- Loss of appetite
- Difficulty sleeping
- Vomiting
Should you experience any of these symptoms, don’t hesitate to contact our team or consult the nearest doctor. These symptoms are usually only temporary. However, in some cases, you might need medication. We recommend that you bring acetazolamide or dexamethasone and arrive in Cusco a few days ahead of time.
Weather
The weather in the Andes is unpredictable, which is why we suggest our customers be ready for a rainy or sunny day. However, waterproof clothes will definitely help.
First Aid Kit
All of our mountain guides have their first aid kits and a lot of training in first aid in the mountains. Every year, they receive classes from doctors who are familiar with the most frequent problems such as (diarrhea, cuts, headaches, scrapes, etc.) and at the same time, they have an oxygen tank as well. However, you are more than welcome to bring your own personal kit as well.
Travel Insurance
It is always a good idea to have travel insurance for your tour if you are thinking of traveling for a few weeks or more for one month. However, you definitely need to have it if you have any serious illness, just in case something happens. However, you can still book this tour if you do not have travel insurance.
Environmental Impact
Sparrow Explorer is dedicated to protecting our environment. With the ever-growing impact of global warming, it is our duty to do what we can to remedy the problem. We are a sustainable company that uses biodegradable packaging for meals.
Community
The most important for us is our workers, and of course, it means their families and the communities that everybody feels so proud of. Because they still have our culture, and thanks to all of those things, it is possible to gain more knowledge about our ancestors’ traditions, behaviors, customs, etc.
However, our job is to help all of them with books, computers, and buildings, and, most importantly, to teach everybody how important our culture is and to protect everything left by our ancestors.
We think that “Love just the things that you know,” and that’s why we have to help all of them. However, we have to keep teaching them not to lose their behaviors or customs in order to preserve and conserve this amazing Incan culture.
