Tour To Machupicchu 2 Days by Train

The best part of this two-day Machu Picchu trip is how much of the planning is handled for you. A van collects you in Cusco, a train carries you from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes, and a guide meets you at the citadel the next morning. You get the classic Andean rail journey without having to assemble every ticket yourself.

I like the small group size, capped at 15, and the fact that dinner, breakfast, one night in Aguas Calientes, transport, entrance, and the guide are bundled together. I also like the free time after the guided visit, since you can see the ruins at your own pace rather than being hurried from one viewpoint to the next.

The main catch is the tight schedule and uncertain ticket situation. You leave Cusco at 9:00 a.m., rise at 4:00 a.m., walk uphill to Machu Picchu, and may not reach Cusco until 9:30 or 10:00 p.m. The operator also says entrance reservations should be made two months ahead, so do not assume your place is secure until you receive confirmation.

Key points to know before booking

• The 4:00 a.m. start means you walk up to Machu Picchu, rather than taking the paid shuttle bus.
• Your train runs from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes, with return rail travel the next day and road transport back to Cusco.
• One night, dinner, and breakfast are included, but the first day’s breakfast and lunch, plus the last day’s lunch and dinner, are not.
• The guided visit lasts about two hours, followed by time to explore the citadel independently.
• Carlos and Nixon handle trip coordination, while Jorge has been praised for his work inside Machu Picchu.
• The price is $399 per person, a fair convenience price if your entrance and train tickets are firmly confirmed.

What this $399 Machu Picchu package really buys you

At $399 per person, this is not the cheapest way to visit Machu Picchu. You can sometimes save money by arranging the train, hotel, entrance, and transport yourself. But that comparison misses the main point: this package is selling coordination.

You get pickup from your Cusco hotel, private road transport to Ollantaytambo, a round-trip tourist train, a hotel or hostel night in Aguas Calientes, dinner, breakfast, entrance to Machu Picchu, a professional guide, and the return transfer to Cusco. For a first visit, that can remove a lot of guesswork.

The value depends heavily on two things: confirmed entry and clear communication. Mega Expeditions says Machu Picchu entry must be booked two months in advance, and availability can affect the arrangement. Ask for written confirmation of your entrance date, train times, hotel, meeting points, and guide before you build flights or other tours around this trip.

The headline rating is strong, at 4.9 from 64 reviews, with 95 percent recommending the experience. Still, the lower ratings point to a real issue: the package can be excellent when the arrangements are in place, but frustrating when pickup, dinner, or entry details are unclear. That makes confirmation more than a formality.

Day one: Cusco to Ollantaytambo by road

Your day begins with a 9:00 a.m. pickup at your Cusco hotel. From there, the tour drives toward Ollantaytambo, the rail departure point for the journey to Aguas Calientes.

The road trip is part of the experience. You will see Andean scenery, snow-capped peaks, and Inca ruins connected with the classic Inca Trail. The route gives you a sense of how the highlands change as you move toward Machu Picchu, though the supplied schedule does not give a precise driving time or a list of sightseeing stops.

Do not treat the first day as a relaxed sightseeing day. You have a train to catch, and the main purpose of the road transfer is to get you to Ollantaytambo on time. Eat breakfast before pickup, since the first day’s breakfast is not included. Lunch is also your responsibility.

The tour provides private transportation from Cusco to Ollantaytambo and back. That is useful if you do not want to find a taxi or public bus with luggage, particularly after an international arrival or a few days in Cusco.

The Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes train

The tourist train is one of the most enjoyable parts of the trip. From Ollantaytambo, you travel by rail to Aguas Calientes, the town below Machu Picchu. The route follows the river and passes through dramatic Andean scenery, with mountain peaks and reminders of the old Inca Trail along the way.

Your round-trip train from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes is included. Train times can vary, and the return to Cusco depends on train availability. That is why the advertised arrival time in Cusco is a range, roughly 9:30 to 10:00 p.m., rather than a fixed time.

You should keep your important items with you during the transfer and know where your daypack is at every stage. The operator says someone will meet you at Aguas Calientes station and take you to the hotel. One booking experience, however, involved a missed station pickup, leaving the visitor to find the correct office alone. Save the emergency contact number and ask for exact station instructions before you leave Cusco.

An evening in Aguas Calientes

After arrival, the local representative is supposed to take you to your hotel. The lodging is described as a hostel or hotel, with one night included. It is basic rather than a reason to choose the tour by itself.

Dinner is planned for around 6:00 p.m. with the group. Afterward, you have free time to walk around Aguas Calientes or use the town’s hot springs. This is a welcome pause before the early morning at Machu Picchu, though you will want to keep the evening short.

The accommodation is the weakest part for some visitors. One guest reported thin walls and enough noise to make sleep difficult. That matters here because your alarm is set for 4:00 a.m. Ask in advance for the lodging name and room details if quiet sleep is important to you.

Dinner arrangements also deserve a clear explanation. A local partner may handle the meal, and one experience involved a late arrival and confusing instructions about what could be ordered. Before leaving the restaurant, make sure you know where and when breakfast will be served, and confirm how you will meet the group in the morning.

The 4:00 a.m. walk to Machu Picchu

Day two begins very early. The group gets up at about 4:00 a.m. and starts the walk from Aguas Calientes toward Machu Picchu. The uphill section takes approximately 40 minutes.

This approach is included in the tour, while the shuttle bus from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu is not. Everyone walks according to the supplied information, so you should be comfortable with an early uphill climb. You will need sturdy shoes, water, a small pack, and a light layer for the morning.

The plan is to reach the entrance early enough for a sunrise visit. Sunrise conditions can change with clouds and weather, so consider the early start a chance for a quieter morning and soft light, not a guaranteed clear sunrise.

The timetable is demanding. You have already spent a full day traveling from Cusco, slept for only a few hours, and now face an uphill walk. If you need a slower pace, ask the operator before booking about the exact entry time and possible transport options. The included plan does not cover the bus.

Inside Machu Picchu with a guide

Your guide meets you at the entrance to Machu Picchu. The guided portion lasts about two hours and explains the main ruins, their layout, and the role of the citadel in the Inca world.

The experience is stronger with a good guide because the stonework alone does not explain how the site functioned. A guide can help you understand what you are looking at, keep the visit organized, and point out places that are easy to miss when you are trying to manage tickets and directions at the same time.

Jorge has received especially warm praise for his guiding and for helping with photographs. Carlos and Nixon are the main trip coordinators who have been praised for contacting guests early, explaining the plan, and answering questions. If you want one of these people specifically, ask before booking. The information does not promise a particular guide for every departure.

There is an important difference between having a guide for the citadel and having a guide for the entire journey. The organized commentary is centered on Machu Picchu itself. A lower-rated experience described the service as ticket coordination without a guide present for the full trip. Clarify exactly where your guide meets you and how to identify that person at the entrance.

Free time, return train, and late arrival in Cusco

After the two-hour guided visit, you have time to explore Machu Picchu on your own. The schedule says you can stay as long as you want within the limits of your entrance and train departure, then walk back to Aguas Calientes to collect your backpack.

That free time is a real benefit. You can pause at viewpoints, take photographs, and revisit parts of the site that caught your attention during the guided portion. Do not read as long as you want as an unlimited pass. Your return train sets the practical deadline, and the operator will have assigned rail arrangements.

From Aguas Calientes, you take the train back to Ollantaytambo. A bus then returns you to Cusco, with drop-off at San Francisco Square. The full second day lasts about 14 hours, and arrival in Cusco is expected around 9:30 to 10:00 p.m.

That late finish affects your next morning. I would not pair this tour with an early flight or an important appointment the following day. It works better near the middle or end of a Cusco stay, when you have room for a long return night.

Meals, luggage, and what you must pay for

Included meals are dinner on the first evening and breakfast at the Aguas Calientes lodging. The first day’s breakfast and lunch are not included. The last day’s lunch and dinner are also not included.

Plan for the gaps. Have breakfast before your 9:00 a.m. pickup, carry food or money for lunch during the first road and train day, and budget for lunch in Aguas Calientes or near the Machu Picchu visit. You will also need to cover the return evening meal after the long journey back.

The tour includes a hostel night and says the company can help with bags. One particularly positive experience involved the staff holding luggage during the Machu Picchu visit and sending it to the guest’s next hotel. This is useful, but ask where your larger bag will be stored and what you should carry to Aguas Calientes.

The bus between Aguas Calientes and Machu Picchu is not included. The listed plan has you walk both ways. This keeps the price lower, but it also makes the second day more physical.

Communication and group size

The maximum group size is 15 people. That is small enough for a guide to keep the group together without the feel of a large coach tour. It also means the pace may be set by the group, especially on the 4:00 a.m. walk and during the return to the station.

A helpful feature is direct contact with the coordinator. One strong part of the service is a video call arranged soon after booking to explain the trip, and 24-hour messaging is available for questions. Carlos and Nixon have been praised for being thoughtful and helpful before and during the visit.

Communication has not always been consistent. A booking can be marked canceled or changed without clear explanation, according to one difficult experience, while the local provider still considered the trip active. This is why you should save every confirmation and ask the operator to verify the tour shortly before departure.

Confirmation is normally sent within 48 hours, subject to availability. Since the experience is non-refundable and cannot be changed after booking, check your dates carefully before paying. Do not book it as a flexible placeholder.

Who should book this tour

I would choose this package if you want a simple train-based visit from Cusco and prefer a local company to coordinate the moving parts. It suits you if you value hotel pickup, included entry arrangements, a guide at Machu Picchu, and a small group more than the absolute lowest price.

It also suits first-time visitors who do not want to work out the Cusco to Ollantaytambo transfer, train schedule, Aguas Calientes lodging, and return bus on their own. The two-day format lets you see Machu Picchu without committing to a multi-day trek.

I would be cautious if you need quiet accommodation, dislike early starts, or want a relaxed return from the citadel. The 4:00 a.m. wake-up, 40-minute uphill walk, 14-hour second day, and late Cusco arrival are not minor details.

I would also avoid booking until your entrance and train details are confirmed in writing. The package can be very convenient, but convenience only has value when the core tickets are secure.

Should you book the Mega Expeditions trip?

Book it if the operator confirms your Machu Picchu entry, train times, hotel, station pickup, guide meeting point, and return transport. At $399, the package offers solid value for a tightly organized two-day trip, especially if you would otherwise spend time arranging each piece yourself.

Skip it if you want flexibility, a guaranteed quiet room, or a cancellation-friendly booking. For an independent planner, buying the train and entrance directly may cost less, but you will take on the work and the risk of coordinating every transfer.

My practical verdict: this is a promising, well-priced convenience package with excellent reported coordination from Carlos and Nixon and a strong guide experience when Jorge leads the visit. Treat the booking as final, confirm the details early, and prepare for a very long second day.

FAQ

How long does the tour last?

The experience lasts approximately two days. The second day is about 14 hours, with arrival back in Cusco expected around 9:30 to 10:00 p.m., depending on train availability.

What time does the tour start?

Pickup from your hotel in Cusco begins at 9:00 a.m. on the first day. On the second day, you get up at about 4:00 a.m. to walk to Machu Picchu.

Is transportation from Cusco included?

Yes. Pickup from your Cusco hotel, private transportation between Cusco and Ollantaytambo, the train between Ollantaytambo and Aguas Calientes, and the return transportation are included.

Is the train included?

Yes. A round-trip tourist train between Ollantaytambo and Aguas Calientes is included. The return arrival time in Cusco depends on train availability.

Is a hotel included in Aguas Calientes?

Yes. One hostel or hotel night in Aguas Calientes is included. The accommodation is described as part of the tour package.

Which meals are included?

Dinner on the first day and breakfast at the Aguas Calientes accommodation are included. Breakfast and lunch on the first day, plus lunch and dinner on the last day, are not included.

Is the bus from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu included?

No. The bus up and down is not included. The planned route has you walk between Aguas Calientes and Machu Picchu.

How large is the group?

The group can have a maximum of 15 people.

Can I cancel or change the booking?

No. The experience is non-refundable and cannot be changed for any reason. Confirmation is sent within 48 hours, subject to availability, and Machu Picchu entry should be arranged about two months ahead.