Ollantaytambo Train Station (6:40am) Upon arrival at the Ollantaytambo train station, you’ll catch the 6:40am train, which will take you to Aguas Calientes. The journey will take about 1.5 hours, and you'll arrive in Aguas Calientes around 8:00am.

Aguas Calientes (8:00am) Once you arrive at the train station in Aguas Calientes, your guide will meet you and take you to the bus for the ride to Machu Picchu. The bus ride is about 30 minutes, and you should arrive at the entrance to Machu Picchu around 8:45am.

Machu Picchu Arrival (Around 8:45 AM) You’ll arrive at Machu Picchu around 8:45 AM. After entering, your bilingual guide will take you on a tour of the ancient city, covering all major areas, lasting about 2.5 to 3 hours. Free Time at Machu Picchu After the tour, you’ll have free time to explore on your own. Wander and enjoy the views. If you wish, exit for a snack at the café and re-enter. Your ticket is valid all day, so explore at your leisure. Optional Huayna Picchu Hike If you'd like extra adventure, hike the Huayna Picchu mountain (tickets must be booked when purchasing Machu Picchu entry). The hike takes 1.5 to 2 hours round trip and is unguided. The entrance window for Huayna Picchu is from 10:00 to 11:00 AM, so if you choose it, your guided tour will be quicker to finish in time.

Return to Aguas Calientes Once you’ve finished exploring Machu Picchu, you'll descend back to Aguas Calientes, the town named for its hot springs.

Return Train to Cusco or Ollantaytambo After your time in Aguas Calientes, you have two options for returning: You can take the 4:12 PM train directly to Cusco.

Alternatively, you can take the 7:00 PM train to Ollantaytambo (the journey is approximately 1 hour and 40 minutes). If you take the 7:00 PM train to Ollantaytambo, a mini-bus will be waiting to take you to Cusco. The drive takes about 90 minutes.