The day before your tour, your guide will visit your accommodation in Cusco for a short briefing and provide you with your train and Machu Picchu entrance tickets (if this option was selected, otherwise Machu Picchu tickets will not be included in the tour). On the tour day, you’ll be picked up around 4:00 AM in a comfortable minibus and driven to Ollantaytambo train station. There, you’ll board the 6:10 AM tourist train to Aguas Calientes—also known as Machu Picchu Town. The train ride takes about 1.5 hours and offers breathtaking views of snow-capped peaks, the Vilcanota River, and the lush landscapes of the high jungle.

Once in Aguas Calientes, you’ll take the bus up to Machu Picchu at the scheduled time based on your entrance ticket. There, a professional guide will lead you on a two-hour tour, sharing the history and hidden stories of this iconic site. After the tour, you’ll take the bus back down to Aguas Calientes, where you’ll have free time to enjoy lunch on your own at one of the many local restaurants.

After lunch, you’ll board the train back to Ollantaytambo. Upon arrival at the Ollantaytambo station, a minibus will be waiting to take you back to your accommodation in Cusco. You’ll arrive in the city between 8:30 PM and 10:00 PM, depending on your train schedule.