Peru
Trains in Peru: tickets, passes and routes
No — Peru has no national rail network, so the train is not a general way to get around. Trains are for one job: Ollantaytambo or Poroy to Aguas Calientes for Machu Picchu, about 1.5–2 h, US$60–150 each way. Book 4–8 weeks ahead for peak dates; skip a rail pass and fly or bus the long legs.
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- Plan calculated
- Worked out by Voykit from its own data (times, distances, budgets). A calculation, not a measurement.
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GuidePeru
Key facts
- Is there a national rail network?
- No. Passenger trains serve the Sacred Valley–Machu Picchu corridor and a few tourist routes only
- Main train use
- Ollantaytambo or Poroy to Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu)
- Journey time
- About 1.5–2 h Ollantaytambo – Aguas Calientes
- Fare
- US$60–150 each way; luxury trains far more (2026 estimate)
- Operators
- PeruRail and Inca Rail on the Machu Picchu line
- Rail pass
- No national pass worth buying; operators sell point-to-point tickets
- Book aheadcheck
- 4–8 weeks for May–September and holidays; earlier for luxury cabins
- Rainy season risk
- Landslides can suspend the line, roughly December–March
- Long legs
- Fly Lima–Cusco (about 1 h 20 min) or take a top-tier bus
Details
Peru's railways were built to move ore and people between the coast, the Andes and the Amazon, and most of that network no longer carries passengers. What remains for travellers is a short list: the Sacred Valley line into Aguas Calientes, the gateway to Machu Picchu; the high-altitude route between Cusco and Puno on Lake Titicaca; and a handful of tourist and heritage services elsewhere. If your plan is Lima to Cusco to Arequipa to Puno, the train is not the tool. Flights and long-distance buses are.
The Machu Picchu line is the one train almost every visitor takes. Two operators, PeruRail and Inca Rail, run from Ollantaytambo (about 1.5–2 h) and from Poroy, outside Cusco (longer, roughly 3–4 h — check). Ollantaytambo is the practical boarding point: it is closer to the site, cheaper, and easier to reach from the Sacred Valley by colectivo or taxi. Fares run about US$60–150 each way depending on class and time, with luxury services far above that. Book with your Machu Picchu entry slot in mind, because the site runs on timed tickets and you cannot re-enter.
The Cusco–Puno service is the second real train. It runs on selected days rather than daily, takes most of a day, and is priced as a sightseeing experience rather than transport — often several hundred US dollars. A bus covers the same ground in about 7 h for a fraction of the cost, so take the train only if the day on board is the point. Other lines, such as heritage services near Lima or Arequipa, come and go; confirm locally before building a plan around them.
There is no national rail pass. Each operator sells its own point-to-point tickets, and the two Machu Picchu companies do not share inventory or honour each other's fares. What looks like a pass is usually a bundled tourist package — train plus bus plus entry — sold by agencies. Those can save queueing, but compare the total against buying direct, and check what happens if the line is suspended.
Book early. For May to September, and around Peruvian holidays, the popular morning departures sell out weeks ahead; 4–8 weeks is a safe window, and longer for luxury cabins or fixed dates. In the rainy season, roughly December to March, landslides and track work can suspend the line with little notice. Operators usually bus passengers around the closure, but the trip takes longer — build a buffer day before any international flight.
| Route | Time | Cost (2026 estimate) | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ollantaytambo – Aguas Calientes | About 1.5–2 h | US$60–150 each way | The standard way to Machu Picchu; book with your entry slot |
| Poroy (Cusco) – Aguas Calientes | About 3–4 h — check | Higher than from Ollantaytambo | Only if you want to board near Cusco |
| Cusco – Puno | Most of a day, selected days | Several hundred US$ — check | Sightseeing, not transport; the bus is far cheaper |
| Lima – Huancayo | Full day, seasonal — check | Check with the operator | A scenic oddity; confirm it is running |
| Lima – Cusco, Arequipa, Iquitos | No train | — | Fly or take a long-distance bus |
Fares and schedules change; treat all figures as 2026 estimates and confirm with the operator.
Tips
Board at Ollantaytambo if you can. It is closer to Machu Picchu, the ride is shorter, and Sacred Valley colectivos and taxis reach it cheaply. Staying a night in Ollantaytambo or Pisac also helps you acclimatise before Cusco's altitude.
Buy direct from the operator's own site when possible, and pay in the currency shown. Agency markups on the same seat are common. Print or download your ticket and carry the passport you booked with — names are checked at boarding.
Pack light. Cabin luggage limits are enforced on the Machu Picchu trains, and large bags are awkward on colectivos and shuttle buses. Leave the big pack in Cusco.
Have a plan B for the rainy season. If the line closes, operators typically move passengers by road; keep a spare day before your flight home and check the operator's service notices the day before travel.
Do not buy a rail pass for Peru. Put the money into a better bus class or an extra night in the Sacred Valley instead.
- Board at Ollantaytambo, not Poroy, unless you have a reason
- Book 4–8 weeks ahead for May–September
- Carry the passport you booked with
- Keep one buffer day before an international flight in rainy season
- Skip rail passes; buy point-to-point
FAQ
Questions people ask
Is the train a good way to get around Peru?
No, not generally. Peru has no national passenger network, so trains are for the Sacred Valley–Machu Picchu corridor and a few tourist routes. For Lima to Cusco, Arequipa, Puno or Iquitos, fly or take a top-tier long-distance bus.
Do I need a rail pass for Peru?
No. There is no national rail pass. PeruRail and Inca Rail sell separate point-to-point tickets and do not share inventory. Agency bundles that look like passes are tourist packages — compare the total against buying direct.
How far in advance should I book trains in Peru?
Book 4–8 weeks ahead for May to September and Peruvian holidays, when morning departures sell out. Allow longer for luxury cabins or fixed dates. In the rainy season, roughly December to March, landslides can suspend the line, so keep a buffer day.
Deep dive
Every source; changeable facts are marked check
Sources
- officialPeruRail
- officialInca Rail
- officialPROMPERÚ – official tourism board
- secondaryWikivoyage – Peru