Cuzco & the Sacred Valley - Peru - page 490

aca. Estación Poroy , east of town, serves Ollantaytambo and Machu Picchu. The two
stations are unconnected, so it's impossible to travel directly from Puno to Machu Picchu.
(Downtown Estación San Pedro is used only for local trains, which foreigners cannot
board.)
You can take a taxi to Poroy (S30) or the station in Ollantaytambo (S80) from Cuzco.
Return trips are slightly more expensive.
You can buy tickets at Huanchac station, and there are ATMs in the station, but the easi-
est way is directly through the train companies.
To Ollantaytambo and Machu Picchu
The only way to reach Aguas Calientes (and access Machu Picchu) is via train. It takes
about three hours. Three companies currently offer the service, the latter two only from
Ollantaytambo:
Peru Rail Offline map Google map ( www.perurail.com ; ticket office: Portal de Panes 214,
Plaza de Armas; 8am-10pm) Formerly the only service to Aguas Calientes, with mul-
tiple departures daily from Estación Poroy, 20 minutes outside of Cuzco. There are three
levels of service: Expedition (from US$144 roundtrip), Vistadome (from US$160
roundtrip) and the luxurious Hiriam Bingham (from US$700 roundtrip). The Hiram Bing-
ham includes brunch, afternoon tea, entrance to Machu Picchu and a guided tour. It runs
daily except Sunday.
Inca Rail Offline map Google map ( 23-3030; www.incarail.com ; Cuzco ticket office:
Portal de Panes 105, Plaza de Armas) New company with three departures daily from Ol-
lantaytambo and four levels of service (roundtrip US$82-180). Children get a significant
discount. An environmentally sustainable practice business.
Machu Picchu Train ( 22-1199; www.machupicchutrain.com ; Cuzco ticket office: Av
El Sol 576; 7am-5pm Mon-Fri, 7am-12pm Sat) New service of panoramic-view trains,
traveling only from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes (roundtrip adult/child from
US$100/70) three times daily in high season. Breakfast or snacks may be served.
Fares may vary according to departure hours: more desirable times are usually more ex-
pensive. It is common for trains to sell out, especially at peak hours, so buy your ticket as
far ahead of time as possible.
The quickest 'cheaper' way to get from Cuzco to Aguas Calientes is to take a combi to
Ollantaytambo and catch the train from there.
To Puno