If you want a journey full of adventure and lots of history, Cusco is the best choice to learn more about its natural landscapes. You will not only appreciate a world wonder like Machu Picchu, but you will also discover more about the Sacred Valley of the Incas, a place with green mountains, particularly relevant for the Inca Empire because of its fertile lands.

Located in the region of Urubamba, the Sacred Valley was a source of food for the Incas because of its incredible ecological floors at different altitudes. Its main crops were white corn, potatoes, coca, fruit, and vegetables, which continue being grown to date. Presently, lucuma, avocado, peach, and the best Peruvian grains of corn are added to the vast list of crops.

Rural or Experiential Tourism in the Sacred Valley
Visitors will not only be mere spectators of the wonderful natural landscape which will fill their lungs with the purest air; but they will also have the opportunity to engage in experiential travel, which consists of staying in the house of locals and learn through them more about their customs, culture and traditions such as plowing the fields, participate in rituals of payment to the Earth (Pachamama, Mother Earth), baking bread, sowing, among other activities.

There are three communities for experiential travel: Pumahuanca, where the traveler will be guided by locals and learn how to perform certain farming techniques; Salineras de Maras, where the tourist will engage in the salt extraction process in any of the 3,000 salt wells thereat, and Yucay, a place where the tourist can practice ecotourism and mountain biking

What to do in the Sacred Valley of the Incas
The Sacred Valley is a territory that extended across the River Vilcanota-Urubamba that links the towns of Pisac and Ollantaytambo. In this place, the traveler will have fun doing extreme sports surrounded by magnificent landscape. Mountain cycling, paragliding, trekking and rafting are some of the activities that any adrenaline lover will experience in heights.

Here is a list of places that you must visit:

Pisac
It was the biggest fortress of the Inca civilization. Pisac, a remarkable and charming town located at the bottom of Intihuanata Hill, at 2 972 m.a.s.l., owns the best terraces system developed by the Incas.

This town is famous for the mass celebrated every Sunday, the “Catu” (a local fair in which people exchange agricultural products, in some kind of barter), the craft market and the imposing Pisac Archeological Complex, known for its amazing buildings considered as Inca architectural jewels.

Calca
This little town has beautiful Andean scenery ornamented by two snowy peaks, Pitusira and Sahuasiray. You can also enjoy the relaxing Machacancha (medicinal hot spring) and Minasmoqo, (cold sparkling mineral spring). The Huachuy Inca Archeological Complex is also nearby.

Urubamba
Its fertile agricultural land makes it one of the most important cities in the Valley. This land was highly valued by the Incas because of its excellent quality crops. Urubamba, also known as Perla del Vilcanota (Pearl of Vilcanota), means “Pampa to one-day journey of the trail” and it’s an important place for extreme sports such as paragliding, canopy, canoeing, balloon flights, etc.

Ollantaytambo
The origin of Ollantaytambo is based on the play of The Legend of Ollantay, a commoner who was deeply in love with the Princess Cusi Coyllor, daughter of the Inca Emperor Pachacutec, who didn’t approve such relation. The Inca decided to punish her daughter, sending her to the house of the Virgins. For that reason, Ollantay decided to rise up against Pachacutec in gory battles; upon winning them, the Inca decided to forgive the commoner’s life.

Ollantaytambo fortress, located in the same town, was erected during the Tahuantinsuyo era and has outstanding buildings such as Templo del Sol (Temple of the Sun) and its monoliths, such as Mañaracay, Incahuatana and Baños de la Princesa (Bath of the Princess).

Enjoy a wonderful journey through these beautiful landscapes! Depart from the heart of the Sacred Valley towards the Inca Citadel Machu Picchu aboard our PeruRail Vistadome panoramic train.

The History of Intipunku
The inhabitants of the Andes have always been avid stargazers, interacting with the stars and investigating everything the cosmos has to offer. Their knowledge and beliefs were entirely based on these observations. Starting in Incan times there was an increasing need for multifunctional constructions such as terrace systems for farming, temples, observatories, storage facilities, places of worship, watchtowers, etc.

The Intipunku, located in Ollantaytambo, played the important role of a control gate and at the same time an astronomical observatory. Its position was ideal, since it was perfectly aligned with the constellation of the Pleiades (the Qollqa, as the Incas called it) and the snow-capped mountain of Verónica (Huacayhuilque or Waqaywillki). It was closely associated with the winter solstice and the Andean New Year.

Just as Andean inhabitants stored their most precious food in special storage facilities, they believed that all things which endured beyond earthly life should be immortalised and preserved. Intipunku was the interdimensional spiritual bridge that acted as the portal between the world of the living and the afterlife.

How to get to each of the two Intipunku? Here we detail the route of each of them: in Ollantaytambo and in Machu Picchu.

How to Reach Intipunku in Ollantaytambo?
This Sun Gate is located 9 km away from the Ollantaytambo district, in the Kachi Qhata (Salt Slope) sector in the upper part of the archaeological site, on the banks of the Vilcanota River and 3,900 meters above sea level.

There are two ways to reach this Intipunku:

Route Cusco – Ollantaytambo – Intipunku
We head towards Pavitos street, in the same city of Cusco, to board a minivan that will take us to Ollantaytambo. It is recommended to go very early, as it is a trip of at least 2 hours.

Then, we have a stretch of 9 km to go until we reach the Sun Gate. We dare to say that it is one of the most beautiful walks you can experience, because you will be able to appreciate the beautiful landscape that the Sacred Valley offers; nature, mountains and snow-capped mountains. We can hardly ask for something better!

Of course, remember that this is a trek of at least 5 hours at height, so you must be in good physical condition.

Route Cusco – Ollantaytambo – Kachi Qhata – Intipunku
Here we will also take a minivan to Ollantaytambo, but now we will take a detour (by taxi or private car) to Kachi Qhata. From this place, we will begin our ascent to Intipunku, which consists of 6 km and lasts approximately 3 hours.

Like the first route, you will be able to rest and appreciate the beautiful landscape at the end of the route. Similarly, you will return the same day by the same path you took. If you wish, you can camp in the surroundings.

How to get to the Intipunku of Machu Picchu?
Although there are currently more entrances to Machu Picchu, the Sun Gate is still considered the most important due to its history and construction. It can be reached in two ways: by hiking from the archaeological site of Machu Picchu and by taking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. Visitors usually use the second way, since it is the usual tourist route.

Route to Intipunku from Machu Picchu
This hike starts at Machu Picchu’s entrance gate and runs for a distance of about 2 km (1.2 mi) along farming terraces. Any visitor can take this optional short trip, but remember, it is not included in guided tours of Machu Picchu. The path is closed in February due to heavy rainfall.

Route to Intipunku along the Inca Trail
The Inca Trail itself is a whole excursion, taking two or four days depending on the type of route you choose. You will arrive at the Sun Gate on the last day of the trek, as the final stop before reaching Machu Picchu.

The four-day Inca Trail trek to Machu Picchu covers a distance of approximately 39 km (24 mi) long. It usually starts at Wayllabamba (Km Marker 82), continues via Pacaymayo on Day 2, and Wiñayhuayna on Day 3, before finally arriving at Intipunku on Day 4 after trekking 37 km (23 mi).
The two-day Inca Trail trek to Machu Picchu covers approximately 12 km (7.5 mi). It starts at Km Marker 104 of the railway that connects Ollantaytambo and the town of Machu Picchu.
The return from Machu Picchu depends on the tour you take but remember that you will have to catch the train back to the city of Cusco. The PeruRail Vistadome train has all the amenities you will need on your return trip, offering a complete immersion in nature as you travel, not to mention onboard cultural events. Ready to see what it’s all about? You can buy your tickets here.

Activities at Machu Picchu’s Intipunku
Activities along the trail to Intipunku and at the site itself include the following:

• Enjoy the walk. They say that sometimes the journey is just as important as the destination, and that’s certainly the case here. The ascent from Machu Picchu to the Sun Gate is extremely scenic, offering you the same views the Incas enjoyed hundreds of years ago along the actual paths they built.
• Take in the dazzling landscape. The views here are truly unparalleled: the mountain of Huayna Picchu, the Urubamba River and the town of Machu Picchu together with its beautiful surroundings.
• Birdwatching. If you’re lucky, at this altitude you can find the birds that call Machu Picchu home. These species include the chestnut-breasted coronet, the Andean guan, the famous Andean cock-of-the-rock, the blue-grey tanager, and others.

Did any of these two Intipunku catch your attention? It is a beautiful experience to take these tours and get to know everything around you, but taking all the necessary precautions. We recommend going in times when the rains are not so frequent (May – October), always with sunscreen and waterproof clothing, as the weather can change drastically from one moment to another.

In addition, the entrance ticket to Machu Picchu is enough to enter the Sun Gate.

Remember that you can take a train to Machu Picchu and hike to the Sun Gate from there. The PeruRail Expedition train is ready to offer its services to more adventurous visitors at a modest price, with all the amenities you could possibly need. Get your tickets here.

Urubamba, which means “pampas a day’s walk” in Spanish, is located in the heart of the Sacred Valley, in an impressive area for extreme sports such as hiking, canopy, mountain biking, paragliding, canoeing, hot air ballooning, etc. In addition, you will enjoy getting to know mystical places with a lot of history and culture that are still alive despite the years.

Learn more about the interesting places you will find in the heart of Urubamba:

• Santiago Apostle Church: Built in 1650 by Juan Arias de la Lira, parish priest of the place with the help of Bishop Manuel Molinedo. On December 28, 1972, it was declared Cultural Patrimony of the Nation because it was considered the first church in the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Its architecture still preserves works of colonial art, the cross for example maintains a Gothic style, the altar is bathed in gold leaf and silver plating. You can also find the image of an Inca with a mascaypacha on his head.
• The Martín Pio Concha House: He was the last Spaniard who ruled Cusco in the XIX century. In this place are the 360 archaeological pieces found in Machu Picchu by the American archaeologist Hiram Bingham, after being returned by Yale University, here you can see bone remains, metal, ceramic and lithic pieces.
• Main square of Urubamba: Surrounded by a chain of greenish mountains, the square is the central point of the whole city. In front you can see the San Francisco church, built on Inca foundations. Also, very close to this place you will find restaurants dedicated to the typical Cusquenian gastronomy and excursion agencies that will guide you to learn more about the Inca culture.
• Urubamba River: Also known as Wilcamayu (Sacred River), it is one of the main rivers of Peru that rises in the knot of the Vilcanota at 4,314 meters above sea level, its name in Spanish means “plateau of spiders” and it is the ideal place for canoeing. It is recommended to practice this sport in the months of December to March because of the different degrees of difficulty (I, II, II).

How to get to Urubamba
Urubamba, bordering provinces such as: La Convención, Anta and Calca, it is located only 78 km from the city of Cusco, approximately 1 hour and a half by bus or car. The tourist will have two options to get to this place, to the north towards Chincheros and to the northeast via Pisac towards Calca.

In the city of Urubamba you will find a train station, from this point the PeruRail Vistadome, the only train to Machu Picchu Station that departs from this area.
Be sure to learn more about the ancestral Inca culture, a place that still maintains its fertile lands for the best corn production. Enjoy and live the combination of ancient culture with the adventure of Urubamba!

Origins of Ollantaytambo
The town of Ollantaytambo was established under this name during the Reign of Pachacútec (1418–1471). While there were buildings here before that, the town grew dramatically under the rule of the Incas. At that time, Ollantaytambo was used as a checkpoint to control access to the Sacred Valley. This was also where maize was first domesticated before being grown extensively on the fertile slopes of the Urubamba River Valley.

Ollantaytambo is located amidst arid mountains and colourful landscapes in the northwest corner of the Sacred Valley, the part furthest from Cusco and closest to Machu Picchu. The town’s location seems at first to be a happy coincidence, but history has shown us that the Incas rarely left anything to chance. Let us tell you a bit more about the history of the town of Ollantaytambo.

Origins of Ollantaytambo
The town of Ollantaytambo was established under this name during the Reign of Pachacútec (1418–1471). While there were buildings here before that, the town grew dramatically under the rule of the Incas. At that time, Ollantaytambo was used as a checkpoint to control access to the Sacred Valley. This was also where maize was first domesticated before being grown extensively on the fertile slopes of the Urubamba River Valley.

Not only was this a strategic point for monitoring the nearby valleys, but it was also a strategic military location of which the Incas made great use. This is why we say the Incas left nothing to chance.

Who built Ollantaytambo?
While Pachacútec helped Ollantaytambo reach its full splendour, the buildings here date to well before the time of the Incas. In the town and its surroundings, evidence has been found of settlements of the Huari civilization (600 – 1000 AD), such as the Fortress of Pumamarca, a military citadel that controlled access to Ollantaytambo. This fortress was reached along the famous Inca Trail.

Others claim that the town is even older, dating back as far as 3,500 years.

Many different peoples erected buildings in this area, including the Incas, but it was the Incas who greatly expanded the previously existing town.

Ollantaytambo Today
While you may have started to get the impression that Ollantaytambo is a town of ruins, the truth is quite the opposite. Today, the town is divided in two by the Patacancha Creek. On the eastern side is Qosqo Ayllu, with the town’s main square and four streets running parallel to the Patacancha. On the western side is Araqama Ayllu, known for its many archaeological sites. According to the 2017 National Census, the district of Ollantaytambo is home to 10,165 residents. It is believed that even more people lived here during the days of the Incas.

The town is well-equipped for tourism, with hotels, cafés, restaurants, handicraft shops, and more.

Train from Ollantaytambo to Machu Picchu
You are probably visiting Ollantaytambo as a stop on the way to your main destination of Machu Picchu. If so, the best way to get there is by train, and PeruRail offers excellent service from the Ollantaytambo Station. We recommend taking the PeruRail Vistadome train, which offers all the amenities you will need to make the most out of your trip. Onboard, you will find traditional music and dances, not to mention an incredible panoramic view.

You can buy your tickets here.

How to Reach Ollantaytambo?
We recommend traveling from Cusco to Ollantaytambo by car. There are three possible routes:

• Cusco – Chinchero – Urubamba – Ollantaytambo (81 km/50 mi)
• Cusco – Pisac – Calca – Urubamba – Ollantaytambo (96 km/60 mi)
• Cusco – Anta – Huarocondo – Pachar – Ollantaytambo (70 km/43 mi)

While the last option is the shortest, be careful because there are often landslides blocking the roads during the rainy season.

Various civilisations have walked these lands, so don’t miss the chance to discover every fascinating detail of its history. The town of Ollantaytambo awaits you with open arms!

Remember, you can also reach Machu Picchu on the PeruRail Expedition train, which is designed for visitors in search of adventure. Get your tickets here!

25 kilometers north of the city of Arequipa is Yura, a quiet town with old houses, few people, whose inhabitants go to their farms early and where they carry out cultivation activities as a support for their home.

The Plaza De La Calera, is the main square and attraction of Yura, and the constructions of this town are made of pink sillar, which is a volcanic rock.

This village has not only become known for its pink ashlar buildings, but also for its hot springs. It is said that these were used since the time of the Incas. Also, over time it has been discovered that these thermal springs have medicinal properties that help with the cure of skin diseases, stomach, nerves, stress, among others diseases.

According to the studies carried out by the German expert Tadeo Haenke and the doctor Edmundo Escomel, the water containing sulfur, alkaline water, iron salts, among other minerals, help the healing of rheumatism, arthritis, poor blood circulation, skin diseases, obesity, stomach problems, nervous disorders and stress.

In Yura you can find three baths, of which, those recommended for all tourists are the following:

• Pozo El Tigre: It has the hottest water, it can reach up to 32 ° C and is for adults only. It has five pools that have sulfur and alkaline water, whose properties cure rheumatism, arthritis, poor blood circulation, skin diseases and obesity.
• Pozo Zamácola and Pozo Fierro Viejo: It reaches a temperature of up to 28 ° C and is recommended to cure nervous disorders, anemia and stress because its water contains iron. The entrance to this pozo is suitable for the entire public.
• Pozo Tadeo Haenke: It is the largest well with a water temperature of 28° C, very rich in iron. It was created in 2012.

If you decide to visit the Yura thermal baths, we recommend diving for a maximum of one hour, because if you stay longer than this time, the water temperature can cause dizziness and other symptoms.

It will always be recommended to include Yura in your next trip to Arequipa, the proximity to the city will allow you to enjoy a few hours during the morning and get to visit these medicinal thermal baths.

In 1968 the archeologist Máximo Neira Avendaño discovered an archaeological complex of nine impressive caves behind the Misti volcano and 88 kilometers away from Arequipa. Located within the limits of the The Salinas and Aguada Blanca National Reserve, the discovery of the Sumbay caves marked the prehistoric period of Arequipa.

Nowadays, the caves are shown as imposing stone soldiers who guard the art and history of Arequipa. Its magic is shown on its rocky walls that have valuable cave paintings from the Paleolithic era. Its pictograph represents human figures, camelids, pumas and foxes, painted in a creamy white tone with an antiquity between 6,000 and 8,000 BC.

The main cave has more than 500 drawings of South American camelids. In the drawings, most of these animals are not in motion, but in rest. This is because these paintings were created in the last stages of the hunters, when they already knew the domestication of these animals.

An eye-catching figure in this cave is an amazing shaman dressed as a camelid. Therefore, it is believed that these caves were also a religious center for the primitives.

The creamy white color used in Sumbay is a peculiarity of the ancient cave art of the place, which was obtained from the clay that remains from the eruption of the volcanoes that surround the reserve. To be able to seal the drawings on those walls for thousands of years they used animal fat. Therefore, today we can revive its beauty.

In addition to the paintings, spearheads made of stone, disc knives to cut the meat, scrapers made with bones to clean animal skins and utensils to sew have also been found.

If you take a walk around the White City (Arequipa), dare yourself to visit this archaeological complex where you will live a prehistoric experience and you will know how this magical rock art began. Welcome to the Sumbay Caves!

The Tristan del Pozo house is one of Arequipa’s most beautiful buildings, this house was built in 1738 by General Domingo Carlos Tristán del Pozo and his wife Ana Maria after acquiring the block and has been restored in many opportunities. For architecture students, the structure that characterizes it is one of the most emblematic and impressive that are in the city, specially for its courtyards, ambient and facade with artistic details perfectly carved.

The Tristan del Pozo house facade is what outstands the most, and what characterizes it all across Arequipa is its composition level. Besides of which have been the reasons that caused this decoration during this era, is in this old house where the elaborated Arequipenian carving in ashlar shape and that takes form in the shadow under the effects of light.

The cover of this house has rectangular shape and is flanked by pilasters united as niches. In its interior, large columns that support it can be found and in the middle you can view a bush of five branches where cantutas bloom holding big medallions.

One of the spaces that can be found inside this old house, looks to revalue the building from the historical and architectural aspects; In many of the doors there are particularities typical from Arequipenians, which belong to the schools of this recognized city. Over time this place has been rebuilt several times following the conservation criteria and on this way not losing the architecture that characterizes it since its origins.

This is one of the few buildings in Arequipa that allows visitors to have an idea of how the area constructions were. Part of this important success, lets people the historical process of Peruvian architecture as bit part of its measurements and design belong to the baroque style that has been alligned from Arequipa’s regional architectural school.

The Tristan del Pozo house has been property of diverse and recognized Arequipenian families. It is in 1974 that one of the most important banks in Peru compromises with the need to support the recovering of this monumental heritage and acquires the old house to transform it into one of its locations.

Today, you can get to know this relevant building and to learn more about its story. Enjoy a trip over the 200 square meters of Tristan house in Arequipa and do not miss the museum and art gallery built by its owners, where you can find numismatic collections with ancient coins of great value. You cannot miss the opportunity to know this historic house!

The site boasts an almost intact Inca urban planning and that is something that attracts a lot of attention from tourists. It can even be said that it is one of the reasons why this stop takes longer than necessary.

How do you get to Ollantaytambo?
There are two ways to get to Ollantaytambo: by the Chinchero highway or by train. To get to the Ollantaytambo PeruRail Station (train) you can take a bus, taxi or private service from downtown Cusco and would be arriving in approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes. Of course, the ideal situation would be to take the train at a previous station to enjoy the full experience.

What are the places to visit in the Archaeological Center of Ollantaytambo?
The main places to visit within the archaeological complex are:

Terraces
The terraces or “andenes” is the first thing you see when you arrive in Ollantaytambo. This grouping of terraces is located on the side of the mountain and is large enough to distinguish them from a great distance.

Intihuatana of Ollantaytambo
It is an Inca sundial located on a vertical slope above the Temple of the Sun and was used as an observatory, since it is an axis on which the sun fixes its position throughout the year in order to continue with agricultural planning. It is a high wall with security holes up to 80 cm deep on its sides.

It is worth mentioning that the sun was the most important divinity of Tahuantinsuyo and hence many of its constructions were based on it.

Royal House of the Sun
The Royal House of the Sun, as all of Ollantaytambo, still preserves the urban layout of the Inca era. It consists of 17 superimposed terraces, a series of straight and wide terraces that overlook the main square and the side of the town.

The Temple of the Sun
The complex was almost completely destroyed, and its remains consist of huge blocks of pink granite, some of which weighed 67 tons. The remaining immobile parts constitute a stone canvas that, due to its solidity, volume and form of assembly, resisted the attacks of the thieves of Inca idols and repelled the looters.

Although it is not complete, it is still one of the most surprising sections for visitors. The monoliths still standing give an idea of how imposing this part of the complex was in its best years, something similar to what we can see in the Coricancha.

The Monumental Cover and the Enclosure of the 10 Niches
It is the last of the upper group of terraces of the Royal House of the Sun, where the entire wall is made up of two stone canvasses that form a kind of enclosure. To this day, the enclosure is incomplete, we can only find the foundations, and it is because it was demolished at the time of the conquest.

The Bath of the Ñusta
The Bath of the Ñusta or Bath of the Princess is a beautiful fountain with three water outlets running parallel to each other. A masterpiece of the Incas, as they were experts in hydraulic engineering. We can easily see this in all their temples; places where water plays a very important role.

How to buy a tourist ticket to Ollantaytambo?
The Cusco Tourist Ticket is required, and this can be obtained in two places:

-Av. El Sol 103, Cusco (Galerías Turísticas Of. 101)
-At the entrances of the archaeological sites (Ollantaytambo, etc.)

Remember that you can choose a full or partial Tourist Ticket, so it will depend on the attractions you want to visit. The general recommendation is to get a full ticket, since it usually costs more to buy a separate one for each place.

Did everything you can find in Ollantaytambo amaze you? Then, don’t think about it anymore and venture on the journey! Our PeruRail Vistadome train offers a different way of traveling and the Ollantaytambo stop is no exception. Buy your train tickets here!

Many myths and legends have been known around the Inca Empire, stories full of magic and mysticism. One of the oldest and most fantastic stories is the one that tells us how the city of Cusco was founded, considered as the navel of the world. Discover the history of the Ayar brothers!

At the end of the great flood, which devastated the land of the mountain “Tampu Tocco”, the legend tells that four young brothers appeared with their wives: Ayar Manco and Mama Ocllo, Ayar Cachi and Mama Cora, Ayar Uchu and Mama Rahua and Ayar Auca and Mama Huaco; who along with ten “ayllus” (Inca organization that groups 10 families) undertook a long journey in search of fertile lands where they could settle.

Along the way, the strength and power of Ayar Cachi, the elder brother, excelled when he knocked down a hill and formed a ravine with a single-shot of his sling. His brothers, faced with what happened, were invaded with jealousy and fear towards such spectacular strength. For that reason, when arriving at Haysquisrro they devised a plan to get rid of their brother, which consisted of lock him in a cave.

When the plan was finalized, the three brothers, their wives and the ayllus continued their journey until they reached Mount Huanacauri, where they could see the entire imposing valley of Cusco. Upon reaching the top, they found a great stone idol. Full of respect and fear towards him, they went to the place where it was venerated, unfortunately Ayar Uchu was turned into stone because he jumped on the back of the statue.

Ayar Manco and Ayar Auca continued the journey regretting the loss of their two brothers, but with the conviction of finding those coveted lands. During their trip, in the Pampa del Sol, Ayar Auca is completely turned into stone, leaving only Ayar Manco as the representative of his brothers.

Despite the losses and a trip of many years, the only survivor of the Ayar brothers: Ayar Manco managed to reach fertile land, sunk the golden cane that the god Inti gave him in the city of Cusco, and founded the Tahuantinsuyo, which later would become the Empire of the Incas.

If you liked this story and want to know more about Peru’s culture and traditions, we invite you to trave aboard our train PeruRail Vistadome.

Furthermore, there you can find the Ollantaytambo Train Station which is a railway to Machu Picchu Station in Machu Picchu Town.

How to get to Ollantaytambo Station?
As we mentioned before, Ollantaytambo Station is important because it links to Machu Picchu Station (as well as Poroy Station) by the railroad, but how do we get to Ollantaytambo Station? You can either go by bus, taxi, or private transportation service from Cusco downtown, arriving in one hour, 30 minutes approximately.

For traveling by train from Ollantaytambo Station, we recommend buying the tickets in advance on www.perurail.com. You can also purchase the train tickets at the Ollantaytambo Station ticket office, not later than 30 minutes before departure time.

If you wish to buy tickets at any of our ticket offices in the stations, you can pay either by credit/debit card or cash: in Soles or US Dollars.

Keep in mind that in case you are not sure about which train take, you can always have a look at each train page: the PeruRail Vistadome and the PeruRail Expedition.

From Ollantaytambo Station to Machu Picchu Station
The trip from Ollantaytambo Station to Machu Picchu Station takes about 1 hour and 10 minutes; and services are available year-round, so tourists can enjoy one of the World’s Wonder built by the Incas.

Find out Ollantaytambo’s stunning Inca monuments and have an adventure by train to the wonderful citadel of Machu Picchu!

Sources: Origen andino, PeruRail, and Cuscoperu.com.