Updated November 10, 2026, with this year’s PeruRail and Inca Rail notices and timetables.
Quick answer
Ollantaytambo is 1.5 to 2 hours from Cusco by road. To reach the train station you have four options: a taxi or private transfer (with us, US$ 50 per car for up to 3 people), a shared van, the «colectivo» (about S/ 15 to 20 per person), the bimodal service bus sold by the train company itself, or a Sacred Valley tour that ends at the station.
Arrive at least 30 minutes before departure and travel light: the train allows about 8 kg per person.
Why almost everyone takes the train from Ollantaytambo
Most PeruRail and Inca Rail trains to Machu Picchu leave from Ollantaytambo, and it’s the station with the shortest train ride. There are also trains from Cusco, but they take more than twice as long:
| Station | Train to Machu Picchu | When it runs |
|---|---|---|
| Ollantaytambo, in the Sacred Valley | 1 h 20 to 1 h 45 | Year-round. PeruRail and Inca Rail. |
| Poroy, about 20 min from downtown Cusco | 3 h 15 to 3 h 45 | May to December. It usually closes from January to April because of the rain. |
| San Pedro, in downtown Cusco | 4 h 10 to 4 h 40 | Back in service since May 1, 2026, with few departures, mornings only. |
When Poroy closes for the rains, PeruRail offers a bimodal service: a bus from Wanchaq station in Cusco and the train from Ollantaytambo. Inca Rail only departs from Ollantaytambo, and its bimodal bus leaves from its office at Avenida El Sol 843. We compare the two companies in PeruRail or Inca Rail and the stations in which station to choose.
Check where your return train ends. From October 8 to December 31, 2026, some return trains drop passengers off in Pachar or Poroy instead of Ollantaytambo. Check your ticket before you book your taxi back.
Four ways to get to Ollantaytambo station
| Option | Price | How it works |
|---|---|---|
| Taxi or private transfer | US$ 50 per car (up to 3) or US$ 60 per minivan (up to 6), with us | Picks you up at your hotel or the airport and drops you at the station entrance. On the street, a private taxi charges about S/ 120 to 160. It’s the most comfortable option with luggage or in a group. |
| Shared van (colectivo) | About S/ 15 to 20 per person | Vans that leave when full, from pickup points in downtown Cusco such as Avenida Grau. They take about 1 hour 45 minutes and have almost no room for suitcases. |
| Bimodal service bus | Included in the bimodal ticket | PeruRail’s bus leaves from Wanchaq station and Inca Rail’s from its office at Avenida El Sol 843. It’s only for passengers who bought this type of ticket; arrive 30 minutes early. |
| Sacred Valley tour with train connection | From US$ 415 with Machu Picchu | You visit Chinchero, Moray, the Maras salt mines and Urubamba, and the tour ends in Ollantaytambo in time for the afternoon train. |
From the airport straight to Ollantaytambo
If your flight lands in the morning and your train leaves in the afternoon, you can go from the airport straight to the Sacred Valley without stopping at your hotel. With us, the price is the same as from Cusco: US$ 50 by sedan and US$ 60 by minivan, one way. Also, Ollantaytambo sits at about 2,800 m (9,190 ft), lower than Cusco, and your body will thank you on your first day. If you’re staying in the city, see how to get from the airport to the city center.
At the station: timing, luggage and tickets
- Arrive 30 minutes early. That’s what PeruRail and Inca Rail ask, so they can check tickets and documents before boarding. The station is on Avenida Ferrocarril.
- Bring the document you used to buy your ticket: passport.
- Travel light. Inca Rail allows one carry-on of up to 8 kg and 118 cm in combined dimensions. PeruRail allows a backpack of up to 8 kg or a carry-on bag of up to 12 kg, depending on size; check your ticket.
- Leave the big suitcase behind. Both companies offer free luggage storage in Ollantaytambo for their passengers. You can also leave it at your hotel in Cusco.
- If you still need a ticket, PeruRail sells them at the ticket office up to 30 minutes before departure, if seats are available.
The return: from Ollantaytambo or Poroy to Cusco
On the way back from Machu Picchu, the train drops you in Ollantaytambo, in Poroy or, on some departures in late 2026, in Pachar. From Ollantaytambo it’s 1.5 to 2 hours by road to Cusco; from Poroy, about 20 minutes. We pick you up at either station, at a fixed price:
| Station | Sedan (up to 3) | Minivan (up to 6) |
|---|---|---|
| Poroy | US$ 18 | US$ 25 |
| Ollantaytambo | US$ 50 | US$ 60 |
For groups of 10 or 15 people, we have Mercedes-Benz vehicles. You’ll find all our prices on Cusco taxi and transfers.
Want a ride to the station?
We’re a local agency in Cusco, registered with MINCETUR since 2003, with English-speaking guides. Tell us the date, your train time and where to pick you up: we’ll plan the departure with time to spare so you get there 30 minutes early.
- Taxi and transfer prices in Cusco.
- Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu, 2 days: the tour drops you at the station.
- Machu Picchu Full Day: a one-day tour from Cusco with transfer, train, bus and entrance ticket.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to get from Cusco to Ollantaytambo?
1.5 to 2 hours by road, depending on traffic and the route. By shared van (colectivo), it usually takes about 1 hour 45 minutes.
How much is a taxi from Cusco to Ollantaytambo?
With Tari Tours, US$ 50 by sedan (up to 3 people) and US$ 60 by minivan (up to 6), one way, per vehicle, from your hotel or the airport. On the street, a private taxi charges about S/ 120 to 160.
How much is the shared van (colectivo) from Cusco to Ollantaytambo?
About S/ 15 to 20 per person. The vans leave when full, from pickup points in downtown Cusco such as Avenida Grau, and have little room for suitcases.
How early should I get to Ollantaytambo station?
At least 30 minutes before your train leaves. That’s what PeruRail and Inca Rail ask, so they can check tickets and documents.
How much luggage can I take on the train to Machu Picchu?
About 8 kg per person, in a backpack or carry-on bag; PeruRail accepts up to 12 kg depending on size. Large suitcases can stay in the free luggage storage at Ollantaytambo station or at your hotel in Cusco.
Is there a train to Machu Picchu from Cusco?
Yes. Since May 2026, PeruRail has departures from Poroy and San Pedro, but the trip takes from 3 to more than 4 hours. From January to April, Poroy usually closes because of the rain and the bimodal service runs instead: a bus to Ollantaytambo, then the train.
Where does the bimodal bus to Ollantaytambo leave from?
PeruRail’s bus leaves from Wanchaq station in Cusco. Inca Rail’s leaves from its office at Avenida El Sol 843. Arrive 30 minutes early.
Can I go from Cusco airport straight to Ollantaytambo?
Yes. With Tari Tours it costs US$ 50 by sedan and US$ 60 by minivan, one way. It’s worth it if your train leaves the same day.
Sources
- PeruRail: trains from San Pedro and Poroy starting May 1, 2026
- PeruRail: changes from October 8 to December 31, 2026 (Pachar and Poroy)
- PeruRail: May to December 2026 timetable
- PeruRail: Poroy station and the bimodal service in the rainy season
- Inca Rail: Ollantaytambo station
- Inca Rail: stations, ticket offices and the bimodal bus from Avenida El Sol
- How to Peru: train luggage limits (updated October 2026)
- Uros Expeditions: 2026 taxi and shared van prices to Ollantaytambo
- Tari Tours: taxi and transfer prices in Cusco
Photos in this guide are from Wikimedia Commons under free licenses; the author and license appear below each image.