Aguas Calientes City Guide
Aguas Calientes Train Station: What to Expect When You Arrive
The Aguas Calientes train station, officially Machu Picchu Station, is where every train to Machu Picchu ends, inside the town itself (officially Machu Picchu Pueblo), not at the ruins. This page covers what the station and its surroundings are actually like, where luggage storage is, and how to get from the platform up to the citadel gate. For the wider town, see things to do in Aguas Calientes, and to book your seat, browse Aguas Calientes tours.
Quick answer The station, where it is, and what happens when you step off
The Aguas Calientes train station is officially called Machu Picchu Station. It sits inside the town of Machu Picchu Pueblo (Aguas Calientes) at about 2,040 m elevation, not at the citadel. Every train, from every starting point, stops here and goes no further. The citadel entrance is roughly 6 km uphill from the platform, about a 90-minute walk, and most visitors take the bus instead.
Key takeaways
- All PeruRail and Inca Rail services from San Pedro, Poroy, Ollantaytambo and Hidroelectrica terminate at this station in the town itself. There is no station closer to the ruins.
- PeruRail runs a free luggage storage desk at the station from 08:00 to 22:00, and both train operators cap carry-on bags at 8 kg per passenger.
- From the platform you walk straight into the town's streets. See things to do in Aguas Calientes and our Aguas Calientes costs guide for what comes next.
What Is Machu Picchu Station
Machu Picchu Station is the railway terminus that serves the town of Aguas Calientes, whose official name is Machu Picchu Pueblo. It is a small station on the Vilcanota (Urubamba) river in the Cusco Region, Urubamba Province, Machupicchu District. Despite the name, it is not the entrance to Machu Picchu the citadel. The citadel sits high above at 2,430 m while the town and station sit at about 2,040 m, and the track simply ends here.
The end of every rail line
Four rail approaches funnel into the town and all four stop at Machu Picchu Station. PeruRail runs services from San Pedro Station in central Cusco, about 4 hours 30 minutes away, and from Poroy Station on the Cusco outskirts, about 3 hours 30 minutes away. PeruRail and Inca Rail both run the busy shuttle-style services from Ollantaytambo, which SERNANP lists as 60 km and about 2 hours 10 minutes by train.
PeruRail also operates a local train from Hidroelectrica that takes about 30 minutes and is used by travellers walking in on the back route through Santa Teresa. Whatever service you book, the last stop is the same platform in Aguas Calientes.
| Route | Distance | Approximate train time |
|---|---|---|
| Cusco (San Pedro) to Machu Picchu Station | 111 km from Cusco by rail route | About 4h30m |
| Cusco (Poroy) to Machu Picchu Station | Not stated | About 3h30m |
| Ollantaytambo to Machu Picchu Station | 60 km | About 2h10m |
| Hidroelectrica to Machu Picchu Station | Not stated | About 30 minutes |
A town with no road
Aguas Calientes is unusual among tourist towns because no road reaches it. Arrival is only by train or on foot. That shapes everything about the station, because every visitor, every supply delivery and every resident coming or going passes through the same tracks and the same platform.
The town grew from a railway construction workers' camp in the late 1920s, known in Quechua as Maquinachayoq, and the line was completed in 1931. The town sits on the Vilcanota river in a steep valley, which is why the citadel above it needs either a stiff uphill walk or a switchback bus road to reach.
Where the Station Sits in Town
The station is in the middle of Aguas Calientes, hard against the river at the bottom of the valley. Stepping off the train puts you directly into the town's street grid, with shops, restaurants and hostels within a short walk.
Distance to the town centre
The station sits at the river edge of the town and the main plaza sits a few streets upslope. How exactly far? No official source publishes the exact walking distance from the platform to the town's plaza, and we will not invent one.
In practice you leave the station area and follow the pedestrian streets uphill through the commercial heart of town, and the walk feels like minutes rather than a hike. Signage and the flow of other visitors make the direction obvious. The market and the bus depot for the citadel shuttle are likewise reached on foot through the town's compact grid.
Our things to do in Aguas Calientes page covers the plaza, the market, the hot springs and the rest of the town in detail.
What to do first when you arrive
Most arrivals follow one of three patterns. If you are going straight up to the citadel, you head for the bus depot near the river. If you are staying the night, you walk to your accommodation through the town streets.
If you have hours to fill before your return train, the site museum sits near Puente Ruinas on the way out of town, and it is free to visit between 12:00 and 16:00. The town's hot springs give the place its colloquial name, Aguas Calientes, which means hot waters in Spanish.
Practicalities at the station
Two honest gaps. First, no official source states the station's opening hours or its first and last train times, so check your own ticket for your departure window. Second, whether there are ATMs at or near the station is not stated in any official source we could verify, so do not count on cash machines at the platform itself.
Bring the cash or cards you plan to need, and read our Aguas Calientes costs guide before you travel.
Luggage Storage at the Station
You do not want a big suitcase rolling beside you on the cobbles of Aguas Calientes or up at the citadel gate. Fortunately the railway operators expect exactly that problem and the station has storage.
PeruRail's free storage
PeruRail's own FAQ states that free luggage storage is available at Machu Picchu station from 08:00 to 22:00. This is separate from the storage PeruRail runs at Ollantaytambo station, which operates 04:15 to 21:00 and serves travellers catching the shuttle trains from the Cusco side. If you lose something at the station, PeruRail holds lost items for three months before transferring them to heritage security, so act quickly on anything misplaced.
| Location | Service | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Machu Picchu station | Free luggage storage (PeruRail) | 08:00 to 22:00 |
| Ollantaytambo station | Free luggage storage (PeruRail) | 04:15 to 21:00 |
The 8 kg carry-on cap
Both PeruRail and Inca Rail cap hand luggage at one piece per passenger with a maximum of 8 kg, and neither operator has on-board luggage racks. Inca Rail's limit runs to 118 linear cm and PeruRail's to 115 linear cm, with maximum dimensions around 55 x 35 x 25 cm on PeruRail. Bigger bags need to be stored before boarding, which is why the storage desks matter.
Inca Rail offers its paid Luggage Custody Service at its Ollantaytambo ticket office only. For a fuller picture of all your options, see luggage storage in Aguas Calientes.
Storage strategy for the day trip
The typical pattern is simple. Leave anything you do not need for the day in storage, either at the station or back at your hotel if you are overnighting, and carry a small daypack up to the citadel. Be aware that the citadel's own conduct rules ban bags larger than 40x35x20 cm inside the site, so even your daypack should stay small.
Pack water, sunscreen, your passport and your ticket and little else.
From the Station to the Citadel
The single most important thing to understand about the Aguas Calientes train station is that it is not the entrance to Machu Picchu. The citadel gate sits at 2,430 m, some 390 m above the town, and you still have to get up there.
The walk versus the bus
From the station it is roughly 6 km or a 90-minute walk up to the citadel entrance, climbing steadily through cloud forest at altitude, so it is not casual. Most visitors instead ride the bus up the Hiram Bingham road, the switchback track that climbs from the edge of town to the entrance area. The bus saves well over an hour.
The bus is a separate ticket from the train and from the citadel entry ticket, and the last officially self-published Consettur fare sheet on file lists a foreign adult one-way fare of $12.00 and a round trip of $24.00. For the full picture see Machu Picchu bus tickets.
| Option | Distance | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bus up the Hiram Bingham road | Not stated | Not stated | Separate ticket, last officially published foreign adult fare $12.00 one-way / $24.00 round trip |
| Walking from town | Roughly 6 km | About 90 minutes | Steep climb, free, gate at 2,430 m |
Timing your arrival
Citadel entry is sold by hourly slot from 06:00 to 15:00, and your ticket is valid only for the date and time purchased. For entries between 06:00 and 13:00 you have a maximum of 2 hours 30 minutes inside, and the site closes at 17:30. Work backwards from your ticketed slot when you plan the train that brings you into Aguas Calientes, because the journey from platform to citadel gate takes time however you travel.
Our Machu Picchu tickets page covers the circuits, prices and booking rules in full.
What you can carry up
The conduct rules for the citadel ban bags over 40x35x20 cm, tripods, selfie sticks, walking sticks, drones, strollers, food, and hard-soled shoes or heels. Shoes matter here. You must wear soft-soled footwear, and trainers or hiking shoes with flexible soles are the norm.
Leave anything banned at your hotel or in the station's storage.
Train Tours Ending at Aguas Calientes
If you have not yet booked your rail ticket, here is a bookable train product that ends at Machu Picchu Station in Aguas Calientes.
from $130.00
Train to Machu Picchu
Trip Tour books the scenic train ride from Cusco toward Aguas Calientes, the gateway to Machu Picchu, with pickup included. Cancel up to 24 hours ahead for a full refund, and note that availability is limited on this route.
Check AvailabilityPrices, ratings and details are the platform's own. Dollar figures are the listed prices. The platform bills in your account's currency.
Plan the Rest of the Trip
The station is one link in a chain. These pages cover the other links.
Cusco to Aguas Calientes
Every routing option from the city, with and without the train.
Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes Train
The most-used direct rail leg, with fares and luggage rules.
Luggage Storage in Aguas Calientes
Where to store bags at both ends of the line.
Aguas Calientes Train Station FAQ
Is Machu Picchu train station in Aguas Calientes?
Yes. Machu Picchu Station is in the town of Aguas Calientes itself, whose official name is Machu Picchu Pueblo. Every train, whether operated by PeruRail or Inca Rail and whether starting from San Pedro, Poroy, Ollantaytambo or Hidroelectrica, arrives at this station in the town. It is not at the citadel. The citadel entrance lies roughly 6 km and 390 m of elevation above the station.
How do I get a train from Aguas Calientes to Cusco?
You take the train in reverse from Machu Picchu Station. There is no single direct-to-central-Cusco figure you can assume. PeruRail runs services to San Pedro Station in Cusco (about 4h30m each way) and to Poroy (about 3h30m), and both PeruRail and Inca Rail run the shorter shuttle route to Ollantaytambo (60 km, about 2h10m by train). Many travellers ride to Ollantaytambo and continue to Cusco by road, about 1 hour 30 minutes by car per PeruRail. Book ahead and remember the 8 kg carry-on limit per passenger.
When should I avoid visiting Machu Picchu?
SERNANP, the parks authority, recommends visiting between April and October and identifies November to March as the rainy season. If you want the best odds of clear weather, aim for the April to October window. Also avoid arriving without a pre-booked citadel entry ticket, since entry is sold by hourly slot and daily capacity is capped at 4,500 visitors in regular season, up to 5,600 in high season.
Can you wear jeans to Machu Picchu?
There is no official rule banning jeans. The published conduct rules for the citadel list banned items including bags over 40x35x20 cm, tripods, selfie sticks, walking sticks, drones, strollers, and hard-soled shoes or heels, but they do not prohibit jeans or any specific clothing item. So yes, jeans are allowed as far as the written rules go. What you must get right is footwear: hard soles and heels are banned, so wear soft-soled shoes.
Does the train go all the way to Machu Picchu?
No. The train goes to Machu Picchu Station in the town of Aguas Calientes and stops there. From the platform you either walk roughly 6 km uphill for about 90 minutes to the citadel entrance or ride the bus up the Hiram Bingham road. A separate bus ticket is required.
Is there luggage storage at the station?
Yes. PeruRail's own FAQ states that free luggage storage is available at Machu Picchu station from 08:00 to 22:00. Both PeruRail and Inca Rail limit carry-on bags to one piece of up to 8 kg per passenger with no on-board racks, so the storage desk is genuinely useful. Lost items are held for three months before being transferred to heritage security.
How long does the train take from Cusco and Ollantaytambo?
PeruRail publishes journey times of about 4 hours 30 minutes from San Pedro Station in Cusco and about 3 hours 30 minutes from Poroy Station. SERNANP's access table lists the commercial train from Cusco as 111 km taking about 4 hours 10 minutes, and from Ollantaytambo as 60 km taking about 2 hours 10 minutes. From Hidroelectrica, PeruRail's local train takes about 30 minutes.
Aguas Calientes Train Station Videos
First Time in Machu Picchu: Cusco to Aguas Calientes by Train
Follows the arrival at Machu Picchu Station step by step.
Video: Leaving In 52025 Peru Day 5: Cusco to Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu)
Shows what the station and surrounding town look like on arrival.
Video: CarryOnTourismTrain from Cusco to Aguas Calientes
A solo traveller's ride ending at this station.
Video: Travel with BergenPrices, hours and terms are set by the venue or operator and confirmed at checkout.
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