Cusco to Machu Picchu 2-Day Train Tour Review: Is It Worth It?

Dreaming of seeing Machu Picchu? You’re certainly not alone! Getting to this lost city of the Incas is truly an experience that sticks with you, and the 2-Day Train Tour from Cusco, well, it’s almost like a pretty well-trodden path for globetrotters. But with quite a few options floating around, picking the right one could be quite a head-scratcher. In this write-up, anyway, I’m going to give you my take on the “From Cusco Machu Picchu 2-Day Train Tour with Hotel.” I’ll get into what’s great, what to maybe keep an eye on, and if this tour is truly a great bang for your travel buck.

First Impressions: Setting Off from Cusco

The adventure begins in Cusco, that’s a city so rich with history it’s basically palpable. Waking up that first day, there’s almost a tingle of excitement hanging in the air, just as you imagine. The tour companies typically get things going super early. It’s not unusual, arguably, to be up way before sunrise. The initial part often involves a van ride to the train station. The drive, well, it can be quite scenic, giving you little peeks into daily life in the Peruvian highlands, so it’s not so bad. The tour operators, too, often provide a bit of background, almost like a mini history class, about the areas you’re zooming through.

Once at the train station—usually Ollantaytambo—things get more comfortable, that is if you’ve picked a service like PeruRail or Inca Rail. I located that the train carriages tend to be rather plush, that they often come with pretty roomy seats and wide windows, great for snapping photos. Depending on which service you opt for, too, there might be fancy extras, like meals and drinks. Getting settled in, watching the scenery go by, and, too it’s almost like you’re unwinding into vacation mode as the train snakes closer to Aguas Calientes, otherwise referred to as Machu Picchu Town.

The Train Ride: A Scenic Route to Remember

I can’t overstate just how glorious the train ride itself tends to be. The route shadows the Urubamba River, so you are virtually surrounded by seriously towering mountains, almost like giants keeping watch. The landscape evolves too; that is, you begin in fairly open plains and shift towards more rich, jungle-type settings as you get nearer to Machu Picchu. The Vistadome service on PeruRail, particularly, tends to have these windows in the roof, letting you absorb everything from basically every angle. It’s a perfect chance, really, to sit back, chill out, and just relish in the incredible landscapes.

The train staffers, basically, typically go the extra mile to keep things interesting, anyway, it seems. Sometimes, it feels they will put on mini performances or give insights about the environment and the surrounding Incan history. The provision of food and drinks really kicks the relaxation up a gear, that’s something I came to really appreciate, honestly. This part of the tour, really, isn’t just transport; it’s genuinely part of the whole Machu Picchu adventure.

Aguas Calientes: Settling In and Preparing for Machu Picchu

Once you arrive in Aguas Calientes, too it’s almost like stepping into a totally separate bubble of excitement. It’s very touristy, surely, filled to the brim with eateries, markets, and other traveler services. You’ll probably be met by your tour guide at the station, so it might be worthwhile to make sure you know who to look for. You will then be guided to your hotel. Usually, tour packages do include this. In some respects, anyway, this might range from comfortable, solid places to more opulent ones, hinging on how much you are hoping to spend.

After you’re settled, anyway, you usually have just a little downtime to look around Aguas Calientes. Possibly, take a relaxed stroll along the river, visit the local markets, or possibly soak in the hot springs that give the town its name—just a thought. Most importantly, arguably, is to gear up mentally and logistically for the early morning tour of Machu Picchu. Double-check you’ve got your admission ticket, your passport, and possibly any other essentials for the following day. Get to sleep relatively early if you’re able to; that is because the morning is, anyway, very demanding.

Machu Picchu: Exploring the Lost City

This is truly what the entire trip comes down to, and it’s so something you have to witness with your own eyes, believe me! You will usually get up very early so you can catch one of the first buses heading up to Machu Picchu. The drive from Aguas Calientes up to the location, anyway, is quite something, because it’s zig-zagging up steep slopes with increasingly spectacular vistas.

Entering Machu Picchu, that’s when, really, it just knocks you sideways. Viewing the terraces, the constructions, and all set against that intense backdrop of the Andes is pretty remarkable. Your tour guide, naturally, will walk you through the past and significance of the city, almost piecing together Incan history and culture. You will see key spots such as the Intihuatana stone, the Temple of the Sun, and the Room of the Three Windows. Depending on what your preferences are, arguably, you could have the opportunity to hike Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain for some really jaw-dropping scenic views, but book ahead to ensure that’s possible.

Be sure, certainly, to give yourself space just to wander around a little. Machu Picchu, in some respects, is not just a spot you tick off a list; it’s a location that makes you pause and truly feel something. Whether you are enthusiastic about past civilizations, really love taking images, or just want a breather from your usual routine, Machu Picchu has that something extra for basically everyone.

The Hotel Experience: A Place to Recharge

The hotel is where, that is, you revitalize and get ready to push onward with your exploration. As I touched on earlier, your hotels could vary extensively based on your chosen package. Some tours often include places that really focus on giving practical comforts—they tend to be alright, for a night or two. In other cases, perhaps, you’re dealing with hotels that throw in added features, arguably offering fancier rooms and maybe spa services.

Assess what exactly you might be needing. Is the aim really to only have somewhere functional, or are you aiming for anything a little special? It’s really worth studying traveler reviews, you see, if knowing where exactly you’re staying holds importance. Irrespective of the hotel category, make certain that it offers the basics for rest: so that’s a decent bed and a clean restroom. It’s important you re-energize properly after the physical requirements of traveling and hiking!

Is the 2-Day Train Tour Worth It?

Okay, that is really the million-dollar inquiry. For a person wanting to fit Machu Picchu within a tight agenda, then really the 2-Day Train Tour can be such a sound choice. It handles basically all of the logistics, that often includes transport, lodging, and tickets. It helps make what may seem, anyway, quite complicated super simple. The trip is very quick; that is, of course, its disadvantage. It can feel a bit rushed if you intend on just chilling at each location.

And, so that’s what the value equates to when looking at other methods. Hiking the Inca Trail, for instance, could allow for such a deeper immersion into the surroundings and the Incan culture, it seems. Nonetheless, it might also take more days and cost significantly more. All things considered, when short on days but keen on really seeing Machu Picchu, arguably, the 2-Day Train Tour comes out ahead. It offers an enriching, even when rather whirlwind, experience, which you’re pretty sure to remember for years ahead!