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Trains · 4 min read

The train to Machu Picchu from January to April

Every year, while the rains are heaviest, the railway stops running trains out of Cusco itself. You can still go by train, but the first part of the trip is a bus. Here is what changes and how to plan around it.

October 5, 2026 · machupicchu.world team

What changes from January to April

  • PeruRail: Its January–April 2026 timetable has no departure from Poroy or San Pedro. Every trip from Cusco starts with a bus from Wanchaq station, about five minutes from the centre, to the train in Pachar or Ollantaytambo. The Hiram Bingham also starts by bus from Wanchaq.
  • Inca Rail: Inca Rail says that from January to April its trains leave only from Ollantaytambo, with a bus from Cusco that leaves from Calle Santa Teresa 344.
  • From May: PeruRail's May–December 2026 timetable brings back direct trains from San Pedro station in Cusco, alongside the bus-and-train options.

In practice, little changes for most travellers: the fastest way from Cusco was already by road to Ollantaytambo and then the train. What changes is where you board the bus and that there is no direct train from the city.

→ In a hurry? Check live availability for all 11 circuits

February adds one more change: the Inca Trail closes all month for maintenance. Machu Picchu stays open and the trains run.

How to plan a January–April visit

  • Entrance first: Entrance tickets for a date sell out before the trains do. Book the route and entry hour, then the train around it.
  • Leave margin: Rain can slow the road and the bus up from Aguas Calientes. Prefer a mid-morning entry over the first slot after your train.
  • Choose a route for the weather: Wet stone steps make Huayna Picchu and the Mountain harder; a 2 h 30 route such as 2A is the safer choice. Rain by month is in Machu Picchu weather by month.
  • Add the train in Mi Tour: With your ticket booked with us, Mi Tour shows every Inca Rail departure of your day with the live fare.
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Circuit 2A Classic

The iconic postcard photo of Machu Picchu

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Do trains run to Machu Picchu in the rainy season?

Yes. From January to April they leave from the Sacred Valley (Ollantaytambo or Pachar) rather than from Cusco, and departures sold 'from Cusco' include a bus to the train.

Is Poroy station open in February?

No. Inca Rail says Poroy is closed from January to April, and PeruRail's January–April timetable has no departures from Poroy.

Your entrance first, then the train

Book your Machu Picchu ticket, then add the Inca Rail train in Mi Tour with the live fare for your date. Both on one itinerary.