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machu picchu gateway
Comprehensive resource for travelingto Machu
Picchu and the whole of Peru Hotels, Tours,
Inca Trail Hikes, Maps, Travel Information, Useful Tips, Peru Custom
Vacation Travel Tours
To travel by train to Machu
Picchu, PERURAIL, the company that operates the
Southern Railways, offers a wide variety of services
which cover the needs of the different types of
travellers to the former Inca citadel or the nearby
area.
1. To take the
so‑called INCA ROUTE ‑Cuzco/Machu Picchu/Cuzco‑ the
train departs from the San Pedro station. One can
choose between different options: a)
Vistadome ( also note as Autovagon or Autowagon )
, which is the fastest and most
comfortable, as well as the most suitable for
photography buffs, due to the large windows this
train is equipped with; b)
Inexpensive Tourism/Backpacker Express, which is the
most economical means of travel, that has been
created recently for travellers who enjoy adventure
tourism, The train is equipped with suitable shelves
in order to accommodate the camping equipment that
these passengers often carry.
2. There is another route that
also leads to MachuPicchu. It is similar to the
previous one, but shorter. It is referred to as the OLLANTA ROUTE Ollantaytambo/Machu Picchu/Ollantaytambo
and begins in the main intermediate station, Ollanta.
There are two different ways to take this route: a)
by the Ferrostal Service, which has coaches equipped
with large windows that are ideal for photography
buffs; b) by the Backpacker Cerrojo, which is more
economical than the previous option. This service
has been created recently. It is also designed for
adventuresome passengers who, after spending the
night in the Sacred Valley, would like to travel to
Machu Picchu from the Ollanta station.
3. POROY MACHU PICCHU/MACHU
PICCHU POROY ROUTES: The Poroy station is located 18 km. from Cuzco, right in
the Urubamba valley. This official station allows
passengers and travel agencies to choose between the
usual winding route, which takes an hour longer in
both directions, and a shorter route departing from
or arriving at Poroy (add a 20 minutes drive to or
from Cuzco). perurail is planning to terminate the
construction of a train turntable to offer a Poroy
Machu Picchu Poroy direct line by mid 2003.
Nevertheless, the traditional winding route shall
still be offered as an alternative.
Depending on the means of transportation and the
time of day that one chooses to travel to Machu
Picchu, there are trains which depart for Machu
Picchu starting at dawn and during the early morning
hours.
These trains take 90 minutes to travel to or from
the Aguas Caliente station. The Aguas Caliente
station is located in a small town near the Machu
Picchu citadel. There are several shops, restaurants
and different possibilities of lodging for
travellers who decide to spend the night here. Such
a stay also allows them to enjoy the impressive
views of Machu Picchu and its environs at dawn and
dusk. Some also choose to travel on foot between
Aguas Calientes and the Machu Picchu citadel. This
takes about an hour. However, usually the trip is
made by bus. The return trip to the city of Cuzco is
available in the mid afternoon or at dusk.
Travellers can also organize the trip to Machu
Picchu on their own. One can purchase tickets in the
main reservation station at Wanchaq station or
through a travel agency. Most of the travel agencies
are located in the Plaza de Armas in Cuzco or the
surrounding area. They offer itineraries which
include a guide and all services, including the
option of picking up travellers at their respective
hotels and taking them to the station.
The visit by train to Machu Picchu can be done in a
day, departing from Cuzco at dawn and returning in
the midafternoon or at dusk. Nevertheless, this form
of travel is extremely tiresome and hasty.
One of the most noteworthy attractions of Machu
Picchu is being able to leisurely gaze at the
citadel under the wide range of daylight that falls
on each corner of the archaeological site as the day
progresses, especially during the rainy season.