How to Prepare for Train Service Interruptions if You're Planning a Trip to Machu Picchu

Train service is the single most important factor for getting to the middle of the Andes Mountains on your trip to Machu Picchu. This is because when there's interruptions, delays or suspensions to train service, there's literally no alternative transportation. (ok there's one, but you're not going to like it. Read on!) I'll explain what you need to know about how to organize your itinerary to allow for unplanned interruptions and how you can prepare, and what you can do if train service delays occur on your trip. And I'll include tips for hikers doing the 1-day Inca Trail, although you will have a licensed tour guide with you who should be up to date on what your options are for working around train delays that prevent you from getting to km 104 to start your hike. (If he or she is not a seasoned tour guide, you don't want to find out on the day your train is suspended. You want someone like Vidal Jaquehua. Keep reading!)

There's no way to know in advance when interruptions to train service could occur. it can happen anytime of the year. Even if there are rumors about local strikes or protests, these things don't occur months or weeks in advance. They're more likely to pop up within days of your visit. And just to throw another wrench into the works, there have been days when entire planes full of travelers on their way to Cusco have been delayed. Fortunately plane delays are less likely to occur than train service delays. And most people don't get off the plane and head straight to Machu Picchu. (I hope you're not planning to do that)

Strategies to avoid delays by train on your trip to Machu Picchu:

1. Change your train tickets in advance if you suspect a delay is likely to occur. Our manager, Vidal Jaquehua, in Cusco keeps his ear to the ground and has been known to change train tickets a day or two in advance, or move people to Ollantaytambo a day early, (if possible!) as a precaution when there are rumors indicating there could be protests or strikes that could affect getting to the trains or cause interruptions to train service. This could mean buying new train tickets.
2. Avoid scheduling your train on the same day as your flight in to Cusco. If your trip to Machu Picchu is limited to 3 days, then make sure you have a local operator on speed dial. New train tickets can be purchased as long as they are availabel . If you're boarding flights in Lima you may not be able to make those changes yourself. But a savvy operator (ahem!) could do it for you, as long as space is available. Perurail and IncaRail do not accommodate ticket changes at the last minute. Your only option is to buy new tickets if they're available.
3. Don't book your flight out of Cusco on the same day you're returning from Machu Picchu. It's around 5 hours travel time one way and although those late evening flights back to Lima look awfully convenient, it's ideal to return to Cusco and spend the night, then fly out the next day.
4. One-day trips to Machu Picchu are now all the rage. But it wasn't that long ago that everyone did an overnight trip. If you're planning a one-day trip you are basically at the mercy of the Apus (the spirits of the mountains). If you have the flexibility, plan an extra day in Cusco as a buffer.
5. Overall travel time is faster from Cusco to Machu Picchu if you pre-plan for a private vehicle to drive you from Cusco to Ollantaytambo, and pick up the train there to get to Aguas Calientes. Trains take a little longer than vehicles.

How often is train service to Machu Picchu disrupted? It's not as bad as you think. I checked 5 years of data. Go Here!

Are natural events like floods, rockslides or forest fires likely to occur near Machu Picchu at certain times of year?

Is there any advantage in planning your trip around seasons where the risk of these natural events is lower than at other times. Well, it makes sense that after the peak rainy season, which occurs around February (or March), the risk of massive piles of earth sliding off the mountain is probably higher than the period before the rainy season or during the early part of the rainy season, which would be December (ish.) Floods and mudslides during, and in the late rainy season, can also affect bridges and roads as well as train tracks. This is important to know about the drive through the Sacred Valley to get to the village of Ollantaytambo. Bridges have been known to wash out in late February, March and even into April. However, there may be alternative routes by road, and a good local driver will be ready to zig and zag through alternative routes to get you to the station on Ollantaytambo.

Why do the Machu Picchu rail companies shut down service from the Poroy train station every year between January 1 and April 30?

This is because the risk of mudslides and rockfall is higher during the rainy season, and especially right after the rainy season, when everything is saturated. So this should tell you something. If the rail companies are suspending service on this route every year, I would pay attention to these dates. The train route from Poroy is different than the train route from the village of Ollantaytambo to the Machu Picchu gateway town of Aguas Calientes.

This is one reason we always book train tickets for our groups to depart out of Ollantaytambo, rather than from Cusco (or Poroy when it's open.) We arrange for one our drivers to take people by van between Cusco and Ollantaytambo.

What are the alternative means of getting to Machu Picchu when train service is interrupted?

Just to be clear, there is a back door route to Machu Picchu. I've done it, intentionally, and I love it! However, this route is not for the faint of heart. It's a long road trip from Ollantaytambo (even longer from Cusco. 8 hours?) up over the Abra Malaga mountain pass and down into the semi-tropical high jungle to the village of Santa Teresa. (about 4-5h on rough dirt roads through mountainous terrain.) From there you need to drive down into the bottom of the canyon to the Urubamba river where you will get to what is called the "hidroelectric" train station. This is a small outpost that may (or may not) offer 40 minute train ride to the village of Aguas Calientes, maybe once or twice a day. But more than likely you need to be prepared to hike around 8 miles (2-3hours) along the river to the backside of Aguas Calientes. Carrying all your belongings. It's a fantastic little hike and I've done it a few times. On one trip we missed getting slammed by a mudslide by 15 minutes. It was early April, and the adventure that occurred following that event, resulted in this (link to Youtube podcast with the story)

Can 1-day Inca Trail hikers get to KM 104 by other means when train service is interrupted?

Yes technically you can, as long as it's safe. You don't want to walk into the scene of a protest, mudslide, flood or fire. And to add to the stress, you need to decide early in the day if you're going to activate a "Plan B." You could hire a taxi in Ollantaytambo to take you to KM 82 and drop you off. Then walk along the tracks to Km 104. There you'll see a sign for the Inca Trail and a footbridge to take you across the river to the checkin. You must be accompanied by your licensed tour guide who obviously has to agree to do all this. The deadline to get to Machu Picchu is no later than 5pm to take the last shuttle buses down to the village of Aguas Calientes. If you don't make it, the only way to get to Aguas Calientes is to hike down 1-2 hours in the dark. Always pack a headlamp when hiking.

Here's the good news for hikers. 1-Day Inca Trail hikers usually have a 2-day trip to Machu Picchu. This is to your advantage. Train service is restored asap and even if you miss the hike you may still be able to get in to Machu Picchu. Your hiking permit includes Circuits 1 and 3. So you may have to do both circuits on the 2nd day of your trip. This is how you turn an unexpected tragedy into a memorable experience. And you'll be with your tour guide who assists you with all the last minute navigating needed to overcome the obstacles when trains are interrupted.

Can you still get in to Machu Picchu if you're delayed getting there?

If you miss your appointed entry time to Machu Picchu due to an event that affects hundreds of visitors, the agents at the main gate will be notified and usually will allow people to enter late. The Ministry of Culture often makes a public announcement. Can I guarantee this? No. It may depend on the severity of the delay and its newsworthiness. Welcome to Peru folks!

However if you're delayed entering Machu Picchu at your appointed time due to reasons that are entirely under your control, then it's on you to explain why you were out late partying and overslept that morning! (or whatever the reason is, but make it a good one!)

For information about hiring a reputable and knowledgeable company to help you plan your big adventure to the middle of nowhere, just contact us through our website.

One more thing guys.

I suggest waiting until you have your Machu Picchu entry tickets in hand before you buy your train tickets.

When are Machu Picchu online entry tickets released each year?

Entry tickets to Machu Picchu are released on the official Peru government website (TuBoleto) in January each year for entry that year. Starting around the second week, they will release tickets in batches each day until all are available through December 31 that year. It takes about 10 days. For people entering Machu Picchu on January 1-5 or 6, they will release in late November or even December (of the previous year.) That means you literally have to plan your trip and then hope you get the tickets you want if you're traveling in the early days of January.

The first batch is released starting with the entry dates for the remainder of January. Then the next day they release the month of Feb. The following day they may release March and April together. And so on until all tickets for entry through December 31 are available online. The Ministry of Culture usually publishes a schedule of the release dates in late November or December.

It's customary for travel companies to organize trips in advance, for entry in the next year, without having entry tickets to Machu Picchu. Let me tell you it's very exciting on the first days of January when tickets are released. There are times when the website crashes or you can't complete your purchase, or you see tickets disappearing while you play a fast and furious game of "beat the clock." Welcome to Peru!