Background
To start our Machu Picchu journey, we booked an Inka Rail Voyager train from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes. This train is approximately 1 hour and 40 minutes, and is often paired with a bus service from Cusco to Ollantaytambo, as most people will be flying into Cusco. We opted to hire a private transfer from Cusco to Ollantaytambo rather than take a bus, and that drive took about 2 hours. The road is a bit bumpy, and there was some traffic as well as construction near Ollantaytambo.
Both Inka Rail & Peru Rail service this route (including the fancy Belmond train, which is operated by Peru Rail). Each has a few different levels of experiences as well, and Inka Rail Voyager is the most economical option for Inka Rail, and offers entry-level service featuring wide panoramic windows and plush seats. Inka Rail also operates The 360°, The Prime, and The First Class.
Reserving Tickets
I had reserved our tickets about 4 months ahead of time online. Our Voyager train tickets cost $85 per passenger, and they randomly assigned us seats immediately after booking. Also, one of our friends had to cancel, and the refund process was pretty straightforward and quick. You’ll fill out a form and get an email when it’s being processed, and I received the refund (less a 10% service fee) within a week. Much faster than Peru Rail, which took over a month, and I had to remind them.
Check-In, Boarding Process
At Ollantaytambo Station, Inka Rail has a waiting room with a coffee bar and some seating. It was quite packed, and of course our train was delayed. The reason given was that a Peru Rail train was blocking our train, and they said it was “fixed” but never gave an ETA on how the delay would be. Near the station, there are some shops and restaurants as well.
They called our name over the loudspeaker to report to the check in/purchase desk and just wanted to check our passport. They only had one person working, so there was a bit of a line, which was a little annoying, but I guess they also took their time since there was a delay.
Baggage
Our Inka Rail Voyager train car did not have luggage racks on board. Per their website rules, you’re only supposed to bring one piece of hand luggage (backpack, handbag, or briefcase) weighing no more than 8 kg/17 lb and with dimensions of no more than 46 linear inches / 118 linear cm (height + length + width).
They didn’t seem the most strict on this rule, as most guests (including us) had a carry-on and a backpack. There isn’t any overhead storage built in, and really no luggage storage. Which is why they pretty much restrict you to a carry-on bag & personal item. They do have storage at Ollantaytambo, but we didn’t want to worry about that, and decided to pack light.
Thankfully, behind the seats facing forward and backward, there is a space to squeeze a carry-on bag in between, so that is where we ended up housing our carry-ons. Our return trip on the Peru Rail Vistadome had luggage racks, which made finding space less stressful.
The Inka Rail Voyager Train
You’re assigned to a specific coach, and they will have an associate with your coach letter, and you all follow them to walk down from the waiting area to the train platform. Performers dress in traditional Andean outfits and play live music while walking passengers down the platform to board the train.
Once at the train, they scan your boarding passes, and you find your assigned seat. Thankfully, our coach had some empty seats so our group of 3 was able to move to an empty 2×2 with a table in between.
Fortunately for us, behind the seats facing one another with a table and the next row of seats, there is a gap in between the backs of the seats, so we were able to store two of our carry-ons there. I’ve heard they aren’t as strict as the written policy, and they didn’t seem to judge the size of my carry-on. We ended up departing 1 hour behind schedule.
Once we departed, they did a show with two of the teammates and then brought the snack cart for purchase down the aisle. They offered alcohol, soft drinks, and some snacks. Sadly, they were out of the brownie I wanted. We opted to get some drinks and snacks. Unfortunately, they didn’t charge us the “combo” discount for ordering a snack + drink together, but oh well. Just make sure to check before you pay!
We ended up arriving 1 hour late to Aguas Calientes.
The Verdict
Overall, the Inka Rail Voyager train was sufficient to get me to Machu Picchu, despite the delay. I’d recommend splurging a bit, as I did very much prefer my Peru Rail Vistadome experience on my return trip, which only cost $14 more per ticket. I’d be curious to see how the other more premium Inka Rail products are, like the 360, which would be a fairer comparison to the Peru Rail Vistadome.
What do you think about the Inka Rail Voyager train? Comment below!
Cheers,
Ty
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