Machu Picchu may be the destination travelers dream about, but reaching it is an experience in its own right. The journey takes you from the historic streets of Cusco into the Sacred Valley, past Andean communities and dramatic mountain scenery, before following the Urubamba River toward Machu Picchu Pueblo.
However, for first-time visitors, the logistics can seem a little confusing. Should you travel from Cusco or Ollantaytambo? How does the train fit into the itinerary? Should you spend some time exploring the Sacred Valley before continuing to Machu Picchu?