- A.h. Arahuay LL - 1, Cusco, Perú.
- machupicchuperutravel@hotmail.com
So, when you start talking about a “luxury train to Machu Picchu,” everyone immediately thinks of the Hiram Bingham train, the world-famous one. But guess what? For a few years now, Inca Rail’s “First Class” train has been giving it a run for its money, offering another way to travel in style, comfort, and pure luxury to the famous citadel. If you’re dreaming of an exclusive journey to Machu Picchu, the team here at Machu Picchu Peru Travel wanted to break down these two fancy options for you. We want your trip to be seriously luxurious and unforgettable!
Alright, let’s get into the details of these posh train rides. We’re talking about:
And the big question…
If you’re asking about the top luxury train to the Inca city, it’s gotta be the Belmond Hiram Bingham from Peru Rail. This isn’t just any train ride, oh no. The carriages? They feel like they whisk you back to a totally different time. You half expect to step into an Agatha Christie novel, like “Murder on the Orient Express.” It actually makes sense because that English railway company, Orient Express, used to run the Hiram Bingham train until a few years back! So yeah, the carriages are all decked out in that 1920s English Pullman style. It’s not cheap, let’s be real, but wow, the journey itself is something else!
The Hiram Bingham train has this whole special schedule designed to impress everyone. Think delicious food, tons of drinks at the open bar, a live Andean music band, and expert tour guides right there on the train with you, among other things. All these touches really do make it an experience you won’t forget.
By the way, the luxury train gets its name from Hiram Bingham, the American explorer who kind of introduced Machu Picchu to the wider world back in 1911. Fun fact though: a Cusco farmer, Agustin Lizarraga, had actually found Machu Picchu 9 years before Bingham! He just didn’t have the cash or connections to tell the world about it. So, back then, Machu Picchu was mostly just known by the local folks.
Anyway, back to the train! Here’s what you can expect with the Hiram Bingham service, step by step.
1. A Fancy Welcome Drink (or two!)
The day kicks off with a super classy reception. We’re talking champagne, citrus juices, live Andean music, and even local dances. This all happens in a special lounge just for Hiram Bingham passengers, right before you board. The boarding stations are:
2. The Train Journey Begins
When it’s time (depending on which station you left from), the train’s Maitre d’ will welcome you and show you to your table. The Hiram Bingham actually has two dining cars, each holding 42 people. Inside, you’ll get some absolutely incredible views as you pass through some of the most beautiful scenery ever in the Sacred Valley of the Incas. The massive Andes mountains will be your backdrop, along with the powerful Urubamba River. You can soak it all in from the observation-bar car – that’s a third carriage on the Hiram Bingham.
Towards the end of this first part of the journey, the train makes a quick stop at the Urubamba train station. This is now a private station for the 5-star Tambo del Inca hotel in the Sacred Valley, pretty neat huh? It picks up guests from that hotel and then carries on to Ollantaytambo to pick up more passengers staying at various Sacred Valley hotels.
3. Chugging Along: The Second Leg
At 10:53 am, you’ll leave from Ollantaytambo. Midway through this leg, you get to enjoy a full 3-course brunch – appetizers, a main course, and dessert. The menu is a special selection of Novo-Andean dishes. Think international cooking techniques mixed with awesome local ingredients like quinoa, kiwicha, and all sorts of potatoes. After brunch, it’s open bar time! Unlimited drinks and that live Andean music band in the observation-bar car.
Overall, from Cusco to Machu Picchu, you’re looking at a journey of about 93 kilometers through the Sacred Valley. You’ll descend more than 1,400 meters in altitude on this almost 4-hour trip until you reach Aguas Calientes, the little town that supports Machu Picchu.
4. Your Grand Machu Picchu Tour
Around 12:30 pm, you arrive in Aguas Calientes. The Hiram Bingham guides will then split everyone into small groups of about 10 people and take you to exclusive buses heading up to Machu Picchu. And just like that, your tour of the citadel begins! Because the Hiram Bingham train leaves Machu Picchu pretty late in the day, you actually get to spend more time at the archaeological site than people on other trains. Plus, you won’t have to stress about missing the bus back down to Aguas Calientes. Why? Because there’s a tea party waiting for you at the Belmond Sanctuary Lodge (that unique hotel right next to the citadel, on top of the mountain) when your tour finishes. Finally, a dedicated bus will take you back down to Aguas Calientes to catch your return train. Talk about service!
5. The Journey Back to Cusco
At 5:50 pm, it’s time to head back. On the trip to Cusco, you’ll be treated to a delicious 3-course dinner before you get to Poroy station. And yes, the open bar is still available, and so is the live Andean music band! For safety reasons, the observatory car stays closed on the nighttime return journey. Once you arrive in Poroy, your tour company or hotel will usually arrange a pick-up to take you back to Cusco. And that’s the end of an incredible Machu Picchu adventure!
Just to sum it up, the train service includes all this cool stuff:
The First Class train is Inca Rail’s super exclusive option. It’s all about giving you the most comfort and space you could possibly imagine on a trip in Peru. Think comfy, plush seats, big windows on each side, and air conditioning, among other things. It really gives you a unique experience as you travel through the beautiful Sacred Valley. Inca Rail actually started up in 2007. It’s a Peruvian-owned company and a leader in sustainable tourism in the Andes. So, every time you choose an Inca Rail service, you’re also helping to look after the environment. Pretty cool, huh?
While it’s true that the services on the “First Class” train are quite similar to what the Hiram Bingham offers, this one stands out with its beautifully decorated cars that have these huge panoramic windows and super comfortable seats. It gives it a more modern feel. Onboard, you can admire the amazing scenery from the observatory lounge, listen to live music, enjoy gourmet meals, hit the bar, or even hang out on an outdoor terrace where all that stunning natural landscape and Andean culture just unfolds right before your eyes. This service also includes private transport from Aguas Calientes up to the Inca citadel and an unforgettable guided tour.
Here’s a peek at its itinerary:
1. A Pisco Welcome!
It all kicks off between 7:50 am and 8:30 am. An exclusive bus will pick you up from your hotel in Cusco and take you to Ollantaytambo train station. Important note: all Inca Rail trains leave from Ollantaytambo; none depart from Cusco or Poroy. The bus ride to the station takes about 2 hours. Once there, you’ll join other passengers coming from different hotels in the Sacred Valley in an exclusive lounge just for First Class train passengers. And there, you get to enjoy a welcome drink of Pisco Sour – Peru’s national drink! Cheers to that!
2. More Pisco and Live Music Onboard!
After you’ve savored that delicious Pisco Sour, the Maitre d’ will invite you to board the First Class train. Train staff will then show you to a comfy table, and the train departs at 11:15 am. Onboard, in the bar-observatory car, you’ll get to see a demonstration of how they prepare different drinks using Peruvian pisco. Fun! Next up, the 3-course menu will be ready. You’ll head back to your tables and enjoy gourmet Peruvian dishes made with local ingredients from the Sacred Valley and areas around Cusco. All this while a live band gets the atmosphere going with Andean music. Afterwards, you can go back to the observatory lounge to admire the views. Then, step out onto the outdoor terrace and just let the natural scenery and Andean culture wash over you. The train trip itself to Aguas Calientes lasts about 2 hours.
3. Time for the Machu Picchu Tour!
You’ll arrive in Aguas Calientes around 1:00 pm. Right away, the specialist tour guides from the First Class train will take you to an exclusive bus heading up to Machu Picchu. There, you’ll have your guided tour of Machu Picchu with your exclusive guide. When it’s time, you’ll take the buses back down to Aguas Calientes, where you can use your free time to grab some lunch or do a bit of shopping.
4. A Fun Ride Back!
The return journey starts around 7:00 pm. And guess what? You’ll have an open bar with a great variety of drinks, some snacks, options for Andean Peruvian wines, and of course, more live Andean music to keep you company. The train trip back to Ollantaytambo station takes about 2 hours. From there, you’ll hop on the exclusive First Class bus to return to Cusco (arriving around 11:00 pm) or to your hotel in the Sacred Valley. What a way to end your Machu Picchu day!
Here’s what the First Class train includes:
That’s a really tough question, isn’t it? And just saying “it depends on your budget” feels a bit like a cop-out. If you really look at the quality versus the price, maybe the cost of the Hiram Bingham train round trip (which is around $1000.00, give or take) or the First Class train (around $900.00 approx) might seem a bit much. That extra cash could go towards some seriously fancy hotel rooms anywhere else on your Peru trip.
However! If you’re looking for an absolutely unforgettable experience for a special occasion – like a honeymoon, an anniversary, a big birthday, or something like that – then yeah, taking one of these luxury trains to Machu Picchu will probably be totally worth it.
Plus, as you can see, with these different luxury trains, you can generally expect:
“LIFE IS LIKE A TRAIN TRACK, FULL OF POSSIBILITIES AND HAPPINESS”
Just a little thought to leave you with!
We here at Machu Picchu Peru Travel really hope this has been helpful. Getting to enjoy a luxury train to Machu Picchu is a pretty amazing thing to do. You get a unique experience even before you see the citadel, and you’ll feel like royalty the whole time. So, if you want an experience that’s just beyond compare, this is definitely your best bet. Enjoy this incredible trip, dreamed of by thousands, in a truly exceptional way.
If you want to know more about how to organize your train trip, you can always chat with our advisors. They’d be absolutely delighted to help you make this dream trip a reality. We’ll be waiting for your visit to the Andean country soon!
Peru has so many wonders just waiting for you to discover them. Here at Machu Picchu Peru Travel, our specialty is making your trip an outstanding experience. Just fill in our form, and let your tailor-made luxury Peru vacation begin!
