Hiram Bingham, A Belmond Train

The most elegant way to arrive at Machu Picchu: a 1920s-style Pullman, live music and fine dining along the way.

  • Duration: ~3 h 20 min each way
  • Route: Poroy (Cusco) - Machu Picchu Pueblo
  • Class: luxury

Some trains take you to Machu Picchu. The Belmond Hiram Bingham makes the arrival part of the story. From the moment you step onto the platform at Poroy, near Cusco, with a folkloric welcome and a glass in hand, the day feels like an occasion: blue-and-gold Pullman carriages in the style of the 1920s, polished wood and brass, and only 84 seats on the whole train. On board, the journey is as memorable as the destination. There are two dining cars serving Peruvian fine dining, two bar cars with local and international cocktails, live entertainment, and an observation car open to the valley air, where you can stand and watch the Andes give way to cloud forest as the Urubamba River rushes alongside. The ride takes about three hours and twenty minutes each way, and it passes like one long, unhurried lunch, with a gourmet dinner and cocktails on the way back. Arriving at Aguas Calientes, a private bus takes you up to the citadel, where a bilingual guide (subject to availability) leads you through Machu Picchu. Entrance tickets are managed separately by the Ministry of Culture and are not guaranteed by the train ticket, so we help you secure them together with your seat, which matters because both sell out. We recommend it for honeymoons, anniversaries and once-in-a-lifetime trips, for anyone who wants to remember how they arrived as much as what they saw. We wish you a toast as the valley opens up on the way to Machu Picchu, and we are here to arrange every detail.

Why we chose it

  • It turns the ride to Machu Picchu into part of the experience instead of dead time before it.
  • The observation car's open sides and live music make it feel more like a private club car than a commuter train.
  • Guests who want a special-occasion arrival (anniversaries, honeymoons) remember the train as much as the ruins.

Highlights

  • 1920s-style Pullman carriages in Belmond's signature blue and gold, with only 84 seats
  • Two dining cars with Peruvian fine dining, and two bar cars with local and international cocktails
  • Observation car open to the valley air, with live entertainment on board
  • Folkloric welcome at Poroy station, as the day begins
  • Private bus transfer from Aguas Calientes station up to the Machu Picchu citadel
  • Bilingual guide at Machu Picchu (subject to availability)
  • Gourmet dinner and cocktails on the return journey
  • Also departs from Urubamba (Rio Sagrado) and Pachar stations, depending on the itinerary

Ideal for

  • honeymooners and couples celebrating a special occasion
  • once-in-a-lifetime trips
  • luxury travelers who want the journey to be part of the experience
  • guests who prefer a small, intimate train

Practical information

Schedule
The Belmond Hiram Bingham departs Poroy (near Cusco) at approximately 9:05am, arriving at Machu Picchu around 12:25pm; the return departs Machu Picchu at approximately 5:50pm, arriving back in Poroy around 9:15pm. This is a single daily round trip (afternoon tour departure, evening return), typically not operating every day of the week -- confirm exact days and times when booking.

Frequently asked questions

What's included in the Hiram Bingham ticket?

Round-trip rail travel in a Pullman-style carriage, a multi-course meal with open bar outbound and dinner with cocktails on return, live music in the observation car, and (per Belmond) bus transport between Aguas Calientes and Machu Picchu, a guided visit to the citadel, and tea at Belmond Sanctuary Lodge. Confirm current inclusions before booking, as sources vary slightly on what's bundled by fare type.

How much luggage can I bring?

One small bag or backpack per person, up to about 11 lbs (5 kg), with maximum combined dimensions of roughly 62 inches (height + length + width). Larger luggage should stay at your Cusco hotel.

Does the train run year-round?

Yes, but the bar-observation car closes for a scheduled maintenance window roughly once a year (recent examples ran mid-October to mid-November and early-to-mid March); during that period a substitute bar car is used and the train still operates.

Is this a nonstop ride to Machu Picchu?

It's a train ride between Cusco/Poroy and Machu Picchu Pueblo (Aguas Calientes); guests then transfer by bus up to the Machu Picchu citadel itself, which is not part of the train experience.

How many guests does the train carry?

The Hiram Bingham has 84 seats, so it is one of the most intimate ways to reach Machu Picchu, with a relaxed pace in the dining and bar cars.

Is the Machu Picchu entrance included in the train ticket?

No. The train ticket does not guarantee entry to the citadel, since entrance tickets are managed by the Peruvian Ministry of Culture. We help you reserve your entrance together with your train seat. A private bus transfer from Aguas Calientes station to the citadel and a bilingual guide (subject to availability) are part of the experience.