Traveling to Machu Picchu by train can be more than just a way to reach the Inca citadel. For travelers looking for a premium experience, two of the most distinctive options are the Hiram Bingham, A Belmond Train, operated by PeruRail, and Inca Rail’s First Class service.
Both offer a more refined way to travel through the Sacred Valley, with comfortable seating, gourmet dining, onboard entertainment, and transportation to Machu Picchu. However, the services, routes, schedules, and inclusions differ. In this guide, we compare the Hiram Bingham and Inca Rail First Class to help you understand what each luxury train offers and decide which option best fits your Machu Picchu itinerary.
One of the best luxury trains to the Machu Picchu citadel is the Hiram Bingham, A Belmond Train, operated by PeruRail. This is far more than an ordinary train journey. Its Pullman-style carriages evoke the elegance of 1920s rail travel. Although it comes at a premium price, the service is designed for travelers seeking a high-end Machu Picchu experience.
The journey combines fine dining, live music, drinks, and panoramic views of the Sacred Valley. Together, these amenities create a premium travel experience. By the way, the luxury train takes its name from a famous American explorer who introduced Machu Picchu to the world in 1911.
Although Hiram Bingham is widely associated with bringing Machu Picchu to international attention in 1911, residents were aware of the site before his expedition. Bingham’s expedition helped bring the archaeological site to the attention of the international academic community.
The day begins with a first-class reception: champagne, citrus juices, live Andean music, and local dances in an exclusive lounge for the Hiram Bingham train passengers, a few minutes before boarding. The boarding stations are:
At the scheduled departure time (depending on the station of departure), the train will welcome you aboard and escort you to your table. Indeed, the Hiram Bingham train is made up of two dining cars with a capacity of 42 people each. The dining cars offer views of the Sacred Valley, the Andes, and the Urubamba River. The observation car provides an additional vantage point for enjoying the scenery.
At 10:53 am, you will depart from Ollantaytambo. During the journey, you can enjoy a three-course gourmet brunch. The menu is a special selection of Novo-Andean dishes, prepared with mixed international cuisine techniques and local ingredients like quinoa, kiwicha, and potatoes, among others.
After brunch, you will enjoy the open bar, with unlimited drinks and a live Andean music band in the observation-bar car. In general, from Cusco to Machu Picchu, you will travel approximately 58 miles (93 kilometers) through the Sacred Valley of the Incas, descending more than 1,400 meters in altitude on the almost four-hour journey until Aguas Calientes.
At 12:30 p.m., once you arrive in Machu Picchu Pueblo (Aguas Calientes), the Hiram Bingham guides will accompany you on a guided tour of Machu Picchu in a small group. Your guided tour of the citadel will then begin. Since the Hiram Bingham train departs from Machu Picchu very late in the day, it means you can spend more time at the archaeological site than passengers of other train services.
You won’t even have to worry about being late for the bus back down to Aguas Calientes. You will then enjoy afternoon tea at Belmond Sanctuary Lodge (perched atop the same mountain, right next to the citadel entrance) at the end of the tour. Finally, a dedicated bus will take you back down to Aguas Calientes to catch the return train.
At 5:50 p.m., on the trip back to Cusco, you can enjoy a three-course gourmet lunch before arriving at the Poroy station. You can also enjoy an open bar and live Andean music during the return journey. For security reasons, the observatory car will remain closed on the night return section. Once you arrive in Poroy, the tour company or hotel will pick you up and take you back to the Imperial City. The perfect end to a Machu Picchu journey!
In short, the train service includes the following services:
It offers a spacious and refined onboard experience for travelers heading to Machu Picchu. Comfortable, spacious seats, wide windows on each side, and air conditioning, among other services, will provide a comfortable way to travel through the Sacred Valley.
Founded in 2007, Inca Rail operates train services between Ollantaytambo and Machu Picchu, as well as bimodal services connecting Cusco with the Sacred Valley. Inca Rail promotes the care and preservation of the environment with its services on a trip to Peru.
While the services of the First Class train are very similar to those of the Hiram Bingham, it is distinguished by its beautifully decorated cars with panoramic windows and comfortable seats, which give it a modern touch.
Onboard, you will admire the landscape in the observatory lounge and enjoy live music, gourmet menus, a bar, and an outdoor terrace, where the natural landscape and Andean culture are displayed in front of your eyes. This service includes private transportation from Aguas Calientes to the wonderful archaeological site. Machu Picchu entrance tickets depend on the fare or package purchased. Check the inclusions when booking.
The journey begins between 7:50 and 8:30 a.m., depending on your departure time. An exclusive bus will pick you up from Inca Rail’s office in Cusco and take you to Ollantaytambo. Inca Rail operates bimodal services (bus + train) directly out of Cusco (San Pedro / Av. El Sol).
The bus trip lasts two hours to the train station. At this point, you will join other passengers coming from different Sacred Valley hotels in a dedicated lounge for First Class passengers. There, you can enjoy a welcome drink of Pisco Sour, the national drink of Peru.
After enjoying the welcome Pisco Sour, the crew will invite you to board the First Class train. Once onboard, the crew will guide you to your table. The train will depart at 11:15 a.m. Onboard the bar-observatory car, you will have a demonstration of the preparation of different drinks based on the Peruvian pisco. After the demonstration, you’ll return to your table and enjoy a three-course menu featuring Peruvian cuisine prepared with local ingredients from the Sacred Valley and surrounding areas of Cusco.
Meanwhile, the atmosphere comes alive with Andean music from a live band. Shortly after, you will be able to admire the landscape in the observatory lounge. Afterward, the natural landscape and the Andean culture will be displayed in front of your eyes on the outdoor terrace. The train journey takes approximately two hours to reach Aguas Calientes.
You’ll arrive at Aguas Calientes at 1:00 p.m. Immediately, the specialist tour guides of the First Class train will accompany you to take the exclusive bus heading to Machu Picchu. There, you will have a guided tour of Machu Picchu with your exclusive tour guide. At the scheduled time, you’ll return by bus to Aguas Calientes to take advantage of your free time in the town and go for lunch or shopping.
The return will begin at approximately 7:00 p.m. During the return journey, you can enjoy an open bar featuring a variety of beverages, snacks, Andean wines, and live Andean music. The train journey takes approximately two hours to Ollantaytambo, where you’ll take the First Class bus back to Cusco or your Sacred Valley hotel, arriving at approximately 11:00 p.m.
The First Class train includes the following services:
Whether a luxury train to Machu Picchu is worth the extra cost depends on your budget, travel style, and priorities. For travelers who value gourmet dining, onboard entertainment, comfortable seating, and a more curated travel experience, the additional cost may be worthwhile. If your priority is simply reaching Machu Picchu, a standard train service may offer better value; everything depends on your cost to travel to Peru.
However, if you want an iconic experience for a special occasion such as a honeymoon, anniversary, or birthday, among others, taking one of these luxury trains to Machu Picchu will be worth it. Also, as you can see, on the different luxury trains, you can expect the following services:
| Hiram Bingham | Inca Rail First Class | |
| Operator | PeruRail / Belmond | Inca Rail |
| Departure | Depending on service | Ollantaytambo / bimodal from Cusco |
| Style | Classic, Pullman-inspired | Modern and spacious |
| Dining | Gourmet | Gourmet |
| Live music | Yes | Yes |
| Observation car | Yes | Yes |
| Machu Picchu bus | Yes | Yes |
| Price | Premium | Premium |
Choosing a luxury train can make the journey to Machu Picchu a memorable part of your trip to Peru. Whether you prefer the classic elegance of the Hiram Bingham or the modern comfort of Inca Rail First Class, both services offer a premium way to travel through the Sacred Valley.
If you need help choosing the right train, our travel advisors can help you compare schedules, services, and available options based on your itinerary. We look forward to welcoming you to Peru.
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