Machu Picchu: Belmond Hiram Bingham Train & Sanctuary Lodge Tea

The Train Ride Matters More Than the Destination

You travel to Machu Picchu by luxury train instead of bus, which means you eat two full meals and afternoon tea while the landscape moves past you, skip the entry-line crowds with an exclusive shuttle, and spend two and a half hours on a guided tour with a small group. Hotel pickup in Cusco and all entry fees are included. The whole day is about 12 hours from your hotel door back to it.

Step-by-step itinerary

Luxury train journey and Machu Picchu tour

• Hotel pickup in Cusco
• Drive 20 minutes to Poroy Station
• Welcome drink and board Belmond Hiram Bingham train
• Enjoy 3-hour train ride to Aguas Calientes
• Explore train observation platform and bar car
• Have 3-course lunch with paired wines
• Arrive at Aguas Calientes station
• Board shuttle bus to Machu Picchu
• Guided tour of Machu Picchu archaeological site
• Walk to Belmond Sanctuary Lodge for afternoon tea
• Return to Aguas Calientes and board train to Cusco
• Enjoy 4-course gourmet dinner on train
• Join onboard musicians for song and dance

The experience

What if the best part of seeing Machu Picchu wasn't actually being there? That's the gamble the Belmond Hiram Bingham makes, and it pays off the moment you step into those 1920s Pullman cars at Poroy Station outside Cusco. The train holds no more than 84 passengers, which means the observation platform doesn't feel like a cattle car, and the dining cars have actual tablecloths and sommelier-selected wine pairings. The 3-hour journey down to Aguas Calientes is where the real experience lives. You're eating a three-course lunch (trout with Andean mint, lamb cannelloni, organic cocoa dessert) while the Sacred Valley unfolds outside the window, and the staff keeps the wine flowing without asking twice.

Once you arrive at Aguas Calientes, you board a shuttle bus that's reserved just for Hiram Bingham passengers: no mixing with the crowds from the other trains. Your guide takes you through the main streets and ceremonial shrines of Machu Picchu for about two and a half hours, explaining how the Incas built this self-sufficient city with agricultural terraces and natural water systems. It's a solid tour, and the small group size (maximum 10 people per guide, per park rules) means you're not fighting for space or waiting for someone's phone to charge. After that, you walk to Belmond Sanctuary Lodge, the only hotel actually on the archaeological site, for afternoon tea: scones, sandwiches, or wine and appetizers if you'd rather. That's the moment most people take their best photos, because the light is different and you're not exhausted yet.

The return train is where things get a bit theatrical. You get a four-course gourmet dinner, live onboard musicians, and the whole car gets loose enough that strangers end up singing together by the time you pull back into Cusco. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included, so you don't have to figure out transport on either end. The only real constraint is luggage: big suitcases stay in your Cusco hotel storage, and you bring just a small backpack for overnight clothes if you're staying in the area. Passport details are required upfront for the booking to stick, and the park assigns you one of three visitor circuits (route 2 is priority, but you might get 3B or 1B depending on the day) to manage the flow of people through the site.

What’s included

Your day includes private hotel pickup and drop-off in Cusco, a welcome drink at Poroy Station, roundtrip travel on the Belmond Hiram Bingham train with a three-course lunch and wine pairings on the way down, exclusive shuttle transfers to and from the Machu Picchu citadel, a guided tour of the archaeological site lasting around two and a half hours, afternoon tea at Belmond Sanctuary Lodge (the only hotel on the ancient site), a four-course gourmet dinner on the return train with live onboard entertainment, and entry to Machu Picchu itself. All meals and drinks on board are included.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:00

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (3 to 11 years) · Under 3: can't be included in the booking

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsNo refund if you cancel.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Easy physical level

Operated by VIPAC Travel

Is this one for you?This is the right choice if you want to see Machu Picchu without the early bus departure, entry-line crowds, or the logistics of arranging your own transport and meals: the train schedule and exclusive shuttle handle all of that, and the meals and wine turn the journey itself into the experience.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 11 years). Under 3: they can't be included in the booking.

How long is the train journey from Cusco to Machu Picchu?

The train takes 3 hours to reach Aguas Calientes station. The return journey is also 3 hours.

What meals are included on the Belmond Hiram Bingham train?

A three-course lunch on the way down (with wine pairings), afternoon tea at Belmond Sanctuary Lodge, and a four-course gourmet dinner on the return journey.

How many people are on the train?

The train holds a maximum of 84 passengers total. Guided groups inside Machu Picchu are capped at 10 people per guide.

What can I bring on the train?

Only small bags or backpacks are allowed on the train. Large suitcases must stay in storage at your Cusco hotel.

Is the Machu Picchu guided tour included?

Yes. The guided tour lasts around 2.5 hours and covers the main streets, ceremonial shrines, solar clock, and agricultural terraces.

Do I need my passport for this tour?

Yes. Full passport details (name and ID number) are required at booking for the tour to be confirmed.

What is included in the price?

Hotel pickup and drop-off in Cusco, roundtrip train travel, all meals and drinks on board, exclusive shuttle transfers to and from Machu Picchu, the guided tour, afternoon tea at Belmond Sanctuary Lodge, and entry to Machu Picchu.

Can I choose which visitor circuit I get at Machu Picchu?

Route 2 is given as priority. If it's not available, you'll be offered route 3B or 1B and asked to confirm before tickets are issued.