Luxury Trains to Machu Picchu: Hiram Bingham, The First Class, The Prime and The Private (2026)

If you want the journey to Machu Picchu to be part of the experience, you can choose a luxury train. The best-known option is the Hiram Bingham, A Belmond Train, which is also sold through PeruRail. Inca Rail offers The First Class and The Private, and one step below them, The Prime. In this guide we explain what each one includes, where it leaves from, its schedules, the rules for children and luggage, and how to book. We use the official pages of Belmond, PeruRail and Inca Rail first, and when a figure comes from an agency or we could not verify it, we say so.

All these trains arrive in Machu Picchu Pueblo (Aguas Calientes), not at the citadel. Some include the bus up, the guide or the entry ticket, but not all of them do, so check carefully what you are buying.

Which luxury trains go to Machu Picchu

The Hiram Bingham is Belmond's only luxury train that reaches Machu Picchu: it has 1920s Pullman-style carriages, gourmet meals, live music and a full day with a guided visit. Inca Rail has The First Class, with a gourmet menu and an open-air balcony, and The Private, a private carriage for your group. The Prime is simpler, but adds roomy seats, a snack, live music and priority boarding. The Andean Explorer, Belmond's other luxury train in Peru, does not go to Machu Picchu.

Luxury trains: quick comparison

None of the companies publishes a fixed fare on its information pages: the price depends on the date, the departure time and demand, and you see it in their booking engine or ask their sales team.

Hiram Bingham, A Belmond Train

• The train: 84 seats in 1920s Pullman-style carriages, with 2 dining cars and 2 bar cars, one of them with an observatory.
• On board: a welcome show with traditional dances, live music and Peruvian cocktails in the bar car. A gourmet brunch or lunch is served on the way out, and a gourmet dinner on the return.
• At Machu Picchu: a VIP waiting room at the station, the bus up and down, a guided visit in Spanish and/or English for groups of up to 14 people, and afternoon tea at the Belmond Sanctuary Lodge hotel.
• The entry ticket: PeruRail states that round trips and one-way outbound trips include the entry ticket to the citadel. However, Belmond warns that the train ticket does not guarantee entry, because entry is managed by the Ministry of Culture. Confirm availability for your date when you book.
• Operating days: every day except the last Sunday of each month.
• Price: unverified. One agency advertises it at about USD 600 round trip and another mentions about USD 570 per leg, so confirm the real price with Belmond or PeruRail.

Hiram Bingham schedules

From May to December 2026 (train only): it leaves Poroy station, in Cusco, at 9:05 and arrives in Machu Picchu Pueblo at 12:24. The return leaves at 17:50 and arrives in Poroy at 21:16.

From January to April 2026 (bimodal): a private bus leaves Wanchaq station, in Cusco, at 7:20 for Belmond's Rio Sagrado hotel in the Sacred Valley. From there, the train leaves at 9:40 and arrives at 12:24. On the way back, the train leaves at 17:50 and reaches Rio Sagrado at 20:36; the bus leaves at 20:50, arrives in Wanchaq at 22:10 and includes a transfer to hotels in central Cusco.

Belmond's page and PeruRail's FAQ also mention boarding at Ollantaytambo, but the May to December 2026 timetable only shows the departure from Poroy. Ask about this option when you book.

What the Hiram Bingham includes by type of trip

• Round trip: everything above, from the welcome show to the dinner on the return, with bus, guide, entry ticket and afternoon tea.
• One-way outbound (Cusco–Machu Picchu): welcome show, bar car, gourmet lunch, observation car, live music, VIP lounge, bus up, entry ticket, guide and afternoon tea.
• Return only (Machu Picchu–Cusco): afternoon tea, bus down, VIP lounge, gourmet dinner, live music and bar car. It does not include the entry ticket or the guide.

Inca Rail The First Class

• On board: roomy seats with a table, a dining car, a lounge-bar car and an open-air balcony. It includes welcome cocktails, live Andean music and priority boarding.
• Food: a 3-course gourmet menu, as lunch or dinner, with a complimentary drink; Inca Rail also mentions wine pairing.
• At Machu Picchu: according to Inca Rail's FAQ, all First Class tickets include the bus to the citadel. The entry ticket and the guide only come with the All-Inclusive fare.
• Departure: from Ollantaytambo, about 1 h 30 min from Aguas Calientes by train. If you start in Cusco, the bimodal service includes a priority transfer to Ollantaytambo.
• One way or round trip: you can buy just one leg in First Class and the other in another class.

In an Inca Rail timetable that is no longer on its current website, The First Class left Ollantaytambo at 11:15 and arrived at 12:41, and returned from Aguas Calientes at 19:00. According to that table, it ran Monday to Saturday and did not operate from 1 July to 31 October, during Holy Week, during Inti Raymi or at the end of the year. We could not verify this, so check availability in its booking engine.

Inca Rail The Prime

• On board: roomy reclining seats and large windows, with no open-air space. It has live Andean music and priority boarding.
• Food: a snack made with Andean ingredients and a premium drink.
• Show: on the return from Machu Picchu to Ollantaytambo there is a live performance of the Ollantay drama.
• Level: Inca Rail classifies it as Premium Economy on its website, one step below The First Class and The Private.
• Departure: from Ollantaytambo, or on the bimodal service from Cusco.

According to the same old table, The Prime left Ollantaytambo at 6:40, 11:15 and 16:36. We could not verify this either.

Inca Rail The Private

• Privacy: a carriage reserved only for you and your group, with a private lounge and bar and an exclusive open-air area.
• Food: a 4-course gourmet menu with wines and pisco cocktails.
• On board: live Andean music and priority boarding. If you leave from Cusco, it can include a private transfer to Ollantaytambo.
• At Machu Picchu: its all-inclusive fare adds a private guide, the bus and the Machu Picchu entry ticket.
• Booking: it is booked with Inca Rail's sales team via WhatsApp, and they recommend booking 2 or 3 months in advance. It can also be booked one way.

What about the Andean Explorer?

The Andean Explorer, A Belmond Train, is a luxury sleeper train with cabins, a spa car and full board, but it does not go to Machu Picchu. It departs from Cusco (Wanchaq station), Puno and Arequipa, and runs the route between Cusco, Lake Titicaca and Arequipa.

Dress code, children, meals and luggage

• Dress code: there is no mandatory code. PeruRail's FAQ says the Hiram Bingham has no dress code, and Belmond suggests smart casual with an explorer feel. We found no dress guidance from Inca Rail, which only recommends dressing in layers.
• Children on the Hiram Bingham: those aged 0 to 2 travel free on a parent's lap, and those aged 3 to 11 pay 75% of the fare. If a baby needs its own seat, PeruRail applies the child fare and Belmond mentions a 50% discount.
• Children on Inca Rail: infants aged 0 to 35 months travel free if they do not take a seat, but you must register them by email up to 1 day before the trip; 1 infant is allowed per adult. Children aged 3 to 11 have their own fare.
• Special meals: on the Hiram Bingham you can request vegetarian or children's menus in advance.
• Luggage on the Hiram Bingham: Belmond indicates 1 bag or backpack of up to 5 kg and 157 cm, while PeruRail's luggage page includes it in the general rule of 1 backpack of 8 kg or 1 carry-on of 12 kg. Extra luggage is not allowed on board, but you can leave it free of charge in PeruRail's storage.
• Luggage on Inca Rail: 1 bag of up to 8 kg; large suitcases are not allowed on board.

Which luxury train to choose

• If you want the most complete experience from Cusco: Hiram Bingham, with meals, a guide and tea at the Sanctuary Lodge on a single ticket.
• If you are staying in the Sacred Valley and want to eat well on board: The First Class from Ollantaytambo, if it runs on your date.
• If you want more comfort without paying luxury prices: The Prime.
• If you are traveling as a family or group and want privacy: The Private.
• If you only want luxury on one leg: combine a luxury train on the way out with a cheaper class on the return, or the other way round.

Booking tips

• Get your entry ticket first: even if the Hiram Bingham or The Private include it, it depends on availability from the Ministry of Culture. Check our tickets guide before paying for the train.
• Book early: the Hiram Bingham has only 84 seats, and Inca Rail recommends booking The Private 2 or 3 months in advance.
• Check what your type of trip includes: on the Hiram Bingham, the return-only ticket does not include the entry ticket or the guide.
• Avoid the last Sunday of the month if you want to ride the Hiram Bingham, because it does not run that day.
• Confirm the time and station: from January to April, the Hiram Bingham starts with a bus from Wanchaq, and schedules may change for operational reasons.

Related guides

To compare every class and company, read our guide to trains to Machu Picchu; if you want views without paying for a luxury train, see our guide to the Vistadome train, and if you are Peruvian, the difference between the local train and the tourist train. The distance of each leg is in our guide to the distance from Cusco to Machu Picchu, and every way to get there is in our guides to getting there from Cusco and from Lima. If you prefer to save, read how to get to Machu Picchu without the train and on a budget. When you arrive, follow our guide from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu.

Before booking the train, get your Machu Picchu ticket and check the entry requirements. If you want to climb a mountain, read our guide to Huayna Picchu tickets; if you arrive without a ticket, read how to buy tickets in Machu Picchu Pueblo. To choose your train time around your visit, see our guides to Machu Picchu circuits, circuit 2A vs 2B and circuit 3 (Machu Picchu Realeza).

Frequently asked questions

What is the most luxurious train to Machu Picchu?

Belmond's Hiram Bingham. At Inca Rail, the most exclusive options are The First Class and The Private.

Does the Hiram Bingham include the Machu Picchu entry ticket?

PeruRail says it does on round trips and one-way outbound trips, but Belmond warns that the train ticket does not guarantee entry. Confirm it when you book.

Where does the Hiram Bingham leave from?

From May to December, from Poroy at 9:05. From January to April, with a bus from Wanchaq at 7:20 and the train from Rio Sagrado.

Is there a dress code on luxury trains?

It is not mandatory. Belmond suggests smart casual for the Hiram Bingham.

Can children ride the Hiram Bingham?

Yes. Those aged 0 to 2 travel free on a parent's lap, and those aged 3 to 11 pay 75% of the fare.

Does the Andean Explorer go to Machu Picchu?

No. It departs from Cusco, Puno and Arequipa, and runs the Lake Titicaca route.

Summary

If you want luxury, the Hiram Bingham is the most complete experience: it leaves Poroy from May to December and includes gourmet meals, live music, a guide and tea at the Sanctuary Lodge. Inca Rail offers The First Class and The Private from Ollantaytambo, and The Prime as a simpler option. Confirm what your ticket includes, especially the entry ticket, and book early.

Sources

1. Belmond, Hiram Bingham train: https://www.belmond.com/trains/south-america/peru/belmond-hiram-bingham/
2. Belmond, Hiram Bingham FAQ (dress code, children, luggage and menus): https://www.belmond.com/trains/south-america/peru/belmond-hiram-bingham/faqs
3. Belmond, Cusco–Machu Picchu journey: https://www.belmond.com/en/trains/south-america/peru/hiram-bingham/journeys/cusco-to-machu-picchu
4. Belmond, Machu Picchu–Cusco journey: https://www.belmond.com/en/trains/south-america/peru/hiram-bingham/journeys/machu-picchu-to-cusco
5. PeruRail, May to December 2026 timetable (PDF): https://www.perurail.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Timetable-may-dic-2026.pdf
6. PeruRail, January to April 2026 timetable (PDF): https://www.perurail.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Timetable-ene-abr-2026.pdf
7. PeruRail, FAQ (Hiram Bingham, children and dress code): https://www.perurail.com/es/preguntas-frecuentes/
8. PeruRail, luggage allowance: https://www.perurail.com/es/equipaje/
9. PeruRail, bimodal service: https://www.perurail.com/es/servicio-bimodal/
10. PeruRail, Andean Explorer: https://www.perurail.com/es/servicio-de-tren/belmond-andean-explorer-viajes/
11. Inca Rail, The First Class train: https://incarail.com/es/trenes/tren-first-class-machu-picchu
12. Inca Rail, The Prime train: https://incarail.com/es/trenes/tren-the-prime-machu-picchu
13. Inca Rail, The Private train: https://incarail.com/es/trenes/tren-private-machu-picchu
14. Inca Rail, train comparison: https://incarail.com/es/trenes/compare-servicios-de-trenes
15. Inca Rail, FAQ (meals, bus, entry ticket and children): https://incarail.com/es/centro-de-ayuda/preguntas-frecuentes
16. Inca Rail, timetable in its terms and conditions (previous version, no longer available): https://headless-runa.incarail.app/en/terms-and-conditions
17. Train prices published by agencies (unofficial reference): machupicchuagency.com and railmachupicchu.com