Belmond Hiram Bingham Train to Machupicchu – Full Day

The Hiram Bingham makes the journey to Machu Picchu part of the main event: you get Andean views from the train, meals served onboard, and a guided visit at the ruins. It is a full day, about 12 hours, with a reported price of $2,250 per person.

I like two things in particular: the train turns a long transfer into a proper experience, with live music and drinks, and the day includes both a professional guide at Machu Picchu and afternoon tea at Belmond Sanctuary Lodge. You have less planning to do once the day is underway.

The trade-off is the cost, plus the need to check your exact pickup time and departure station before booking. One reported booking involved a 6:30 a.m. hotel pickup and a departure from Urubamba, not the expected Poroy station. That kind of change can add hours of road travel to an already long day.

Key points before you book

• The train runs three days a week: Hiram Bingham service operates on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.
• The day lasts about 12 hours: The stated start time is 8:00 a.m., but confirm your actual hotel pickup time and station.
• Food and drinks are part of the experience: Expect welcome appetizers, breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, hot drinks, soft drinks, wine, beer, sparkling wine, and Pisco Sours.
• Machu Picchu includes a professional guide: You also get a VIP lounge at the station and afternoon tea at Belmond Sanctuary Lodge.
• Mountain hikes cost extra: Huayna Picchu and Machu Picchu Mountain tickets are not included.
• Small group, strict commitment: The maximum group size is nine, and the booking is non-refundable and cannot be changed.

What a day on the Hiram Bingham feels like

This is not simply a train ticket with lunch attached. The day is built around moving from Cusco to Machu Picchu and back with a high level of service at each stage. You are picked up at your Cusco city hotel and transferred to the train station, where a welcome drink begins the day. The package also includes a Belmond Hiram Bingham travel bag.

The train ride is the heart of the outing. As the route carries you through the Andes, the scenery becomes a reason to settle in rather than watch the clock. The train’s Observation Car is open on the outbound trip, weather and operations permitting, giving you a place to take in the views beyond your seat. The return trip’s observation balcony is closed for operational reasons, so do not count on the same open-air setup in both directions.

Meals and service are a large part of what you are paying for. Welcome appetizers, breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, bottled water, coffee, tea, and other non-alcoholic drinks are included. The listed alcoholic options include Argentine and Chilean red and white wine, Peruvian Tacama sparkling wine, Cusqueña beer, and Pisco Sours throughout the trip. If you do not drink alcohol, the included soft drinks and hot drinks still make the onboard service useful, rather than an add-on you have to budget for.

Live music adds a local touch without requiring you to plan another activity. A band plays local and international music in the Observation Car on the outbound journey and in the Bar Car on the return. From May 25 to June 18, the train is scheduled to operate without its Observation Car for maintenance. If an open-air view is a major part of your decision, check whether it will be available on your date.

The station transfer is worth checking twice

The listed start time is 8:00 a.m., and Cusco hotel pickup and train-station transfers are included. But that does not guarantee the same departure station or hotel pickup time for every booking. One reported case involved a 6:30 a.m. pickup and a train departure from Urubamba rather than Poroy, with the unexpected road transfer adding nearly three hours round trip.

That detail matters because the train day is already long. Before you pay, ask the operator to confirm your exact pickup time, departure station, and ground-transfer plan in writing. The experience is provided by Apu Andino Travel Peru, while the train service is Belmond Hiram Bingham. Make sure you know which company is confirming each part of your trip.

The advertised 8:00 a.m. start and the reported 6:30 a.m. pickup are not necessarily contradictory: the start time may refer to the train or tour schedule rather than the time a vehicle reaches your hotel. But you should not have to guess. Build your plans around the pickup time you are actually given, not the headline start time.

Machu Picchu with a guide, not a self-guided dash

At Machu Picchu, a professional guide leads the visit. That is valuable at a site where the scale, setting, and layout can be difficult to take in without someone helping you make sense of what you are seeing. The tour is described as including skip-the-line access, which can reduce time spent waiting and leave more of the day for the site itself.

The included guided visit does not mean every activity at Machu Picchu is covered. Tickets for Huayna Picchu and Machu Picchu Mountain are specifically excluded. Those are separate hikes, so do not assume you can add one on the day without arranging the required ticket in advance. If one of those climbs is central to your plans, check ticket availability and timing before choosing this package.

The tour information describes a guided visit but does not clearly spell out every detail of the Machu Picchu entrance ticket in its included items. Confirm what admission is covered, and what identification or ticket information you need to bring. That is a sensible check for any full-day visit to a major site, especially when your schedule is coordinated with a train.

After the visit, the day includes afternoon tea at Belmond Sanctuary Lodge. This gives you a quieter pause before the return journey and adds a second distinct setting to the day: first the ruins, then a more leisurely stop at the lodge. A VIP lounge at Machu Picchu Station is also included, useful when you are waiting for the train rather than trying to find a place to sit in a busy station.

Is the $2,250 fare worth it?

At $2,250 per person, this is a costly way to reach Machu Picchu. The value depends on what you want the day to be. You are paying for the premium train experience, a hotel transfer in Cusco, meals and drinks, onboard entertainment, a professional guide, a station lounge, and afternoon tea. If those comforts make the journey itself part of your holiday, the package can feel more worthwhile than treating the train as mere transport.

If your priority is simply to visit Machu Picchu, compare this price with other ways to make the trip before committing. One reported booking experience stated that a direct Belmond booking cost less than $900 at the time. That is not a current quote, and the details or inclusions may differ, but the gap is large enough to justify checking directly with Belmond as well as with Apu Andino Travel Peru. Compare the full package, not just the train fare: transfers, meals, guide service, lounge access, and tea can change the true value.

There is another cost to consider: the day leaves little room for schedule changes. A late pickup, a different station, or road transfers can make the experience longer than expected. Ask for the planned timetable and route before paying, and leave some flexibility in your Cusco plans for the evening.

Tips are not included. There is also a display of Kamari jewelry onboard, with train-themed pieces such as coasters, key chains, credit card holders, money clips, and cufflinks. Musicians may have CDs for sale. These are optional purchases, so bring extra cash only if you might want souvenirs, snacks, or other purchases during the day.

What to pack for the long day

A small day pack is recommended, along with water, comfortable shoes or running shoes, a camera, and a rain jacket or poncho. The suggested list also includes a fleece or jacket, basic toiletries, a sun hat, sunscreen, and mosquito repellent. These are practical choices for a long day that combines train time, a visit to an outdoor archaeological site, and time in transit.

Bring some extra money for snacks, souvenirs, and tips. Meals and many drinks are included, so you do not need to budget for every bite, but the tour information still recommends having money available for extras. If you have specific dietary needs, ask the operator about meal arrangements before booking; no dietary options are detailed in the tour information.

The stated fitness level is moderate. You should be comfortable walking around Machu Picchu and standing for parts of a guided visit, but no exact walking distance or terrain details are provided. Choose sturdy footwear and avoid assuming the day is entirely seated just because the train is luxurious.

A small group, but not a flexible booking

The maximum group size is nine travelers, which can make the guided portion feel more personal than a large coach tour. It also means the experience is not a private tour for your party alone. No guide names are provided, so you cannot request a particular guide based on the information available.

The service runs only on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Booking is typically made about 16 days ahead, but availability can change. Confirmation is normally issued at booking; if you book within seven days of travel, confirmation may take up to 48 hours and depends on availability.

The cancellation terms are unusually strict: the experience is non-refundable and cannot be changed for any reason. That makes it especially important to verify your travel date, pickup details, station, and included services before paying. Provide your hotel details promptly, as they are needed for the Cusco pickup and return transfer.

Who should book this train day?

I would consider the Hiram Bingham if you want the journey to feel like a highlight in its own right, appreciate attentive service, and are comfortable paying a premium for food, drinks, entertainment, transfers, and a guided visit in one package. It is also a good fit if you prefer having much of the day organized for you, rather than arranging each leg separately.

I would pause if your budget is tight, if you mainly want the least expensive way to see Machu Picchu, or if you need a flexible booking. The reported station and pickup discrepancy is another reason to confirm the ground logistics directly. And if a mountain hike is essential, remember that those tickets are not included.

Book it for the full-day experience, not just the train ride. Before you commit, compare the current direct Belmond price with the package price, confirm exactly what is included, and get your pickup time and departure station in writing. If the service, comfort, and onboard atmosphere matter as much as the ruins, this could be a memorable way to make the journey count.

FAQ

Which days does the Hiram Bingham train run?

The service runs every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.

How long does the experience last?

It lasts about 12 hours. The stated start time is 8:00 a.m., but confirm your hotel pickup time, which may be earlier.

What meals and drinks are included?

The package includes breakfast, lunch, dinner, welcome appetizers, snacks, bottled water, coffee, tea, non-alcoholic drinks, wine, sparkling wine, Cusqueña beer, and Pisco Sours.

Is a guide included at Machu Picchu?

Yes. A professional guide leads the Machu Picchu visit.

Are Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain tickets included?

No. Tickets for both Huayna Picchu and Machu Picchu Mountain are excluded.

What should I bring?

Bring a small day pack, water, comfortable shoes, a camera, rain protection, a fleece or jacket, a sun hat, sunscreen, mosquito repellent, and some extra money.

Can I cancel or change my booking?

No. The experience is non-refundable and cannot be changed for any reason.