Belmond Hiram Bingham Train to Machupicchu – Full Day

The Belmond Hiram Bingham turns the trip to Machu Picchu into the main event. You travel through the Andes in a polished train with a bar car, an open observatory car on the outbound journey, live music, and meals served with wine. The ruins come later, but the railway journey is a major part of the experience.

I like the small maximum group of nine, which makes the guided visit more personal, and I like the careful food and drink service, from the welcome appetizers to the Pisco Sours. The main drawback is the price: at $2,250 per person, you are paying heavily for comfort, service, and style rather than simply transportation to Machu Picchu.

Key details at a glance

• Train days: The Hiram Bingham service runs on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.
• Full-day schedule: Plan on roughly 12 hours from Cusco hotel pickup to return.
• Included comforts: Breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, hot drinks, soft drinks, wine, beer, sparkling wine, and Pisco Sours.
• Machu Picchu visit: A professional guide leads the tour, with VIP lounge access at Machu Picchu Station.
• Special railway features: Live local and international music plays in the observatory car on the outbound trip and the bar car on the return.
• Small group size: The activity is capped at nine people, though the train itself is a luxury service shared with other passengers.

Why the Hiram Bingham train matters

Many Machu Picchu trips treat the train as a practical shuttle. This one asks you to treat the railway as part of the holiday. The Hiram Bingham is designed for travelers who want a polished day from start to finish, with station transfers, dining, drinks, music, and a guided visit arranged in one package.

The scenery is the star during the ride. You pass through Andean country with broad views from the train, and the open observatory car gives you a better chance to watch the route rather than stare through a sealed window. It is a good setup for photography, though you should still bring a rain jacket or poncho. Mountain weather can change quickly.

The experience also has a clear rhythm. You are collected from your Cusco hotel, taken to the station, welcomed with a drink, fed during the journey, guided around Machu Picchu, served afternoon tea at Belmond Sanctuary Lodge, and returned to Cusco. That removes much of the planning work from a day that can otherwise involve several tickets, transfers, and queues.

Starting from Cusco, with one timing detail to confirm

The published start time is 8:00 a.m., with pickup from a Cusco city hotel. You should provide your hotel details promptly so the transfer can be arranged.

There is an important warning here. One recorded booking had a much earlier pickup, around 6:30 a.m., and used Urubamba rather than the expected Poroy departure point. That created nearly three hours of extra bus travel during the round trip and brought the return to Cusco as late as 10:15 p.m. Before paying, confirm the actual pickup time, station, and road transfer with Apu Andino Travel Peru.

This matters because the listed 12-hour duration is already a long day. An earlier start may be sensible for railway operations, but you should know about it before setting your alarm. Pack a small day bag rather than expecting to carry large luggage.

The train-station transfer is included from your Cusco city hotel, as is the return ride after the train arrives. The service is therefore easiest for you if you are staying in central Cusco and want one coordinated day rather than a series of separate arrangements.

Welcome drinks, breakfast, and the first taste of luxury

At the station, you receive a welcome drink before boarding. The package also includes breakfast, snacks, bottled water, coffee, tea, and non-alcoholic drinks. That is useful on a long morning, since you do not need to organize food before departure.

The drinks list is unusually broad. You can have Argentine and Chilean red and white wine, Peruvian sparkling wine from Tacama, Cusqueña beer, and Pisco Sours throughout the trip. Alcohol is included, not simply available for purchase, so the value of the package depends partly on how much you care about this kind of table service.

A Belmond Hiram Bingham travel bag is also provided. It is a small touch, but it gives you something practical for the day and fits the polished, gift-like style of the service.

The Andes by rail, with an observatory car

The train ride is the heart of the day. The observatory car is open on the outbound journey, giving you a better position for views and photographs. A live band plays typical local and international music there during the ride.

On the return, the music moves to the bar car, while the observation balcony is closed for operational reasons. That means the outbound and return journeys are not identical. If the open-air viewing area is important to you, make the outbound ride your main photography time.

There is also a scheduled maintenance exception. From May 25 through June 18, the Hiram Bingham runs without the observatory car. The train still includes the other listed services, but you should not book during that period expecting the open observation area.

The passing scenery is one of the strongest reasons to choose this service. You are not just moving between Cusco and Machu Picchu. You are watching the Andes from a train built to make the ride part of the day, with music, drinks, and a chance to step into a more social railway setting.

Dining on the way to Machu Picchu

The food service includes welcome appetizers, breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks. This is far more than a basic train snack box, and it helps explain why the tour costs much more than an ordinary rail ticket.

You can expect the meal service to take up a meaningful part of the journey. That will appeal to you if you enjoy a slow, formal day with wine and conversation. It may feel excessive if your main goal is to reach Machu Picchu as soon as possible.

The package includes both lunch and dinner, along with the beverages listed above. Since the trip can last about 12 hours, having meals handled is genuinely convenient. You will still want some extra money for snacks or personal purchases, especially if you prefer something outside the included menu.

The musicians also sell CDs, and a Kamari jewelry display offers train-themed items such as coasters, key chains, credit card holders, money clips, and cufflinks. These purchases are not included, so keep them separate from the advertised package.

Arriving at Machu Picchu and entering with less waiting

After the train reaches Machu Picchu Station, you receive access to a VIP lounge. The service also includes a professional guided tour of Machu Picchu, which gives the visit structure instead of leaving you to navigate the site alone.

The main practical benefit is reduced waiting. The tour is set up to skip the long lines at Machu Picchu and move you into a private guided visit. That can be valuable on a full day, since every minute saved at the entrance gives you more time and energy inside the archaeological site.

The guide is described as a professional guide, but no guide’s name is supplied in advance. If you want a particular language or guide, ask when booking rather than assuming it will be available.

You should expect some walking and should have a moderate level of physical fitness. Comfortable shoes or running shoes are recommended. Bring sun protection, insect repellent, a hat, water, and a fleece or jacket. A camera is an obvious choice, but a rain jacket or poncho is just as useful in this part of Peru.

The tour does not include Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain tickets. Those are separate options, and you should not count on adding them automatically to this day.

Afternoon tea at Belmond Sanctuary Lodge

After the guided visit, the day includes afternoon tea at Belmond Sanctuary Lodge. This gives you a calmer place to sit, eat, and reset before returning to the station.

The tea is a useful part of the schedule because Machu Picchu can be tiring. Instead of rushing directly from the ruins to the train, you have a planned pause with food and drinks. It also keeps the experience consistent with the Hiram Bingham’s polished service style.

You should still keep an eye on the clock. The day contains a train journey, a guided visit, afternoon tea, and the return trip, so the schedule is full. A small day pack is more practical than a large bag, especially if you need to manage a camera, rain gear, jacket, and basic toiletries.

Returning to Cusco with music and dinner

The return train includes dinner, drinks, and live entertainment in the bar car. The open observation balcony is closed on the return for operational reasons, so the evening ride has a different mood from the outward journey.

This is where the service can feel most comfortable. After a demanding visit, you can sit down, eat, and let the railway staff handle the trip back. Dinner is included, along with snacks, coffee, tea, bottled water, soft drinks, wine, beer, sparkling wine, and Pisco Sours.

The final transfer from the station to your Cusco city hotel is included. Still, do not assume you will be back early. Depending on the station and transfer arrangements, the full day can stretch from the early morning into late evening.

Is $2,250 a fair price?

At $2,250 per person, this is an expensive Machu Picchu day. The price is easier to understand when you add up what it covers: hotel transfers, premium train travel, welcome service, several meals, alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, live music, a professional guide, station lounge access, afternoon tea, and the return transfer.

It is good value only if you want those extras. If you simply need a train, entry, and a guide, a lower-cost arrangement will make more sense. The Hiram Bingham is for you if the journey itself matters, you enjoy attentive dining, and you prefer to have the day organized around you.

There is also a major price point to verify. The available booking information indicates that a direct Belmond reservation may cost under $900 for a similar service, while this package is priced at $2,250. Prices can vary by date and arrangement, but the gap is large enough that I would compare the direct Belmond price before committing.

The experience has been rated 4.7 out of 5, with 91 percent of customers recommending it. That supports the quality of the service, but it does not erase the need to check the price and transfer details.

Who should book this day?

I would choose this for a special occasion, a first visit to Machu Picchu when convenience matters, or a trip where the train ride is as important as the ruins. It suits you if you like a full schedule, polished service, wine with meals, music, and a small guided group.

I would not choose it if you are watching your budget, dislike long days, or want to spend more time independently at Machu Picchu. The package is tightly arranged, and the cost is high for a single day.

Pack lightly, wear good shoes, and bring sun and rain protection. Most of all, confirm the pickup time and station before travel. That one detail can change the shape of the day.

Should you book the Belmond Hiram Bingham?

Book it if you want a luxury railway experience with Machu Picchu included, and if you are happy to pay for meals, drinks, music, transfers, and reduced waiting. The train service itself receives the strongest praise, especially the food, service, entertainment, observatory car, guided visit, and afternoon tea.

Skip it if the $2,250 price feels out of proportion to your priorities. Compare direct Belmond pricing, confirm the station and pickup time, and remember that Huayna Picchu and Machu Picchu Mountain tickets are not included. For the right budget, this is a polished and memorable full day. For everyone else, ordinary rail service may leave more money for the rest of Peru.

FAQ

How long does the Belmond Hiram Bingham Machu Picchu day last?

The experience lasts approximately 12 hours, though the exact day can be longer depending on the pickup time and station transfer arrangements.

On which days does the Hiram Bingham service run?

The service runs every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.

What time does pickup begin?

The published start time is 8:00 a.m. However, one recorded arrangement used a 6:30 a.m. pickup, so confirm your exact time before travel.

Is hotel transportation included?

Yes. Pickup and transfer from a Cusco city hotel to the train station are included, as is the transfer from the station back to your Cusco city hotel.

Are meals included?

Yes. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, welcome appetizers, snacks, bottled water, coffee, and tea are included.

Are alcoholic drinks included?

Yes. The package includes red and white wine, Peruvian sparkling wine, Cusqueña beer, and Pisco Sours, along with non-alcoholic drinks.

Is a guided visit to Machu Picchu included?

Yes. A professional guide leads the Machu Picchu visit.

Are Huayna Picchu and Machu Picchu Mountain tickets included?

No. Tickets for Huayna Picchu and Machu Picchu Mountain are not included.

How many people can join the activity?

The activity has a maximum of nine travelers. The Hiram Bingham train itself is a larger luxury service, so the group limit applies to the tour arrangement rather than the entire train.