Hiram Bingham train: the luxury journey to Machu Picchu
The Hiram Bingham, a Belmond train, is the 1920s-style luxury train between Cusco and Machu Picchu - four royal-blue Pullman carriages with gourmet dining, live Andean music, pisco sours and a guided tour of the citadel woven into one unforgettable day. Fares start around US$540 one way, with round trips from around US$1,000 per person. Booked through Stars Desk, an accredited Belmond Bellini Club advisor, you pay the same Belmond fare and receive a US$45 per-person onboard credit and VIP welcome, at no extra cost - and we secure your Machu Picchu entrance tickets in advance.
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The train, the explorer - and one ticket that is not included
The train is named after Hiram Bingham III, the Yale explorer who brought Machu Picchu to the world's attention in 1911 - and who is often cited as an inspiration for Indiana Jones. This page is about the luxury train that carries his name, operated by Belmond in partnership with PeruRail. One thing many travelers miss: a Hiram Bingham train ticket does not by itself guarantee entry to Machu Picchu - citadel entrance tickets are limited and sell out, so they must be secured in advance. That is exactly what we confirm before you book.
Why book your Hiram Bingham journey with Stars Desk
Stars Desk is an accredited advisor in the Belmond Bellini Club, Belmond's invitation-only preferred-partner program held by fewer than one hundred agencies worldwide. You pay the same best available rate published by Belmond, and receive a US$45 per-person onboard credit, VIP welcome treats and a welcome letter at no extra cost.
On this journey the advisor's real value is logistics: we secure your Machu Picchu entrance tickets before we confirm the train, time your direction so you ride the scenery in daylight, arrange the private pickup in Cusco, and - if you take our advice below - build in an overnight at the citadel with Belmond's Sanctuary Lodge or Monasterio packages. One advisor, the whole itinerary, from first enquiry to your return to Cusco.
The Hiram Bingham at a glance
| Route | Cusco (Poroy station) to Machu Picchu (Aguas Calientes) and back, via the Sacred Valley |
| Journey time | About 3 hours 19 minutes each way, plus a 30-minute shuttle up to the citadel |
| Format | Day train - one-way or round trip (same day, or return on a later day) |
| Capacity | Maximum 84 guests, in four royal-blue 1920s Pullman-style carriages |
| On board | Two dining cars, a bar car with live Andean music, and an observation car; Royal private car for up to 12 |
| Included | Gourmet brunch out and four-course dinner on return, drinks and cocktails, guided Machu Picchu tour, citadel shuttle, afternoon tea at Sanctuary Lodge |
| From (guide, per person) | ~US$540 one way; ~US$1,000 round trip |
| Season | Runs most of the year; annual maintenance pause in January (we confirm live dates) |
Guide "from" prices in US dollars, per person. Belmond fares are dynamic and vary by date and direction; we confirm the exact live fare when you enquire.
What the day looks like
Morning: a send-off in Cusco
A private car collects you from your hotel to Poroy station, where Peruvian dancers, canapes and a glass of something cold set the tone before you board.
The ride out: brunch and pisco
A three-course gourmet brunch with sparkling wine as the Sacred Valley unfolds, then a pisco sour masterclass and live Andean music in the bar car as the Urubamba gorge narrows toward Aguas Calientes.
Machu Picchu, guided
A private shuttle climbs to the citadel, where your included guided tour brings the Lost City to life - followed by afternoon tea at Sanctuary Lodge, the only hotel at the entrance.
The return: a four-course fiesta
Back on board, a four-course dinner by candlelight - salt-crusted trout, confit duck, Kiwicha caviar - with the bar car in full swing. The return runs after dark, so savor the views on the way up.
Dining and cocktails on board
Menus celebrate Peru's larder - Sacred Valley corn, cloud-forest coffee, Pumahuancas salt-crusted trout, confit duck in Peruvian sauce and Kiwicha caviar - crafted on board and paired with Peruvian wines. The cocktail list is by renowned Peruvian mixologist Aaron Diaz: try the Picaflor Andino, with pisco and Andean citrus, or the Belmond Swizzle with Cartavio Solera rum, coconut and pineapple, served exclusively on this train.
An advisor's honest take: is the Hiram Bingham worth it?
Stars Desk books every train to Machu Picchu, so here is the honest version. The scenery is the same as on the cheaper trains - the Vistadome rides the same tracks through the same Sacred Valley. What you pay for on the Hiram Bingham is the event: the welcome party, white-tablecloth dining, flowing pisco sours, the band, the included guided tour and the Sanctuary Lodge tea. Guests who take it for a honeymoon, anniversary or milestone consistently call it the day they remember most from Peru; guests who just need transport to the ruins are better served by the Vistadome at a fraction of the price. Three practical notes from experience: make it an overnight if you can - the same-day round trip is a spectacular but genuinely long day, and an evening in Aguas Calientes (ideally at Sanctuary Lodge, steps from the gate, for sunrise access) transforms the trip; ride the scenery outbound, because the return runs largely after dark and becomes a dinner party instead; and book months ahead - with 84 seats and Machu Picchu's entry caps, peak dates sell out early. Pair it with the Andean Explorer sleeper to Lake Titicaca and you have Peru's full luxury rail odyssey in one trip.
Belmond Bellini Club benefits on the Hiram Bingham
| Book direct on belmond.com | Book through Stars Desk (Bellini Club) | |
|---|---|---|
| Fare | Best available rate | The same best available rate |
| Onboard credit (day journey) | - | US$45 per person |
| VIP welcome | - | Welcome treats and a welcome letter |
| Machu Picchu entry | Self-serve | Entrance tickets secured in advance, before the train is confirmed |
| Future-travel voucher | - | US$500 on qualifying bookings (terms vary) |
| Itinerary | Train only | Hotels, transfers, Sanctuary Lodge and Monasterio packages, Andean Explorer pairing |
Benefits apply to the standard best available rate and are not combinable with restricted or promotional rates. The US$500 voucher is a rotating Belmond promotion; we confirm current terms at booking. See our full Belmond Bellini Club guide.
Planning your journey: when to book
Book 4-9 months ahead
For dry-season dates (May to September) and the holiday peaks of July, August and December - both train seats and Machu Picchu entry permits are capped and sell through early.
Book 2-4 months ahead
Reasonable availability in shoulder months, with time to secure entry tickets and arrange the overnight at Aguas Calientes.
Under 60 days
Possible, but Machu Picchu entry becomes the constraint before the train does. We check both in one enquiry before you commit to anything.
Frequently asked questions about the Hiram Bingham train
How much does the Hiram Bingham train cost?
Around US$540 to US$650 one way per person, and from around US$1,000 for a round trip, varying by date and direction. The fare includes gourmet dining, drinks, entertainment, the citadel shuttle, a guided Machu Picchu tour and afternoon tea at Sanctuary Lodge - but not the Machu Picchu entrance ticket itself. We confirm the exact live fare, in US dollars, when you enquire.
How long is the Hiram Bingham train ride?
About 3 hours 19 minutes each way between Cusco (Poroy) and Machu Picchu station at Aguas Calientes, plus a 30-minute shuttle up to the citadel. With the guided tour and afternoon tea, the same-day round trip makes for a roughly 12-hour day.
What is included on the Hiram Bingham train?
A three-course brunch outbound and a four-course dinner on the return, wines, cocktails and drinks, live Andean music, the private shuttle between Aguas Calientes and the citadel, a guided tour of Machu Picchu, and afternoon tea at Sanctuary Lodge. Hotel pickup in Cusco is included with your journey.
Does the train ticket include Machu Picchu entry?
No - and this catches many travelers out. Machu Picchu entrance tickets are limited, timed and sold separately, and they regularly sell out before train seats do. Stars Desk secures your entrance tickets in advance, before confirming the train, so the two always match.
Is the Hiram Bingham train worth it?
For a honeymoon, anniversary or once-in-a-lifetime Peru trip, yes - guests consistently describe it as the most memorable day of their trip. The scenery is the same as on cheaper trains; what you pay for is the full experience: dining, music, pisco sours, the guided tour and Sanctuary Lodge tea. If you simply need transport to the ruins, the Vistadome does that for far less.
What is the difference between the Hiram Bingham and the Vistadome?
The Vistadome is PeruRail's panoramic tourist train - comfortable seats, big windows, a snack, from roughly a quarter of the price. The Hiram Bingham is a 1920s Pullman experience with white-tablecloth dining, open bar, live music, the citadel shuttle, a guided tour and Sanctuary Lodge tea included. Same tracks, completely different day.
Is there a dress code on the Hiram Bingham?
Elegant daytime wear - smart casual with comfortable shoes for exploring Machu Picchu afterwards. No black tie; many guests dress up a little for the dinner return, and the train's vintage carriages reward it.
Can older travelers manage this trip?
Yes - the Hiram Bingham is one of the most comfortable ways to reach Machu Picchu at any age. Boarding is assisted, the citadel shuttle avoids the steep climb, and the guided tour moves at a relaxed pace. Note that Machu Picchu (7,970 ft) is actually lower than Cusco (11,150 ft); we build in acclimatization days and can arrange oxygen-equipped hotels in Cusco.
When does the Hiram Bingham run?
Most of the year, with departures several days a week and an annual maintenance pause in January. The dry season, May to September, is prime; July, August and December are the high-demand peaks. We confirm the live calendar for your dates.
Who owns the Hiram Bingham train?
It is a Belmond train - the company behind the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express and Belmond's Peru portfolio - operated in partnership with PeruRail. Belmond has been part of LVMH since 2019.
Who was Hiram Bingham?
Hiram Bingham III (1875-1956) was the Yale lecturer and explorer who brought Machu Picchu to the world's attention in 1911, later a US senator - and a figure often cited as an inspiration for Indiana Jones. The train is named in his honor and retraces the route to the citadel he made famous.
How do I get perks on the Hiram Bingham?
Book through an accredited Belmond Bellini Club advisor such as Stars Desk. You pay the same Belmond fare and receive a US$45 per-person onboard credit, VIP welcome treats and a welcome letter, at no extra cost - plus an advisor who secures your Machu Picchu entry and builds the full itinerary.
Request Hiram Bingham rates & availability
Tell us your dates and how you want to build the day - same-day round trip or an overnight at Machu Picchu - and we will confirm train fares, entrance tickets and your Bellini Club benefits together.
Explore the rest of the fleet on our Belmond luxury trains guide, pair this journey with the Andean Explorer sleeper through the Andes, compare the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, or see all Belmond Bellini Club benefits.