Quick Summary: The Hiram Bingham is Belmond's 84-seat luxury train to Machu Picchu. In 2026 it costs from about US$500 each way, and Belmond's own 2026 brochure quotes round trips from Cusco from US$1,100 per person. It leaves Poroy, outside Cusco, at 09:05, reaches Aguas Calientes at 12:24 and returns at 17:50; PeruRail's January to April 2026 timetable says it runs daily except the last Sunday of each month. The fare covers brunch or dinner, the bar, live music, the bus, a guided visit and a Sanctuary Lodge tea, but Belmond says the ticket does not guarantee Machu Picchu entry. It is for travellers who want the train to be the celebration; for every other class, see PeruRail vs Inca Rail compared.
What the Hiram Bingham Is, and What It Isn't
The Hiram Bingham is a Belmond train, launched in 2003, that shares the railway to Machu Picchu Pueblo (Aguas Calientes) with PeruRail's and Inca Rail's trains. PeruRail's page for it now redirects to Belmond's site, which lists 84 seats, 1920s Pullman-style carriages, two dining cars, two bar cars, an observatory carriage, live entertainment and VIP station lounges.
What it is not: a faster or more scenic route. It runs on the same track as the cheaper trains, past the same valley. You pay for the meal, the bar, the music, the service and the carriages.
2026 Fares: What It Costs and Why It Varies
Neither Belmond nor PeruRail publishes a fare table. Fares appear only in Belmond's booking engine once you choose a date, and we could not retrieve date-specific fares from it. These are the best figures we found, all in US dollars because that is how the train is priced:
| Ticket | Price per person | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Round trip, Cusco (Poroy) to Machu Picchu | From US$1,100 (about S/3,784) | Belmond Grand Tour 2026 brochure, January 2026 |
| One way, either direction | From about US$500 (about S/1,720) | Seat61, updated 5 June 2026 |
| One way, agency planning range | About US$500–660+ | Inkayni Peru Tours, updated 27 May 2026 |
| Child aged 3–11 | 25% off the adult fare | Belmond FAQ |
| Child aged 0–2 | Free on a parent's lap; 50% off with own seat | Belmond FAQ |
Soles are at about S/3.44 per US$1 (BCRP, mid-October 2026). Fares move with date and demand: Belmond's booking pages call prices "a guide per passenger", subject to availability. Treat US$500 as a floor, not a quote.
Belmond also sells packages: Monasterio in Cusco plus the round trip from US$1,530 per person (two sharing), or a Sanctuary Lodge night plus the train from US$2,930, both with Machu Picchu entry "subject to availability" and booked at least 70 days ahead (Belmond flyers, June and July 2026).
Stations, Times and the Days It Doesn't Run
Belmond's journey pages give these timings, and note they are approximate and subject to railway constraints:
- Poroy (Cusco) to Machu Picchu: departs 09:05, arrives Aguas Calientes 12:24. Poroy is a station outside the city, about 20 minutes by taxi according to Seat61.
- Pachar to Machu Picchu: departs 10:53, arrives 12:24. Pachar is near Ollantaytambo in the Sacred Valley.
- Rio Sagrado to Machu Picchu: departs the hotel's private station at 09:40, arrives 12:24. Belmond calls this a seasonal route.
- Return: departs Aguas Calientes at 17:50, arriving at Pachar 19:25, Rio Sagrado 20:36 or Poroy 21:16.
- Days it does not run: PeruRail's January to April 2026 timetable says the train runs daily except the last Sunday of every month, and an agency page applies that rule all year. That would rule out 29 November and 27 December 2026.
The rainy season changes the start. From January to April 2026 a private bus left Wanchaq station in Cusco at 07:20 for Rio Sagrado and the 09:40 train; the return reached Wanchaq by bus at 22:10, with drop-offs at central hotels. We found no 2027 timetable, so confirm.
What's Included, Leg by Leg
Inclusions differ by direction, which matters if you ride it only one way.
- Outbound (to Machu Picchu): a welcome dance show and live music, brunch with cocktails, the VIP lounge at Aguas Calientes station, the bus up to the citadel, a guide for groups of up to 8 in Spanish or English, and a "Tea Time" at Belmond's Sanctuary Lodge by the gate (Belmond, Cusco to Machu Picchu).
- Return (to Cusco or the valley): the Sanctuary Lodge tea, the bus down to the station, the VIP lounge, a gourmet dinner, the bar car and live music (Belmond, Machu Picchu to Cusco).
- The observatory car: Belmond says it is not available on the way back.
- The guide: "subject to availability" in Belmond's overview; tours run in English and Spanish, other languages only for groups of 14 or more.
Belmond's pages disagree on one detail: its overview limits the Sanctuary Lodge tea to outbound journeys, its return pages list it too, and its 2026 package flyers call it a "Cocktail in the Mountain". Ask which applies.
If you ride outbound only, you still need a bus ticket down, about US$11–12 for a foreign adult (see our Machu Picchu bus guide).
Machu Picchu Entry Is Not Guaranteed
This is the most misunderstood part. Many guides, including Seat61's June 2026 update, say the fare includes entry. Belmond's own page says the opposite: your train ticket "does not guarantee entry to Machu Picchu", entrance tickets are managed by the Ministry of Culture, and you should contact Belmond about availability on your day.
Our advice: buy your own entrance ticket on tuboleto.cultura.pe, about S/163 (about US$47) for a foreign adult since May 2026, or get Belmond to confirm the entry in writing. The Ministry's entry table runs hourly from 06:00 to 15:00, and standard routes allow 2 hours 30 minutes inside. Ask Belmond which hour its guides use; on our reading, a 13:00 or 14:00 slot fits both the 12:24 arrival and the 17:50 train back. For how routes and slots work, see Machu Picchu tickets explained.
Dress Code, Luggage, Children and Access
All from Belmond's FAQ:
- Dress code: smart casual. Belmond encourages "an informal explorer-style look", so walking shoes for the citadel are fine.
- Luggage: one bag or backpack up to 5 kg (11 lb) and 157 cm (height plus length plus width). At the station, Belmond staff tag your bag and store it in your Restaurant Car. That is stricter than PeruRail's other classes, which allow an 8 kg backpack or a 12 kg carry-on (PeruRail).
- Children: discounted as in the fares table. Ask in advance for children's or vegetarian meals.
- Seats: you cannot choose your direction; each table has forward- and backward-facing seats.
- Access: passengers with slight walking difficulties can travel with an able-bodied escort, noted at booking. Wheelchairs cannot be used on board, and the main door is 55 cm wide.
How to Book and How Far Ahead
Book on Belmond's site, through its reservations office or through a travel advisor. Belmond publishes no minimum lead time for train-only tickets; its packages need at least 70 days. With 84 seats a day, our rule is to book as soon as your Machu Picchu entry is secured, and two to three months ahead for June to August, in the order set out in Machu Picchu booking order. At the station, staff tag your bag and check your ticket and passport.
The Premium Alternatives, Side by Side
Only the Hiram Bingham fare has a published "from" figure. The others are shown only in each operator's booking engine, so their prices below are agency estimates.
| Train | Leaves from | Food and drink | What else you get | One-way fare signal | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hiram Bingham (Belmond) | Poroy, Pachar, Rio Sagrado | Brunch out, dinner back, cocktails, two bar cars | Bus, guide, VIP lounge, Sanctuary Lodge tea; observatory car outbound only | From about US$500 | A once-only celebration |
| PeruRail Vistadome Observatory | Ollantaytambo; Cusco (Wanchaq or San Pedro) | Snacks and drinks | Open-air balcony car, live music and dances, audio tour | About US$110–150 (agency estimates) | Open-air views without luxury prices |
| Inca Rail First Class | Ollantaytambo; Cusco by transfer | Three-course menu with wine or pisco cocktails | Lounge and bar car, balcony, priority boarding, tea at Café Inkaterra before the return | Agency estimates range from about US$130 to US$425+ | A fine-dining ride from the Sacred Valley |
| Inca Rail The Private | Ollantaytambo; Cusco by private transfer | Four-course menu, wines, cocktails | Your own carriage and bar car, balcony, private guide at the citadel | Booked via WhatsApp; price on request | A family or group wanting privacy |
| Inca Rail 360° | Ollantaytambo; Cusco by bus and train | Andean snacks | Open-air observatory car, live music, Wi-Fi when conditions allow | About US$125–145 (one agency) | Scenery first, small budget step-up |
Estimates come from Fertur (March 2026) and Inkayni Peru Tours (May 2026). Inca Rail sells an "All Inclusive" fare that adds a guide, the bus and Machu Picchu entry, and allows one 8 kg hand bag (Inca Rail). PeruRail says the Vistadome Observatory ticket does not include entry.
Who It's For and Who Should Skip It
Our position: the Hiram Bingham is worth it for a honeymoon, a big anniversary or a once-only splurge, where a long lunch with live music is the point. Ride it outbound from Poroy: the 09:05 departure runs in daylight with the observatory car, and a guided visit follows. The return leaves at 17:50, "at dusk" in Belmond's words, so you mostly get dinner and a party, not views. Ride it one way and take a cheaper class back, or sleep in Aguas Calientes and see the citadel again in the morning.
Skip it if:
- You want the view per dollar: the Vistadome Observatory or the 360° gives you an open-air car for a fraction of the price.
- You want a morning visit or a mountain climb: a 12:24 arrival means an afternoon entry, unless you stay overnight.
- You travel with more than a day bag: the 5 kg limit is the strictest on the line.
- You use a wheelchair: it cannot be used on board.
- You are a group that wants privacy: Inca Rail's The Private gives you your own carriage, bar car and private guide.
For couples planning the rest of the day, our romantic Machu Picchu guide covers restaurants and quiet viewpoints, and the train, bus and trek options guide covers every other way in.
FAQ
How much does the Hiram Bingham train cost in 2026?
From about US$500 per person each way (Seat61, June 2026), and from US$1,100 for a Cusco round trip in Belmond's 2026 brochure. Fares vary by date and availability.
Does the Hiram Bingham include the Machu Picchu entrance ticket?
Not reliably. Belmond says the train ticket does not guarantee entry and asks you to contact it about availability. Buy your own afternoon ticket or get the entry confirmed in writing.
Where does the Hiram Bingham leave from?
Poroy outside Cusco (09:05), Pachar in the Sacred Valley (10:53) or the Rio Sagrado hotel station (09:40, seasonal). From January to April 2026 it began with a bus from Wanchaq station in Cusco.
Does the Hiram Bingham run every day?
PeruRail's January to April 2026 timetable says it runs daily except the last Sunday of every month. Confirm for your date, especially around month ends.
Is it worth taking the Hiram Bingham one way only?
Yes, and outbound is the leg we would choose, because it runs in daylight with the observatory car. Remember to buy a bus ticket down if you return on another train.
What should I wear on the Hiram Bingham?
Smart casual, with an "explorer-style" look encouraged. Wear shoes you can walk the citadel in, since the guided visit follows the train.
How much luggage can I take on the Hiram Bingham?
One bag or backpack up to 5 kg and 157 cm in total dimensions. There is no luggage coach, so leave big bags at your hotel.
Can children ride the Hiram Bingham?
Yes. Under-3s ride free on a lap or pay 50% for a seat, and ages 3–11 get 25% off.
Is Inca Rail's First Class a cheaper alternative to the Hiram Bingham?
Probably: 2026 agency estimates run from about US$130 to US$425+ one way, though Inca Rail does not publish the fare. It offers a three-course menu, a lounge car and a balcony from Ollantaytambo, so compare both booking engines for your date.
Limitations
Everything here is as of October 2026. No operator here publishes fares outside its booking engine, so the prices are "from" figures and agency estimates. Timings, the last-Sunday rule, the rainy-season bimodal service and the Sanctuary Lodge stop can all change, and Belmond's own pages disagree on some details. Work-around: before booking, price your exact date on Belmond's site, ask in writing whether Machu Picchu entry, the guide and the Sanctuary Lodge stop are included, confirm the departure station and day, and buy your entrance ticket on tuboleto.cultura.pe for a slot that fits the 12:24 arrival.