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Travel by train to Machu Picchu

  • Train passing through greenery in the Peruvian Andes
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Travel on one of the continent’s most scenic rail journeys to arrive at the incomparable Lost City of the Incas.

Even if Machu Picchu was not lying at the end of the tracks, resplendent on its mountain pedestal, this train journey would doubtless still be an attraction in its own right. It traverses one of the continent’s most scenic sections of rail, where each of the panoramas that glide past your window seems even more spectacular than the last.

At first you’ll look out over a serene rural tableau, passing a patchwork of fields studded by whitewashed adobe villages. Soon however the valley narrows into a dramatic gorge, carved by the tumultuous Urubamba river that gushes alongside the railway track. Bottle-green mountains and cliffs clad in dense vegetation accompany the final stretch to Machu Picchu village (formerly Aguas Calientes), where a zigzagging bus journey transports you up to the mountaintop Inca citadel.

For a real treat, upgrade to the luxurious Hiram Bingham train to arrive at Machu Picchu in ultimate style and comfort. Harking back to the golden age of rail travel, the carriages are sumptuously kitted out and two dining cars serve up an outstanding gastronomic experience.

 

Peru
Cusco

Holidays Travel by train to Machu Picchu

From expertly designed Private Journeys to trail-blazing Group Tours, browse our range of carefully crafted holidays.

Ceviche dish from Peru

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A Taste of Peru

12 days from £4,410pp

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Luxury Peru: Andes to Amazon

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Machu Picchu in Peru

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Luxury Peru and Galapagos: Machu Picchu and the Enchanted Islands

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Peru Birdlife: Machu Picchu to Pristine Amazon

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Uyuni

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Signature Andes: Highlands of Peru, Bolivia and Chile

16 days from £5,490pp

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Sun over Machu Picchu in Peru

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Peru / Brazil

Signature Peru and Brazil: Machu Picchu and Rio de Janeiro

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Signature Peru and Chile: Machu Picchu and Easter Island

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Peru / Lake Titicaca

Signature Peru: Classic highlights of Peru

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Signature Peru: The Inca heartland and Amazon Rainforest

10 days from £2,470pp

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Uros, Lake Titicaca

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Peru / Lake Titicaca

Value Peru: Sacred Valley of the Incas to Lake Titicaca

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    Juliet Ellwood - Travel Expert

    After graduating with a degree in Anthropology and History and having been fascinated by Latin America since childhood by the book featuring photos of Nazca, Juliet first visited the region in 2003. Since then, Juliet has visited the majority of countries in Latin America but has particularly extensive experience with Peru, a country she loves for many reasons but not least, its incredible archaeological richness and delicious food!

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    Heloise Buxton - Travel Expert

    Heloise started her Latin American journey as an exchange student in Santiago, Chile. With extended summer holidays this was the perfect opportunity to backpack through Bolivia, Peru, Argentina and Brazil.

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    Hannah had an early introduction to Latin America when her family moved to Ecuador and she returned to study in Buenos Aires for a year before backpacking across the continent.

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    A former JLA tour leader, Carrie brings a wealth of on-the-ground experience to our London-based Tailor-made and Group Tours department.

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    Maggie visited Latin America on her first backpacking trip when she was 19. Since then, she has taken every opportunity to travel, and has managed to explore a lot of the region in subsequent trips.

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