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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.

 

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

Private Journeys

Peru

A Taste of Peru

12 days from £4,470pp

(based on two people sharing & excluding flights)

Sun over Machu Picchu in Peru

Private Journeys

Peru

Luxury Peru: Andes to Amazon

13 days from £9,880pp

(based on two people sharing & excluding flights)

Machu Picchu in Peru

Private Journeys

Peru / Ecuador & Galapagos Islands / Galapagos Islands

Luxury Peru and Galapagos: Machu Picchu and the Enchanted Islands

14 days from £10,310pp

(based on two people sharing & excluding flights)

Colourful Macaws flying over the Amazon

Private Journeys

Peru / The Amazon

Peru Birdlife: Machu Picchu to Pristine Amazon

12 days from £2,450pp

(based on two people sharing & excluding flights)

Car parked on the Uyuni Salt Flats

Private Journeys

Peru / Bolivia / Lake Titicaca / Chile

Signature Andes: Highlands of Peru, Bolivia and Chile

16 days from £5,510pp

(based on two people sharing & excluding flights)

Sun over Machu Picchu in Peru

Private Journeys

Peru / Brazil

Signature Peru and Brazil: Machu Picchu and Rio de Janeiro

12 days from £4,240pp

(based on two people sharing & excluding flights)

ShutterStock ©

Private Journeys

Peru / Chile

Signature Peru and Chile: Machu Picchu and Easter Island

15 days from £5,930pp

(based on two people sharing & excluding flights)

Uros, Lake Titicaca

Private Journeys

Peru / Lake Titicaca

Signature Peru: Classic highlights of Peru

15 days from £3,940pp

(based on two people sharing & excluding flights)

ShutterStock ©

Private Journeys

Peru

Signature Peru: The Inca heartland and Amazon Rainforest

10 days from £2,510pp

(based on two people sharing & excluding flights)

Uros, Lake Titicaca

Private Journeys

Peru / Lake Titicaca

Value Peru: Sacred Valley of the Incas to Lake Titicaca

12 days from £1,950pp

(based on two people sharing & excluding flights)

Papagaio

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    After graduating in Computer Science, Paul spent seven months travelling from Colombia to Argentina and came home hooked on Latin America.

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    Having spent part of her childhood in Colombia and worked in Brazil and Costa Rica, Hannah's ties to Latin America run deep. Hannah is a much valued Travel Expert in our Tailor-made Holidays and Group Tours sales team.

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    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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    Kathryn backpacked across Argentina, Chile, Bolivia and Peru before joining us. She has a degree in Philosophy and French and is a keen netball player.

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    Lina's passion for the continent where she was born really took off when she moved to Córdoba (Argentina) to study, spending the holidays travelling between Argentina and her native Colombia.

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    Ben fell in love with Latin America on a six month backpacking trip from Colombia to Mexico in 1995. Since then he has explored most of South America, including living in Peru for a year. He is now Head of Sales.

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