The most comfortable way to do Machu Picchu is a luxury train from the Cusco area to Aguas Calientes, a night at Belmond Sanctuary Lodge beside the citadel, and an entry ticket booked ahead. Machu Picchu sits at about 2,430 meters in the Peruvian Andes, and a luxury trip needs a little planning because entry is capped and timed.
Luxury Machu Picchu at a glance
| Choice | Our pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Train | Belmond Hiram Bingham | 84 seats, 1920s Pullman-style carriages, dining and live music |
| Hotel next to the ruins | Belmond Sanctuary Lodge | 31 rooms and suites, a 3-minute walk to the entrance |
| Hotel in the cloud forest | Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo | 80 casitas on a 12-acre reserve |
| Hotel in the Sacred Valley | Aranwa Sacred Valley | Resort on a former hacienda near Urubamba |
What is Machu Picchu and why does it matter?
Machu Picchu is a 15th-century Inca site on a mountain ridge above the Sacred Valley, in the Andes of Peru, near the Inca capital of Cusco. Construction is dated to around 1450. It is widely believed to have been an estate of the emperor Pachacuti (reigned 1438 to 1471), though no contemporary written records confirm that. UNESCO inscribed it as a World Heritage Site in 1983, and it was named one of the New Seven Wonders of the World in 2007.
Hiram Bingham brought the site to international attention in 1911, although local people already knew the ruins. Researchers still debate its exact purpose, with theories ranging from royal retreat to sacred center.
How do you get to Machu Picchu in luxury?
Fly to Lima, then on to Cusco. From there trains run to Aguas Calientes (officially called Machu Picchu Pueblo), the town below the citadel. PeruRail lists its services as Expedition, Vistadome and Vistadome Observatory, and routes run from Poroy near Cusco (about 3 hours 30 minutes) or from Ollantaytambo (about 1 hour 45 minutes).
For the top end, take the Belmond Hiram Bingham. It has 84 seats, two dining cars, two bar cars, live entertainment, station lounges and a private bus transfer up to the citadel, subject to availability. It can leave from Poroy (Cusco), Rio Sagrado in Urubamba or Pachar in the Sacred Valley. The cheaper PeruRail options have panoramic windows.
The Belmond Andean Explorer, which we previously listed here, is shown by PeruRail among its Lake Titicaca and Cusco trips, so treat it as a separate sleeper-train trip rather than the Machu Picchu run.
Where should you stay near Machu Picchu?
Belmond Sanctuary Lodge. About 50 meters from the site, this is the only hotel at the entrance, a 3-minute walk from the gate. It has 29 rooms and 2 suites, two restaurants (Tampu and Tinkuy) and a bar. The one-bedroom suites are 35 to 45 square meters. It became a Belmond hotel in 1999. Reservations and details.
Aranwa Sacred Valley Hotel & Wellness. A resort in Urubamba on the grounds of an old hacienda, listed as opened in 2008 with about 115 rooms, plus an infinity pool and spa. Check the hotel directly for current rates and availability. Reservations.
Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel. A five-star cluster of 80 whitewashed adobe casitas on a 12-acre cloud forest reserve at 2,020 meters, across from the train station. It has the Unu Spa and a reserve with 317 recorded bird species. Buses to the citadel leave before dawn at 15-minute intervals. Reservations.
What do you need to book before you go?
A train ticket does not give you entry to the site. The Peruvian Ministry of Culture manages entry tickets, so book yours for your travel day early. The daily limit was raised to 4,500 in 2024, with up to 5,600 in peak season. Check the official ticket platform for the current circuit and time-slot rules before you buy.
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FAQ
What is the best luxury way to get to Machu Picchu?
The Belmond Hiram Bingham train, from Poroy (Cusco), Urubamba or the Sacred Valley to Aguas Calientes, with dining and live music on board.
Where is the best hotel near Machu Picchu?
Belmond Sanctuary Lodge, about 50 meters from the site and a 3-minute walk from the entrance, with 31 rooms and suites.
How high is Machu Picchu?
About 2,430 meters (7,970 feet) above sea level.
Does a train ticket include entry to Machu Picchu?
No. Entry tickets are issued by Peru’s Ministry of Culture, so book them separately for your travel day.
How long is the train from Cusco?
About 3 hours 30 minutes from Poroy near Cusco, or about 1 hour 45 minutes from Ollantaytambo.
Last updated: October 2026.
